The OT Process: The Occupational Therapy Process in Pediatrics

Flashcards covering the foundational steps, roles, and assessment methods of the pediatric Occupational Therapy process.

OT Process Order

The mandatory sequence of steps in occupational therapy: referral, screen, eval, set goals, intervention, reevaluate, and discharge.

Referral

The initial step where OTs must know the reason for the request before treating a child; OTRs and COTAs must clarify the reason if it is unclear.

Screening

A $\text{20 to 30 minute}$ process used to determine if a comprehensive evaluation is necessary; it does not involve goal setting or intervention.

Ages and Stages

A specific example of a screening tool mentioned as one to keep in mind for pediatrics.

Evaluation

The stage that provides a picture of the child, consisting of the occupational profile and the analysis of occupational performance.

Occupational Profile

Gathered during the evaluation, this includes information on the child's development, strengths, weaknesses, performance contexts, and family priorities.

Top-down approach

An evaluation method that first looks at participation in functional tasks and occupationsเช่น ADLs, IADLs, and school-related tasks.

Bottom-up approach

An evaluation method that focuses on underlying deficits hindering performance, such as fine motor skills, range of motion, and attention.

Standardized Assessments

Testing tools that require strict adherence to specific methods, test protocols, and user manuals for administration.

Norm-referenced assessment

A standardized assessment that compares a client's performance to the average performance of their peers, often using a bell curve.

Criterion-referenced assessment

A standardized assessment, such as the Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP), that compares performance against a checklist of skills for a specific age range.

Non-standardized assessments

Assessments that do not follow a specific protocol or wording and can be customized to match the needs of the child.

Standard Deviation ($SD$)

A measure of how far a score is from the mean; in OT, a score of $\text{2}$ standard deviations below the mean is the cutoff for warranted services.

Mean

The average performance score, represented as the center of a bell curve; often set as a value of $\text{100}$ in standardized tests.

Percentile Rank

A ranking system from $0$ to $\text{100}$ indicating the percentage of peers who scored lower than the child.

Age Equivalency

A score that reflects the age level at which a child is performing (e.g., a six-year-old performing at a four-year-old level), though it can be misleading if used as a global measure.

Goal Setting

A collaborative process involving the OTR, CODA, and family to develop long-term and short-term goals after the evaluation.

Intervention Planning

The process where the OTR develops a treatment plan based on goals and results, with the CODA contributing knowledge about the client.

Intervention Implementation

The stage of the process where the OTR and CODA carry out treatment to improve the child's performance and participation.

Reevaluation

The stage where the OTR determines if further services are indicated and clinical progress is measured.

Discharge

The discontinuation of services, occurring when a child has met their goals or is no longer benefiting from OT services.

Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP)

Acronym for a criterion-referenced checklist used to track language and cognitive skills in young children.

Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS)

A standardized motor assessment used to determine percentile ranks for gross motor and fine motor subtests.