At blueballoon Health Services, all of our therapy programs incorporate similar assessment steps:

Initially, during an initial consultation between the therapist and caregiver(s), we will ask you various questions. You may be asked about your child's development and concerns, any medication they may be taking, how they are managing at school and/or at home, their abilities and difficulties, any pain they are suffering from.

Once we have established the main problems and causes, we will discuss this with you and establish a plan which includes specific goals and objectives for your child's treatment. We will also suggest treatment block length as well as individual or group therapy blocks.

You will always have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.

• Sensory Integration Praxis Tests
• Clinical Screening
• Evaluation of Functional Performance
• Evaluation of Sensory Integration and Occupational Performance
• Goal Setting Only
• Physiotherapy Assessment
• Speech Language Pathology Assessments
• Music Therapy Assessments
• Psychology Assessments
• Psychological-Developmental Infant Assessment

The Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) is a standardized assessment that evaluates sensory processing deficits related to learning and behaviour problems. It is the most comprehensive assessment of Sensory Integration. Competence in administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests, a set of rigorously designed standardized tests, are considered the "gold standard" for assessing sensory integration and praxis.

The 17 SIPT tests are designed to measure visual and tactile (touch) perception, visual motor skills, bilateral integration and sequencing, praxis, kinesthesia and vestibular-proprioceptive functions.

Clinical Screening
If a child has been previously assessed by an occupational therapist, it may not be necessary to complete a full assessment. A clinical screening may be appropriate.

A Clinical Screening includes:

• A Parent Questionnaire
• A Clinical Hour (50 minutes) Session with your Child at BlueBalloon to complete clinical observations of child
• A Summary Report addressing the parent's primary concerns and if applicable, provide general recommendations and global activity suggestions that would benefit your child's development
• A Phone Consultation to follow up

A Clinical Screening does not include:

• Standardized testing or norms
• Detailed home or school therapy programming
• A full feedback session with parents
• Clinical programming and goal setting

An Evaluation of Functional Performance would include:

• A Parent Questionnaire
• Up to 2 Clinical Hours with the child at BlueBalloon (it may be recommended that this time should be divided over two separate visits)
• Full Assessment Report including:
  • parent's primary concerns
  • pertinent background and clinical information
  • clinical observations of child during assessment period at BlueBalloon
  • standardized testing and scores when if applicable
  • recommendations and global activity suggestions that would benefit your child's development if applicable
• One hour Feedback Session with Parent(s)

Evaluation of Sensory Integration and Occupational Performance:

An Evaluation of Sensory Integration and Occupational Performance provides a detailed and extensive assessment of the child's ability to process sensory information as related to motor performance and play skills, including visual perceptual and visual motor integration skills, vestibular processing and somatosensory processing (proprioceptive and tactile sensory system). The child's practic skills (ability to initiate, develop, motor plan and implement play and work activities) are also assessed and discussed in detail.

An Evaluation of Sensory Integration and Occupational Performance would include:

• Parent Questionnaire
• Up to 2 Clinical Hours with the child at BlueBalloon (it may be recommended that this time should be divided over two separate visits)
• Full Assessment report including:
  • parent's primary concerns and desired outcomes of assessment
  • pertinent background and clinical information
  • detailed description and review of sensory systems as they relate to functional performance
  • clinical observations of child during assessment period at BlueBalloon
  • standardized testing and scores (if applicable)
  • recommendations and global activity suggestions that would benefit your child's development if applicable
• One hour Feedback Session with Parent(s)

Goal Setting Only
If a child has had a current occupational therapy assessment and it is determined that a therapy program can be established based on this assessment, it may not be necessary to complete a screening or an assessment. In this case, a review of the report will be completed and a clinical program, including therapy goals will be established.

Physiotherapy Assessment
During an initial consultation the physiotherapist will:

• Conduct a parent interview
• Conduct a formal assessment of your child’s current level of gross motor function (including muscle tone, strength, range of motion, balance, and motor planning as appropriate)
• Discuss the findings of the physiotherapy assessment with you
• Make recommendations with respect to physiotherapy intervention as appropriate

A physiotherapist can use any of the following methods to help with the areas of concern:

• Develop a therapy program. This may include: strengthening exercises, stretches, balance activities, positioning and functional activities.
• Make suggestions regarding the use of assistive equipment and specialized footwear.
• Help your child with integration into typical childhood activities. Sometimes a child needs extra help to participate in typical childhood experiences. The physiotherapist will work with families and other caregivers in order to encourage your child to participate fully in their early childhood education experiences. The physiotherapist can also suggest extracurricular activities that may be enjoyable for your child.

