Pediatric Therapy Evaluations
Located in Massapequa & East Northport, NY
At Sensational Development, we know how important a personalized evaluation is for your child’s success in therapy. We offer a variety of evaluation options tailored to address your concerns and your child’s unique needs. We are committed to providing you with the information and insights you need to support your child’s growth and development.
Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Evaluation
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Our comprehensive evaluation involves a combination of standardized testing and extensive clinical observations. Following the evaluation, you will receive a detailed written report that includes detailed recommendations to help your child achieve their developmental goals. Our team will follow-up with you to review this report and answer any questions you have.
Occupational Therapy Evaluation
Duration: Approximately 1-1.5 hours
Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT)
Applicable for children ages 4 - 8 years and 11 months
Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT)
Applicable for children ages 3 - 12 years
This is a comprehensive assessment designed to measure the sensory integration processes that are crucial to your child’s learning and behavior. It is especially helpful to determine specific underlying challenges associated with learning disabilities, emotional disorders, and minimal brain dysfunction. The EASI often requires multiple sessions to administer fully.
Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
Done in agreement with your school district
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know which therapy evaluation my child needs?
We offer a variety of therapy evaluations to ensure your child’s treatment plan is tailored to their unique needs, but we do understand that an abundance of choice can be overwhelming. The good news is, getting started with an evaluation at Sensational Development is a lot easier than you might think at first glance.
We have three main types of evaluations:
- Occupational therapy evaluations are best if your child is struggling to handle daily tasks or delayed on achieving key milestones for their age. You can learn more about this on our occupational therapy page.
- Sensory integration evaluations are best if your child is easily overstimulated by their environment, has behavioral challenges, avoids typical childhood activities or seems to constantly seek out more extreme sensory input. You can learn more about this on our sensory integration therapy page.
- An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is best if your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in place at school due to a disability or disorder, and you want to know if their IEP is addressing all of their needs.
When you attend your child’s first appointment, one of our expert therapists will be happy to discuss your concerns and recommend the right evaluation for your child’s needs. Call us at (516) 799-2900 to get started.
2. How can I get my child’s school to agree to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)?
Thanks to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents have the federally-protected right to request an evaluation from their child’s school district to establish or revise an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). You even have the right to receive an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) from the provider of your choice if you want a second opinion on your child’s IEP.
In order to request an IEE for your child, all you have to do is submit a written request to the special education coordinator or principal of your child’s school. This request should include the reason why you are seeking an IEE. Once your request is approved, the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) will pay for a qualified professional to complete the independent evaluation for your child.
Sensational Development provides IEEs for the children in our community to ensure that their IEP is sufficient for their needs. We can work with you to help you understand your rights, what steps you should take, and what you should expect when requesting an IEE from your child’s school district. For more information, give us a call at (516) 799-2900 and we’ll be happy to help.
What’s the difference between the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) and the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI)?
Both the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) and Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI) were developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres, a widely-respected occupational therapist and neuroscientist. Dr. Ayres studied the impact of sensory integration on children’s ability to learn and function in daily life.
As part of her research, she developed the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), a set of tests that assess a child’s sensory integration skills between ages 4-8 years. The Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI) is a set of tests that have evolved from the SIPT over time thanks to continuing research and implementation from professionals all over the world.
Both tests are still valid and extremely useful for discovering which areas of sensory integration a child needs help with. The main difference is that the EASI is for children aged 3-12 years and covers additional skills and functions as part of its standard testing process. The good news is that you don’t particularly have to worry about which test to choose for your child—our expert therapists will determine which one is most appropriate for your child’s needs when you come for the initial evaluation.
4. Will insurance cover the cost of my child’s therapy evaluation?
In most cases, yes! If you have insurance for your child, most insurance companies do cover the cost of pediatric therapy evaluations and treatment. This will, however, depend on the specific insurance company you use and the type of insurance plan you have. It’s always a good idea to check with your insurance agent to ensure that your plan covers the treatment or evaluation your child needs, as well as how much your deductible and copay amounts are. Click here to read more about common insurance and billing questions and answers.
At Sensational Development, we are in-network with the following insurance providers:
- United Healthcare
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Oxford
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Northwell Direct
We also work with those who have NYSHIP insurance, though there are special instructions for how to access your coverage to complete a therapy evaluation with Sensational Development. You can call us at (516) 799-2900 and we’ll be happy to give you more information about how you can use your coverage with us.
If you have a different insurance provider, we do accept out-of-network clients. And if you are uninsured, we will be happy to work with you to ensure your child and family can access the top-notch care we are so proud to provide every day.
5. Can you help if my child has already had an occupational therapy evaluation elsewhere, but I want a second opinion?
Of course! You deserve to feel confident in the level of care your child receives from their pediatric therapist. If you’ve already had an evaluation from or started treatment with another clinic and you want a second opinion, Sensational Development is happy to help. Our expert pediatric therapists will work with you and your child to re-evaluate their current skills and limitations to recommend the best treatment for their specific needs. We’ll also answer any questions you have about your child’s development so that you can have peace of mind that your child is getting the quality care they deserve.
If it turns out that our experts agree with your child’s initial evaluation, great! It’s 100% your choice to either continue receiving treatment from your child’s current clinic or transfer to Sensational Development. And if we think that some changes should be made to your child’s therapy plan based on the results of our evaluation, we’ll be happy to discuss our findings with you so that you can make the best choice for your child’s needs.
Give us a call at (516) 799-2900 to schedule an evaluation today. We look forward to empowering your child’s healthy growth and development.