Occupational Therapy and Early Identification

Can Salvage a Tough School Year

by

Susan Orloff, ORT/L*

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA

Your child has poor handwriting, seems easily distracted and is thelast to finish class assignments. Is this just a phase, or is somethingreally wrong? Can these concerns be addressed and corrected this schoolyear, or is it too late? Chances are, if you have noticed theseconcerns, your child's teacher has noticed them too. But that doesn'tmean that the teacher can diagnose your child. Sometimes a formalevaluation needs to be conducted and that is where Children's SpecialServices can help.

Children's Special Services, LLC (CSS) was foundedin Atlanta in 1991 by Susan N. Schriber Orloff, OTR/L as acomprehensive therapy service for children from toddler through teen.CSS offers extensive evaluations to determine developmental andlearning delays. In addition, CSS uses interactive therapeutic learningexperiences that encompass both psychological and physiologicaldevelopment issues. By assessing and treating visual motor,coordination, visual processing, and organizational skills, school andlife skills improve.

Orloff has been an occupational therapist for 35years. She recommends talking to your child's teacher as soon asdevelopmental and/or learning delays are identified. Ask forcomparative examples of your child's performance versus what theteacher considers to be more "typical" responses. "It is important forparents to note that small discrepancies only increase as the childmatures. Children do not "outgrow" developmental delays, the delaysonly evolve and "mutate" with maturity," Orloff says.

There are a number of things that parents can do nowthat will impact their child's intellectual and emotional growth when alearning delay has been identified. Involving the child's teacher as a"partner" in the process is imperative. Public school procedures takesome time. Some of the actions that can be taken are developingin-class strategies for the child, a referral to a Resource RoomTeacher and development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for thechild. These actions may be very helpful, but sometimes take up to sixmonths to implement.

There are other low, to no cost evaluation optionsincluding services that are offered through Children's Healthcare ofAtlanta, Medicaid and PeachCare. However, there is usually a waitinglist.

Some schools offer after-school programs forremedial help or a high school student-tutoring program. In eithercase, the school's occupational therapist should be consulted forsuggestions to help develop an appropriate program for the child basedon his/her needs. Another option is to investigate tutoring programs atlocal community centers.

When a formal evaluation is necessary, Orloffsuggests that concerned parents consult with their insurance companiesto see what the insurance company will cover to get an outsideevaluation by a covered provider. Pediatrician's can often providereferrals for registered occupational therapists, like those found atChildren's Special Services. CSS only hires qualified pediatrictherapists. Each therapist is knowledgeable in various learning issuesincluding AD/HD, Autism, handwriting, fine and gross motordifficulties, sensory integration, neurological and genetic diseasessuch as hypotonia, mitochondrial disease, Fragile X and others. CSSprovides services to eleven public and private schools in themetro-Atlanta area.

Research has shown that children with learningissues are three times more likely not to finish high school thantraditional learners. Orloff suggests to parents who have a naggingfeeling about their child's development that they investigate theconcern before it becomes an issue. Information is powerful andhelpful. If there is a problem, then parents can get the help the childneeds. If there is not a problem, then the stress level goes down."Whatever you do, do not delay! The older the child, the more emotionalissues evolve along with the learning concerns," says Orloff.

It is an honor to be on the Board of Nitzan, and Ihope to be communicating with you regularly through this website. Iwish to thank Maly Dananio, and Yitzak Esroff for this remarkableopportunity. Shalom!

* Susan N. Schriber Orloff, OTR/L is anoccupational therapist as well as CEO and Executive Director ofChildren's Special Services. Orloff founded the Atlanta-basedChildren's Special Services, LLC (CSS) in 1991 as a comprehensivetherapy service for children from toddler through teen. CSS usesinteractive therapeutic learning experiences that encompass bothpsychological and physiological development issues. By assessing andtreating visual motor, coordination, visual processing, andorganizational skills, school and life skills improve. CSSonly hires qualified pediatric therapists. Each therapist isknowledgeable in various learning issues including AD/HD, Autism,handwriting, fine and gross motor difficulties, sensory integration,neurological and genetic diseases such as hypotonia, mitochondrialdisease, Fragile X and others. CSS provides services to eleven publicand private schools in the metro-Atlanta area.

Orloff is also the author of the recently published book, Learning Re-enabled: a guide for parents, teachers and therapists.She is available for seminars internationally and throughout the USA.For more information on Children's Special Services, visit www.childrens-services.com or call 1-770-394-9791.