BlueBalloon Physiotherapy also provides:

• Assessment
• Treatment
• Teaching for parents and/or other caregivers
• Information and support
• Education and support to parents and other caregivers
• Referral to other health care professionals/services as needed
• Consultation and support to PT's (and OT's) trained in Cuevas MEDEK Exercises (CME)
• CME courses (I and II) in Canada in association with Ramon Cuevas, creator of CME
• What services are offered at BlueBalloon Health Services Physiotherapy (BBPT)?

Speech Language Pathology Assessments

Assessment Services
A speech-language pathologist assesses your child's speech, language, and communication abilities to determine whether a communication problem exists. Assessment identifies a child's communication strengths and weaknesses and identifies goals for therapy. Parent interview, observation, and formal testing are procedures used to assess children. Play-based and informal testing procedures are emphasized with very young children and with children who are difficult to formally test (e.g. children with autism). The specific areas tested during assessment are determined by the concerns identified at the time of referral and may include: oral motor functioning, articulation skills, expressive vocabulary and grammatical development, understanding of language, fluency, vocal quality, social communication skills, pre-reading, early reading, spelling, and written language abilities.

Music Therapy Assessments

Music Therapy Assessment includes:

1. A consultation between music therapist and caregiver(s) of child in two stages
   • Before the treatment sessions to address concerns prior to beginning assessment
   • And after the treatment sessions to answer any questions after the report is completed
2. Up to 2 clinical half hour Music Therapy sessions (on two separate dates) used to assess the child’s strengths and needs.
3. An assessment report with recommendations

Upon sign-up of a treatment block period of three months (treatment block must start within a year of Assessment completion), a trained Music Therapist assesses the client and develops an individual treatment plan with specific goals and objectives, which can change as the needs of the client changes. This plan is always reviewed with caregivers to ensure we meet the individual needs of the child.

Assessments are conducted to reflect the child’s emotional, cognitive, communicative, social, physical and psychological abilities within a music-based set of activities. Preferences and motivating instruments or styles of music are also identified. All assessments are conducted on an individual basis with specific recommendations designed for each child.

Specially selected songs and instruments are used to motivate the client in attaining the goals and objectives for the purpose of their well-being.

Psychology Assessments
The assessments look at areas such as the child’s cognitive, academic, and social-emotional functioning; presence of learning disabilities; giftedness; attention and behaviour problems; anxiety and depression; and developmental delays.

In most cases, the referrals to such assessments originate from the parent as a result of deteriorating performance in school, long standing difficulty in particular academic areas, teacher’s complaints, poor report cards, behaviour difficulties, etc. The assessments are conducted in accordance with the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario’s (LDAO)Learning disabilities refer to a variety of disorders that affect the acquisition, retention, understanding, organization or use of verbal and/or non-verbal information. They result from impairments in one or more psychological processes related to learning (e.g., memory and attention, language processing), in conjunction with otherwise average abilities essential for thinking and reasoning.

How is a Psychological Assessment done?
The assessment is generally conducted over 2-3 sessions. The length and number of sessions depend on a number of factors such as the child’s attention span, fatigue, extent of testing required, etc. The stages involved in the assessment are: initial contact, interview with parent and child, testing, and a feedback session.

During the initial contact the clinician inquires about the general reasons for requesting the assessment and determines the necessity of the assessment at the present time. The clinician reviews the assessment process, what to expect, how to prepare the child, what to bring, etc. Following this initial call, the assessment is scheduled.

• The interview with the parents and the child entails obtaining thorough background information, discussing presenting concerns, identifying main problems, psychiatric history, etc.
• Testing: The testing sessions include standardized tests such as intelligence tests, academic tests, and other tests for particular psychological processes. Although most assessments include the same core tests, depending on the issues raised in the interview, other measures may also be included. In addition, the child and the parents are asked to complete a number of questionnaires pertaining to the child’s socio-emotional functioning.
• Feedback session in which the results of the assessment are reviewed and recommendations for further evaluation and treatment are discussed.

Psychological-Developmental Infant Assessment
Developmental assessments are often indicated when the infant is not meeting developmental milestones. Infant assessment of cognitive, language, and motor functioning can help parents and healthcare professionals understand the infant’s unique profile of strengths and weaknesses. Assessment results can serve as the foundation for treatment planning and ensure that treatment goals are being achieved.