Irvine, California

Occupational Therapy Evaluations and Consultations

A clear picture of what your child can do, what is getting in the way, and what to do next.

Whether a physician has already referred your child to a pediatric occupational therapist, or you are still wondering whether occupational therapy is the right fit, an evaluation is how we find out. It looks at your child's background, development, and environment, and it ends with recommendations you can act on.

Schedule a tourCall or text (949) 835-3746
About 3 hours of testing and observation Written report and 45-minute conference Clinic, school, or home Serving families since 2016

What an occupational therapy evaluation involves

Evaluations are planned individually around your child. Two children with the same referral question rarely get the same three hours.

  • You are the first source of information. As caregivers, you know the history, the development, and what prompted the referral. That is where an evaluation starts, not where it ends.
  • About three hours of testing and observation. Standardized testing, direct observation of your child, or both, depending on the question we are trying to answer.
  • Clinic, school, or home. Where we observe depends on where the difficulty shows up. A child who is fine at home and struggling in a classroom needs to be seen in a classroom.
  • Scores read in context. Test scores and observations are interpreted against your original concerns and what we learn about your child's functioning in other developmental areas, not read in isolation.

How the process runs

From your first call to a plan you understand.

  1. Come in for a tour

    Meet our clinical staff, see the space, and tell us what you are seeing at home or hearing from school.

  2. We gather your input

    You describe your child's development and the concerns behind the referral. This shapes what we test and where we observe.

  3. The evaluation itself

    About three hours of testing and direct observation with your child, at the clinic, at school, or at home depending on the concern.

  4. A written report

    Once the necessary information is gathered, we write a comprehensive evaluation report.

  5. A consultation conference

    We schedule a 45-minute conference to walk you through the findings and the recommendations, so you leave understanding both.

If you already have a valid evaluation from elsewhere that is less than 10 months old, send it to us. We may not need to repeat it.

Evaluation and consultation services

Not every family needs a full evaluation. These are the options, from the lightest touch to the most complete.

  • Preliminary screening. A brief look to help you decide whether a full evaluation is worth pursuing. Schedule a screening.
  • Parent consultation. Time with a therapist to talk through what you are seeing and what your options are, without committing to a full evaluation.
  • Comprehensive evaluation with written report and 45-minute conference. Covers gross and fine motor development, sensory processing, a parent or caregiver interview, and a home or school visit.
  • Sensory intake with written recommendations and consultation. Focused on sensory processing, with a home or school visit included.
  • School visits, IEP support, and home visits. We observe your child where the difficulty actually happens and can support the IEP conversation.
  • Feeding evaluation. For concerns about eating, mealtimes, and a limited range of accepted foods. See feeding therapy.
  • Written goals and objectives. Clear, measurable goals your family and your child's team can work from.
Schedule a screeningSee all therapy services

What we look at

An occupational therapy evaluation covers the everyday skills a childhood is built on.

  • Fine motor skills. Grasp, hand strength, in-hand manipulation, and the skills behind handwriting, cutting, and fasteners.
  • Gross motor development. Balance, coordination, core strength, and how your child moves through a playground or a classroom.
  • Sensory processing. How your child takes in and responds to movement, touch, sound, and the rest of the sensory world, and how that shows up in behavior.
  • Participation at home and school. Dressing, eating, play, transitions, and the parts of a day that are harder than they should be.

Questions parents ask

How long does an evaluation take?
Pediatric occupational therapy evaluations include about three hours of testing and direct observation with your child. That time may be split across more than one appointment depending on your child and where the observation happens.
Where does the evaluation happen?
At our Irvine clinic, at your child's school, or at home. It depends on the concern. If the difficulty shows up in a classroom, we want to see the classroom.
Do I need a referral from a doctor?
Families come to us both ways. Some are referred by a physician, and some reach out on their own because something does not feel right. Either is a fine place to start.
What do I get at the end?
A comprehensive written evaluation report and a 45-minute consultation conference where we walk you through the findings and the recommendations together.
We already have an evaluation from somewhere else. Do we need a new one?
Not necessarily. We accept a valid evaluation that is up to about 10 months old. Only once it is older than that does your child's current skill level tend to be different enough that a new evaluation helps us determine the best plan of care and target the right skills. Send us what you have and we will tell you honestly.
What is the difference between a screening and an evaluation?
A screening is a brief look that helps you decide whether a full evaluation is worth pursuing. An evaluation is the full picture, with testing, observation, a written report, and a conference.
Do you take insurance?
No. We are an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly. We provide a detailed superbill twice a month, on the 1st and the 15th, that you can submit for possible reimbursement, and occupational therapy is generally an eligible FSA and HSA expense.
What happens if my child qualifies for therapy?
The report includes recommendations, including how often we suggest your child be seen. Sessions are typically 50 minutes, and most children come once a week.
Can you help with an IEP?
Yes. School visits and IEP support are among the services we offer, and written goals and objectives can be part of what you receive.

Related services

An evaluation is the front door. See all pediatric therapy services for what comes after it.

Start with a tour

Come see the clinic and talk with our clinical staff. If you do not have a valid evaluation from the last 10 months, we will start with one. If you do, send it over and we will go from there.

Schedule a tourCall or text (949) 835-3746