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What can an O.T do for a home educated child?

11 replies

mummyloveslucy · 14/04/2011 18:12

Hi, we have an appointment for an O.T acessment for my daughter tomorrow. She first went on the waiting list when she was still at school. She's been home educated since Christmas.

I'm just wondering what, if anything they can do to help my daughter since she's now at home. She's 6 years old and has a developmental delay of about 2 years. She has very poor speech and finds it hard to understand what people are saying to her. Her actual hearing is fine, it's more of a processing problem. She also has problems with constipation, soiling and incontinence. She is getting free night nappies to help with this.

I know that O.T's usually work in schools, so I'm not sure what advice or help they could give in the home. Her mobility is fine and the only problems she has at home are her self help skills, toileting and her dislike of touch which makes it hard to bath, change or dress her.

I'm not really sure what to expect or ask and I'm a bit worried she'll think we're wasting her time, since she's no longer at school.
I'd like for her to be acessed occasionally, just so that I can see if she's making progress. Just as reasurance really. I'd also welcome any tips or advice as to games we could play that would help her development. I've found some ideas on the net already but there isn't that much.

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LIZS · 14/04/2011 18:17

ds' OT never saw him at school anyway, we visited her at the hospital. Lots of exercises, activities and games to improve his sensory issues, hand/eye coordination , gross and fine motor skills - both during the session and for us at home - and practical suggestions for seating , pencil grips etc. Take a list of issues and maybe she can help you prioritise and suggets how to break each down .

growlybear · 14/04/2011 18:17

Hi mummyloveslucy i am sure the ot can do plenty to help.She is there to help and give advice on self help skills such as feeding and toileting and dressing.She will not be wasting her time it really does sound as though there is so much she can help you with.hth

HelensMelons · 14/04/2011 18:23

OT's can do loads! Help as all the other posters have said - also using knife/fork, she might have suggestions on how to manage some of dd's sensory issues; she might be able to help with practical things like changing shower doors so that you don't get soaked - ours is helping with that as well as fencing off our back garden so that it makes it safe for ds2; we were also given advice around setting up ds's workstation to do homework. Tell her everything you've mentioned in your post and anything else you can think of, write it down if it helps x

mummyloveslucy · 14/04/2011 18:51

That sounds good then. Smile They have asked for a report from school and have given me a questionaire to be filled in by her teacher.

I'll make a list tonight to take along.

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Eveiebaby · 14/04/2011 20:03

No - you will not be wasting o/t's time. When o/t's go into school they observe the child and if necessary give the TA (or whoever) a programme of exercises to be carried out to enhance motor skills. They should also give the parents a programme to carry out at home (this is what DD's o/t did).

So basically the o/t will give a plan for you to carry out at home.
Hope this helps.

specialmusic · 14/04/2011 21:26

The OT can help with lots of things (fine motor skills, sensory issues etc) which are unrelated to school, so don't worry you are not wasting the OT's time. Also many of us therapists actually work at people's homes, too. Hope it all works out for you and your daughter.
/Special Music (www.specialmusic.co.uk)

LIZS · 16/04/2011 10:52

How did it go ?

mummyloveslucy · 16/04/2011 20:57

thanks everyone. It did go well, the O.T said that she can do things to help her sensory processing difficulties and her sensitivity to touch. This would really help with dressing and washing. She's also going to come and observe her trying to dress herself.
I'm so glad I went. It sounds as if she'll really be able to help her and possibly give me some ideas of games etc. Smile

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growlybear · 16/04/2011 21:07

Glad it went well mummyloveslucy:o :o

mummyloveslucy · 16/04/2011 21:09

The O.T was amazing actually, she noticed so many little things during the acessment that I wouldn't have picked up on. She noticed how she held her hands to avoid anything touching her palms and that she was uncomfortable holding certain things. She even crawls with her hands in fists so she dosn't feel the carpet on her hands. (Strange child) Grin
She is pleased she's on the Brain Gym programme as she said this would really help. We were there for 3 hours all together. I think she'll be very good for Lucy as she's picked up so much already.

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mummyloveslucy · 16/04/2011 21:10

thanks growlybear! Grin

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