If you have been funded to take an OT assessment by NDIS, you must be wondering what to expect from the procedure. Following an accident, injury, or disability, people have a lot to worry about, and an OT assessment should not add to your worries. To make your OT assessment convenient, we have written this blog to help you prepare.
What Do Occupational Therapists Do?
Occupational therapy is a thorough assessment of the client’s abilities to identify problems and develop solutions. Occupational therapists are client-based problem solvers who try to enhance the participant’s skills to take care of themselves and be productive in their homes or community settings. OTs analyse the participants’ cognitive, physical, and emotional abilities and come up with solutions that will be favourable for the participant.
The First Step
Occupational therapy is advised for people who notice a change in their behaviour after a certain injury, accident, or traumatising incident. It could be their inability to go to work and school, or they could be feeling uneasy by themselves or in their family gathering. Before consulting an occupational therapist, it is important to analyse your situation. Once you have noticed an abnormality, your OT will also check to see whether your behaviour is due to some incident or not.
OT Assessment
The process of OT assessment typically starts with an in-person meeting. The therapist will run the assessment by:
Knowing the participants’ life before the incident: In order to make an effective assessment and create a treatment plan, the OT needs to gain knowledge about the participant’s life before the injury. They will ask questions to know how the participant functioned before being unable to perform certain activities.
Observing the client: It is essential to let the participants perform their tasks in environmental and indoor settings to observe their behaviour. OT needs to identify the physical, cognitive, and emotional barriers clients face while performing these tasks. A keen observation also allows the OT to identify the support participant needs.
Developing a plan: After analysing the participant’s needs and problems, OT creates a treatment plan for the participant to follow. This plan includes all the details related to the injury or disability and what supports are directly related to the participant’s treatment.
Writing a report: An NDIS participant doesn’t only see an OT. There are many other healthcare professionals that are treating different problems. OT is responsible for creating a report to help the other professional have a clear understanding of the treatment the participant is receiving at his occupational therapy.
What Can I Get From An OT Assessment?
Once your OT assessment is done and you have completed your treatment, you will be able to see a significant change in your behaviour regarding certain things. You can review your OT assessment report to identify changes in your current lifestyle, and if your OT recommends, you can also take follow-up sessions to continue the treatment. An initial assessment is an excellent start to moving forward with your plan.
What To Expect From A Follow-Up Session?
Follow-up sessions are usually not as long as the initial assessment. Every participant has a different set of challenges, so the follow-up session is also different for each participant. Some might learn sleep techniques in their follow-up session, while others might explore their assistive devices. In follow-up sessions, the OT works with the participants to reach goals that were identified in the initial assessment. They are conducted by keeping the client’s needs in mind, so the treatment for each client varies depending on their needs.
If you were aiming for an OT assessment in NDIS and got it in your plan, reach out to Enable U. Their support workers will help you find the right occupational therapist who will create an effective plan to solve your problems and provide you with the best possible treatment.
