Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional OT eval- not sure what to think

When ds6 was tested by neuropsych in March, she recommended second opinion with a developmental optometrist (which is now doing VT) and an OT consult for poor handwriting/ poor fine motor skills. The OT we were to see doesn't accept insurance, so we went to someone who did and is affiliated with the local Children's hospital. However, now I'm afraid we wasted our time. She agreed that his writing hand is weaker, but he is "on grade level". I knew he was grade level, but was told by neuropsych that if he did not receive OT, he would be behind in a year.

The OT also did not think his vision problem impacted school work- which I know is not true.

So, now, I am back to the original place with OT wondering if I should wait until after VT to see if that solves the handwriting issue or should I bring him to the OT who doesn't accept insurance? Is it possible the otherOT will have more experience with a gifted kid? I don't want to pursue something if it is truly not a problem, but I want to set him up to succeed. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Can you get an OT eval through the school? DS4.11 will be getting OT for writing from the school therapist. He has regular (private) OT for sensory issues and while his therapist is great and does do writing skills with other kids, she didn't find him be very much behind yet the school did! Which is strange because from what I've seen, school is usually the last one to jump in but in case of writing, they are willing to help right from the start.

As for Children's hospitals, I can see how they are great for kids with more complicated issues but when we went there for an Autism eval with the older son the only person we got to work with was an intern and now we're back at the beginning, looking for more answers, this time going through the University of Chicago, since they do a lot of research on Autism. But now I'm side tracking ... just wanted to give my opinion of going to Children's for something less severe.

Thanks for the thoughts and advice.

The OT we saw "used to work closely with schools". Yet, I'm sure they are used to seeing more complex, physically challenged kids.

Thanks Portia for talking about the gap. This is how it was explained to me by the neuropsych. I actually did try to explain this to the OT, but it fell on deaf ears.

MON- as for name of specifics, I'm not sure. I would say some fine motor- playing with putty, twirling a pencil (which ds begged the whole time to do with his R hand) she was assessing L, because he writes lefty. Then, I think visual motor- drawing a line and has to stay in gray box, copying easy patterns. (I tried to explain during neuropsych testing, he could not replicate pictures like a circle with an t in the middle, or a square inside a triangle- wrong size, wrong place, no angles to shapes that required them.) she did have him copy a sentence about sharks and was impressed that he memorized the sentence and rewrote it with correct spelling- as a rising 1st grader.

Mk13- school will definitely NOT evaluate, because he is above grade level. School hasn't seen any problems, yet, principal is onboard with him needing differentiation and challenge.

Overall, I'm hoping this OT may give us exercises to do at home. Then, recontact the original OT that was recommendation. Guess you get what you pay for, right?

Thanks again. This board has been a lifesaver for me the past year! Hoping the upcoming school year will be better!

Our OT does a whole lot of standardized tests, ranging from timed precision line drawing & timed writing, to a whole lot of coordination tests that I would probably fail myself. It doesn't sound like this assessment you had done was a full sensory profile?