Tips For An Occupational Therapy Referral

Preparing For Your Child's Doctor Appointment


​PRIOR TO YOUR CHILD’S APPOINTMENT

  1. Write down the specific concerns you have for your child and provide corresponding concrete examples. ​
  2. Take short video clips to illustrate the challenges your child experiences with life activities.
  3. ​If your child is five years of age or younger, complete the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention milestone checklist appropriate to his or her age.  In addition, you can request that your child's regular care or educational provider fills out this form.  Please make sure that relevant observations, comments, and concerns are included.  For access to the CDC's milestone checklists, click here.​​  

Why are these steps important?
By providing context to your child’s difficulties, the doctor will be better equipped at making informed decisions regarding health care services.  Remember that you are trying to give the physician enough information, so he or she can determine there is a developmental delay, suspected delay, or medical need impairing your child’s participation in occupations; therefore, facilitating a referral for occupational therapy.
  • Call to schedule an appointment with your child's physician.  It is important to tell the office staff that you may need more time at the visit in order to discuss your child's development.

​AT YOUR CHILD’S APPOINTMENT
  • Bring and share your list of concerns, video clips, and milestone checklists with your child’s pediatrician.
  • Given the developmental or medical concerns of your child, his or her physician may provide you with a diagnosis code and an occupational therapy order for evaluation and treatment. 
  • If you do not receive this order and continue to have concerns for your young child, you may suggest an occupational therapy referral for developmental testing.   ​​​
Why is this important?

When you or a care/educational provider have concerns about your child's development, the CDC recommends that you ask your child's doctor for a referral to a specialist.  Occupational therapists are specialists who can perform developmental testing in cognitive, physical, social, and adaptive skill areas.  We may also assess if there are differences in the way your child processes information from his or her senses.  This can impact your child's movements, behaviors, learning, and ability to participate in life activities.
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  • The doctor may refer your child to a specific occupational therapy practice.  However, you can request to use the order to seek a therapy provider of your choice. 
  • Make sure you are given a copy of the pediatrician’s order for your own records.