Occupational Therapy
Sensory Processing and Motor Assessments
Our Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist (OT) is an Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner who combines her expertise in Sensory Processing with her understanding of Motor Skills to gain a holistic picture of each individual.
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Sensory Processing - how your brain makes sense of touch, smell, taste, sight and sound so that you can understand your body and the world around you.
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The three less well-known senses inside your body are called vestibular, proprioception and interoception and have a bit impact on experiences.
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Sensory Processing is increasingly recognised as a common and important aspect of neurodiversity. It can hugely affect the experience of sensory information and has a knock-on effect to how a person feels inside and copes with situations.
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Sensory information can feel overwhelming or confusing, which can lead to difficulties with focusing, coordination, and emotional responses and regulation.
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When we process information from our senses OK, we can focus, learn, engage and participate in what we need and want to do.
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Assessment of Motor Skills allows for a good understanding of both fine and gross motor skills and a potential diagnosis of Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia).
Our Occupational Therapist assessment will include:
In Person Assessment of
Sensory Processing
See you/your child for an-person assessment, using clinical observations and activities to help understand the profile of strengths and difficulties. Specialist questionnaires sent ahead of time help guide the appointment.
Screening of Gross and Fine Motor Co-ordination
Identify any specific motor difficulties with coordination, like tripping and falling, knocking things over, difficulties with using cutlery or writing, difficulties with getting dressed or managing self-care tasks like brushing teeth and having a shower
Assess Sensory Interoception
Assess Interoception – the understanding of internal feelings and sensations.
Can you notice what your body is telling you? How easy is it to ask for help? Do you notice early signs of becoming overwhelmed?
Wider Impact Of Sensory Differences
Tailored Recommendations
Collaboration With Individuals and Organisations
Use observations of social communication, attention and concentration, to understand more about the impact of sensory processing on relationships and functioning.
Provide tailored recommendations and practical strategies to support sensory needs.
Work collaboratively with schools, universities or employers to support appropriate adjustments.
Our Occupational Therapist can also assess coordination and motor development, including identifying Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD or 'Dyspraxia') where appropriate.
Parent
The clinical team took the time to truly get to know our son and consistently adapted their approach to suit his individual needs
Client
Their flexibility, compassion, and professionalism were evident throughout.
Parent
The final report itself has been praised by several professionals for its quality and depth. It has been successfully used as part of the EHCP assessment process, and CAMHS have accepted the report without issue — a testament to the high clinical standard of the service.
Parent
From start to finish, we received outstanding care. Autism North East provided a service that was not only clinically excellent but also deeply caring and family-centred.
