| Frequently Asked Questions |
What is Occupational Therapy?
What services are offered at the Occupational Therapy Center, Inc.?
Evaluations:
Conferences:
- Screenings
- Standardized comprehensive testing
- Clinical observations
Conferences:
- Initial View at Clinic
- One part of Initial Evaluation
- Any time a parent requests a
conference while we are treating
their child
Occupational Therapy uses purposeful activities for
developing or improving:
developing or improving:
- Balance/Coordination
- Muscle tone/strength
- Eye-hand dominance
- Visual-spatial perception
- Gross-motor skills
- Fine-motor skills
- Self-help skills
- Developmental delayed areas
- Self-concepts
Fundamental sensory systems according to the research beginning with Dr. A. Jean Ayres:
- The vestibular sense, which provides information through the inner ear about gravity/space, balance/movement, and head/body position in relation
to the surface of the earth.
- The tactile sense provides information, primarily through our skin, about the texture, shape and size of objects in the environment. It helps us
distinguish between threatening and non-threatening touch sensations.
- The proprioceptive sense provides information through our joints, muscles, and ligaments about body parts location and their movement/actions.
- Higher-level functions such as fine/gross motor skills, visual and auditory perception, praxis, academic skills, self-control and self-esteem develop
without effort when the sensory systems are working well.
What is Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI)?
What is Sensory Integration Dysfunction?
Sensory Integration Dysfunction occurs when the brain processes sensations inefficiently and results in the inability to respond appropriately to ordinary
experiences. Children with diagnoses such as learning disorders, some emotional disorders, Autistic Spectrum disorders, or others can also have SI
Dysfunction.
SI Dysfunction affects the child's activities of daily living in many ways such as:
experiences. Children with diagnoses such as learning disorders, some emotional disorders, Autistic Spectrum disorders, or others can also have SI
Dysfunction.
SI Dysfunction affects the child's activities of daily living in many ways such as:
- Ascending the stairs; the child may need to look down at his feet for visual cues about what his body is doing. They may cling to the banister or to
an adult's hand. Instead of alternating feet, they may mark time; in order to keep his balance. - may be very resistant to or even fearful of heights
- craves movement such as swinging or wiggling
- gives up quickly when perceiving a task too hard
- may hit or withdraw instead of returning a hug or tolerating an unexpected touch
- has difficulty planning, balancing, and/or coordinating his movements when attempting to pedal a tricycle or any new activity
- avoids ordinary sensations or seeks excessive stimulation
- can't make his body respond the way he wants to which may result in behavioral issues
- Unusual responses to touching and being touched, moving and being moved, and difficulty with coordination or organization.
I think my child may have Sensory Integration Dysfunction; Now what?
- Call the Occupational Therapy Center, Inc. at 713-789-0472
- Talk to a therapist (no charge) and/or schedule an evaluation. The Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT) is the most commonly used evaluation
but the OTC has many different standardized/nonstandardized evaluations to choose from for the best fit for the needs of the child. If applicable,
the OTC therapist will always choose a standardized evaluation as the first choice to ensure reliable and valid data. - Once an evaluation is completed then a conference is held. The evaluating therapist will present an extensive report with the results and
recommendations. - If occupational therapy is initiated, a treatment plan is developed to meet the child's specific needs and a request for Physician's order is made.
Ayres Sensory Integration® is often the basis for treatment for children seen at the OTC although our therapists are also certified to treat other
areas such as Fine Motor dysfunctions.
| Please feel free to call and talk with one of our therapists about your child or a child you feel may be having some difficulties. Our therapists will give their best professional advice on what may be occurring and your course of action. Sometimes they may feel the problem can be addressed at the OTC or another route should be taken. These calls may be done anonymously and there is never a charge. We do support and abide by all privacy laws. |
What if I Still Have questions?
| Most of our clients do receive insurance reimbursement for services at the OTC. It is always best to check with your own policy to see if it covers occupational therapy. We do not bill directly for insurance but will otherwise assist you to receive it through your policy. Currently, we are not on any HMO or PPO plans but because of our specialization and qualifications, many of our families who have these plans will qualify as an Out-of-Network. Please feel free to call and talk to a staff member if you have any questions. |
Is this Covered by my Medical Insurance?
| Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) is a trademark to distinguish the core principles of Dr. A. Jean Ayres' work in Sensory Integration Theory and Intervention. All Occupational Therapists at the OTC are trained in and adhere to these principles. Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) is one of the most researched areas in occupational therapy. Our Occupational Therapists are certified in the administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test and treatment in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI). We were the first to practice this specialty in the Houston area and have been involved in the development of many of the standardized evaluations including the SIPT. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
What is a standardized evaluation?
| A standardized evaluation is an evaluation that is given in a standard manner which provides more consistent results. Most often standardized evaluations cost more since the therapist needs additional training and often certification to qualify to administer, score, and interpret. There are a few occasions when a standardized evaluation is used even though the subject was not within the parameters. For example, the SIPT is validated for ages 4 through 9 years old. It is often used with older children and/or those on the Spectrum of Autism Disorders because it is the best available tool for looking at the sensory areas. Development is underway to develop a SIPT for older children and research is showing that the SIPT is a valid tool for most Spectrum disorders. An experienced OT can best determine the proper evaluation tool. It is the policy of the OTC that standardized evaluations should always be used if there is a choice. |
What if I think my child only has fine-motor problems?
Individual Occupational Therapy:
Educational Seminars:
- Sensory Integration
- Neuromuscular
- Developmental
- Gross/Fine motor
Educational Seminars:
- Large or small groups
- Teacher Inservices
- Professional Inservices
- Most at no charge
| Fine and Gross motor skills are considered motor-learned and involve higher-functioning levels within the brain than the areas where most sensory integration occurs. Many times the problem(s) actually lie in the lower-levels of the brain which is the foundation of all upper-levels of the brain and is where the majority of sensory integration is thought to occur. If changes in these fundamental areas occur through therapy then often the Fine and Gross motor skills correct themselves without intervention. It is understandable though at times when children reach mid-elementary levels or later that these skills are important to their academics. Thus we try to integrate some Fine-motor skill work into a therapy session to work from the "top-down" utilizing the sensory integration therapy for a "bottom-up" approach. |
| Occupational Therapy Center, Inc 2500 Tanglewilde Suite 330 Houston, Texas 77063 Phone: 713-789-0472 Fax: 713-789-2641 |
| Ayres Sensory Integration® includes the theory, assessment, patterns of sensory integration, praxis dysfunction and intervention concepts, principles and techniques articulated by Dr A, Jean Ayres, OTR, PhD and applied by therapists worldwide trained in this approach. Normally, our brain receives sensory messages from our bodies and surroundings, interprets these messages, and organizes our purposeful responses. The Sensory Integration approach works to develop more normal responses within the brain which creates the foundation for higher functioning areas with in the brain. Without this foundation, any learned skills are simply specific skills for specific tasks and cannot be generalized. For example when a person climbs stairs, the brain registers they are moving upward, forward, and from side to side. Adaptive responses enable legs to flex and extend, alternate feet, slide their hand along the banister, maintain balance, keep upright, all while watching where they are going. Without proper sensory integration, movements will be jerky, uncoordinated, and/or mechanical. |
