How should I prepare for my child’s initial assessment?
An initial assessment can be an anxiety-inducing situation if you are unsure of what to expect. We have broken down some of our top tips for preparing for your child’s initial assessment:
Tip 1: Make a List of Your Main Concerns
Often throughout the initial assessment you may be asked a variety of questions including your child’s medical history/background, their day to day living, and your main concerns. Some things to consider:
Write out your main concerns and underline what you would like to focus on
Write out some goals you may have in your own words and avoid trying to use medical wording. Speaking in an informal manner can keep the conversation feeling more natural and avoid any confusion. Often therapists will try to match the language you use so starting off simple is always best!
Using examples of your concerns based on what you have experienced and describing it from your perspective is helpful.
Tip 2: Write a list of your child’s interests
This is incredibly helpful for the therapist as it allows them to cater your child’s interest’s into sessions to keep them motivated. Some further things to consider:
Bring some of your child’s favourite toys just incase your child isn’t motivated by the therapists toys
Leave the ipad in the car if your child is prone to requesting for it as it eliminates some distractions
Tip 3: Don’t feel shy to request for a separate chat
Often throughout initial assessments you will be asked to describe some of your main concerns and/or complaints. If you do not feel comfortable having this conversation in front of your child do not be shy to ask for a follow up phone call or separate meeting to discuss more details with your therapist. This allows for further transparency and eliminates the concern of your child being affected by what you say.
Tip 4: Don’t forget to leave some time at the end to discuss the therapists recommendations
At the end of the initial assessment your therapist will often leave some time to discuss their main recommendations and plan moving forward to support your child. This is a crucial part of the assessment process as it gives you some clarity on what to expect moving forward. Here are some further things to consider:
Don’t be shy to request for clarification if your therapist says or explains something you don’t fully understand
Don’t be shy to question the therapist if you feel they have not fully understood what you have explained. This can be helpful in ensuring there are no misunderstandings.
Remember you are always the expert on your child and don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and opinions on their care. Family-centred care means having the family as an active part of the process.
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