Following are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive:
What are the benefits of private, clinic based therapy?
There are many benefits of receiving private - clinic based services. In a clinic setting, children have access to specialized equipment and tools that are not always readily available in the home or school. Services provided in a clinic setting provide 1:1 with the child and therapy can be conducted in a quiet controlled environment where distractions can be minimized and/or in an area where there are distractions so multi-sensory processing deficits can be addressed. Clinic based therapy also allows frequent communication between therapist and parent. Clinic based therapy also enables your child's therapists to work as a team toward the same goals. And finally, the clinic setting allows parents an opportunity to meet other families who have similar cocnerns.
Is therapy covered by my insurance?
We always suggest parents call their insurance companies to verify coverage for therapy services. When you call you will need to ask what your deductible is, if there is a dollar amount or number of visits per calendar year, and what your co-pay/co-insurance amount will be.
What if insurance does not cover therapy?
You always have the option of paying privately for therapy services however, it is expensive. Ask if you can receive a free consultation to get some ideas on where you can start. Ask if there are any groups or other programs that would benefit your child.
Do I need a prescription from my doctor for therapy?
Yes. Ask your pediatrician for a prescription for the service(s) you are seeking.
What can I do at home to help my child?
There are a lot of thngs you can do at home to help your child develop their skills. Take a look at our treatment section as it has several activities that can be incorporated into your child's day.
Isn't the school going to address all of my child's needs?
Yes and No. School based programs and special education/related services (which can include OT, PT, and/or ST) are designed to provide your child with access to their education. Although children may exhibit difficulties in one or many areas, there difficulties must have a negative impact on their ability to perform educated related tasks. Often times schools will provide adaptations, accomodations and or modifications to your child's educational day to enhance their performance. We work closely with a child's educational team to enhance carry-over and to provide suggestions so the child can meet their educational goals.
My child's teacher says my child has difficulty attending in school, do I need to medicate?
That depends. We do not encourage medications for children, however it is up to you. We recommend you find out why your child is inattentive at school. Ask yourself questions. Is my child distracted at home? Does my child have difficulty following directions? Could my child possibly have food sensitivities/intolerances that are contributing to inattentiveness? Ask the teacher questions such as: Is my child inattentive all day or is it at certain times or is during certain activities throughout the day? What strategies are being used to gain his/her attention? What is the set-up of the classroom like?
My child has been tested for allergies and the results were negative, could he/she still have food sensitivities and intolerances?
Absolutely! Food sensitivities and intolerances contribute to adverse behaviors, attention, activity level, processing difficulties, and frequent upper respiratory illnesses. Many parents are afraid to chage their child's diet for fear they won't eat anything. In actuality the opposite is usually true. Most children crave the foods they are sensitive to and once those foods are removed from their diets, they begin to explore new foods. There are several books, blogs, Facebook pages, and websites designed to help you through the process of determine food sensitivities and intolerances.