How much should a sensory assessment cost?

[MooMummyMoo]

We see a private SALT for my daughter (in additon tp the NHS provision) and she has recommended we get a sensory assessment for her (something I had been wondering myself anyhow). She recommended a company who I contacted and tonight they have sent me their charges.

We are looking at £550-£650 for the initial assessment and report. Is this about right? It is a lot more than I was expecting but I might have been naive...

(We are in Yorkshire, in case that makes a difference)

Thanks in advance.

We are in Yorkshire, there is no nhs service in this area so I had to folk out for a private assessment at £400 but this wasn't in yorkshire. After a big battle the LEA are now funding support through barnardo's. It may be worth you getting in touch with them to see if they can offer you an assessment.

Thanks Overdue. The cost is just so depressing but I shouldn't be surprised I suppose. Thanks for the recommendation of Barnados, it's worth a try!

Can you ask to see an NHS OT for an assessment? If there isn't an OT with experience in this then you can ask to be referred out of area. We asked the paed to refer us and she said she would take it to the PCT panel for us. There is a place in County Durham called Tree Tops that may be close enough for you to consider asking to be referred to?

Our NHS doesn't cover it, they only have a questionnaire they send you so you can establish what the problems are in your own mind but they can't then provide any assessment or suggestions to help...

I didn't know about being referred out of the area, I'll ask the question, thanks.

That sounds about right. Ours cost £600 near to Harley Street, London.

Did comprehensive 18 page report, very thorough much more than NHS one.

Dd3 is booked in for one on the NHS this thursday, I emailed the OT's directly and requested a sensory assessment. She has been seen by them before for a gross and fine motor skills asssessment.

They told me to get her rereferred by the senco, which I did and we filled in a sensory questionairre together which she sent off to them.

They accepted the referral and then sent an appointment, on the letter it says "gross and fine motor skills assessment"!! I will be phoning them on monday to find out what is going on. Hopefully it is a typo

Watch this space! I could still be going private

Our private OT charged us about £450 I think, which included a sensory test and written report plus an hours discussion after to run through the report. He was too young for the motor control tests but it was a similar sort of price for our daughter when she had hers.

I suppose it depends on your area and ease of access to OTs and their reputation.