Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluation in NYC
Does Your Child Need Occupational Therapy?
When your baby is having difficulty with everyday activities, learning new skills, managing sensory experiences, or keeping up with age-appropriate developmental milestones, a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation can help identify what may be getting in the way.
Denise Long, MS, OTR/L provides individualized pediatric occupational therapy evaluations for children and families in New York City, with a focus on understanding each child's unique strengths, challenges, and functional needs.
A comprehensive evaluation can help determine whether occupational therapy may support your child's development, independence, participation, and confidence in everyday life.
What Is a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluation?
A pediatric occupational therapy evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of the skills a baby uses to participate in everyday activities at home, at school, and in the community. Rather than focusing only on a diagnosis, pediatric occupational therapy looks at how a child functions in daily life.
Depending on your child's age and concerns, an evaluation may look at:
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Motor planning and coordination
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Visual-motor integration
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Handwriting and pre-writing skills
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Self-care and daily living skills
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Play skills
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Attention and participation
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Postural control and body awareness
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Developmental skills and milestones
The goal is to understand what your baby is having difficulty with, why those difficulties may be occurring, and what strategies or therapeutic support may help.
When Should a Child Have an Occupational Therapy Evaluation?
Parents often seek a pediatric OT evaluation when they notice that their child is having difficulty with activities that seem challenging compared with other children of a similar age.
An evaluation may be appropriate if your child has difficulty with:
Fine Motor Skills
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Reaching, grasping and releasing skills
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Finger feeding, using utensils
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Manipulating small objects
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Using crayons, scissors and writing tools
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Buttoning, zipping, or fastening clothing
Handwriting and School Skills
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Holding or controlling a pencil
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Forming letters
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Writing efficiently
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Copying from a board
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Completing written work
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Keeping up with classroom activities
Sensory Processing
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Becoming overwhelmed by noise, lights, touch, or busy environments
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Avoiding certain textures, clothing, foods, or activities
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Seeking constant movement or physical input
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Having difficulty calming or regulating
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Experiencing frequent sensory-related meltdowns
Motor Skills and Coordination
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Difficulty with balance or coordination
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Trouble learning new physical activities
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Difficulty with playground activities
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Appearing clumsy or uncoordinated
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Difficulty planning or sequencing movements
Daily Living Skills
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Dressing
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Feeding
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Grooming
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Toileting routines
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Managing everyday tasks independently
Developmental Concerns
Parents may also seek an evaluation when a child is experiencing developmental delays, difficulty meeting milestones, or challenges associated with conditions such as autism, ADHD, Prematurity, developmental coordination disorder, dyspraxia, torticollis, or other neurological and developmental differences.
You do not necessarily need to know exactly what is causing the difficulty before contacting an occupational therapist.The purpose of the evaluation is to help identify your child's strengths and areas where additional support may be beneficial.
What Happens During a Pediatric OT Evaluation?
The evaluation process is individualized according to your child's age, abilities, concerns, and goals.
1. Understanding Your Concerns
The process begins by learning more about your child's development, daily routines, strengths, challenges, and the activities that are currently difficult. Your observations as a parent are an important part of the evaluation.
2. Observing Your Child
Denise observes how your child moves, plays, interacts with materials, and approaches age-appropriate activities.
Depending on your child's needs, the evaluation may include activities involving:
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Movement and coordination
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Fine motor control
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Visual-motor skills
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Play
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Sensory processing
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Attention and regulation
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Self-care activities
Activities are adapted to the child's age and abilities.
3. Assessing Functional Skills
The evaluation focuses on how your child's skills affect participation in real-life activities.
The question is not simply:
“Can your child perform a particular skill?”
It is also:
“How does this skill affect your child's ability to participate at home, at school, and in everyday life?”
4. Discussing the Findings
Following the evaluation, Denise discusses her observations and recommendations with you. Depending on your child's needs, recommendations may include:
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Pediatric occupational therapy
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Home activities and strategies
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Environmental modifications
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School-based recommendations
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Additional professional evaluation or support
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Monitoring your child's development over time
What Can a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluation Help Identify?
An evaluation may help identify areas of difficulty related to:
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Fine motor development
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Handwriting
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Sensory processing
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Motor planning
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Coordination
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Developmental delays
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Visual-motor integration
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Self-care skills
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Attention and regulation
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Play and participation
Occupational therapy may be beneficial for children with a variety of developmental and neurological conditions, including autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, developmental coordination disorder, torticollis, and other conditions affecting everyday function.
An evaluation is individualized to the child. Two children with the same diagnosis may have very different strengths, challenges, and therapeutic needs.
Does My Child Need a Diagnosis to Have an OT Evaluation?
Not necessarily.
Parents often contact a pediatric occupational therapist because they have noticed a specific difficulty, such as problems with handwriting, coordination, sensory processing, feeding-related skills, or developmental milestones.
You do not need to have all the answers before reaching out.
A consultation can help determine whether a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation may be appropriate for your child.
What Happens After the Evaluation?
The next step depends on your child's individual needs.
If occupational therapy is recommended, Denise can discuss potential goals and an individualized treatment approach with you.
Therapy goals may focus on helping your child:
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Participate more successfully in daily activities
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Develop greater independence
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Improve fine motor or coordination skills
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Manage sensory experiences
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Improve handwriting and school-related skills
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Develop self-care abilities
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Build confidence in everyday activities
Parents may also receive strategies and recommendations that can be incorporated into daily routines at home.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluations in New York City
Denise Long provides individualized pediatric occupational therapy services for children and families in New York City.
Her practice focuses on understanding the whole child and the real-life activities that matter to each family.
If you have concerns about your child's development, coordination, sensory processing, fine motor skills, handwriting, or ability to participate in everyday activities, an occupational therapy evaluation may be a helpful first step.
Contact Denise to Discuss Your Child
Frequently Asked Questions
What age children can have a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation?
Children of different ages may benefit from an occupational therapy evaluation. The appropriate evaluation approach depends on the child's age, developmental level, concerns, and functional needs.
How long does a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation take?
The length of an evaluation depends on the child's needs and the type of assessment required. Contact Denise to discuss your child's specific situation.
What should I bring to my child's OT evaluation?
Parents should be prepared to discuss their child's developmental history, current concerns, daily routines, and any activities that are difficult for the child. Relevant reports or recommendations from other professionals may also be helpful.
Can an occupational therapist diagnose my child?
Occupational therapists assess functional skills and areas related to occupational performance. A pediatric OT evaluation may identify areas where a child needs support, but diagnosis of specific medical or developmental conditions may require other qualified healthcare professionals.
What if I am not sure whether my child needs occupational therapy?
You can begin by contacting Denise to discuss your concerns. A conversation about your child's specific challenges can help determine whether an occupational therapy evaluation may be appropriate.
Is Your Child Having Difficulty With Everyday Activities?
A pediatric occupational therapy evaluation can help you better understand your child's strengths, challenges, and potential support needs.
Contact Denise Long to discuss your child's needs and learn whether a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation may be appropriate.