OTs and diagnosing things

[Anonymous]

We have had three sessions so far with a very well regarded OT (had her recommended by our therapist and our nutritionist and our ped mentioned she's good)
Ok in three sessions she's identified a retained reflex (I had ped check who said it's fine - asked OT again and she kind of shrugged) and also a vision issue.

We went to OT for some sensory processing issues - she also thinks there are some gross motor issues - our kid isn't the most coordinated kid but does ok.

So tell me - what % of kids walking into OT are diagnosed with these things? I can't tell if she really is this awesome and it's been "great pick ups" like one practitioner said or if they are just diagnosis happy (this lady works very part time so she isn't doing it for the $$) and she doesn't benefit from the vision issue she identified

[Anonymous]

I think most OT's find something to justify billing. I found it a waste of time. If there is a vision issue, get to a good eye doctor not OT. That makes no sense. For gross motor, go to a PT but doing activities helps like gymnastics, swim, etc.

[Anonymous]

OP, what is your kid's diagnosis? Have you actually seen a developmental pediatrician yet? If anyone is seeking out an OT, it's usually b/c there are issues of some kind.

Our kid is low tone diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician at age 3 and dysgraphia diagnosed through a neuropsych evaluation at age 6. We could tell that there were coordination issues even though they looked pretty mild. We still do OT and my kid is 10.

OTs can't diagnose things but they can do a battery of tests to measure strengths and weaknesses. You will have goals specific to your kid. Sometimes people do OT for regulation.

[Anonymous]

There are OTs and developmental opthamologists that do vision work but it's controversial due to lack of evidence that it works.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like typical OT BS.

[Anonymous]

Those don't sound like diagnoses OP, but rather observations of characteristics. Those characteristics may or may not be associated with, or part of, a disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most OT's find something to justify billing. I found it a waste of time. If there is a vision issue, get to a good eye doctor not OT. That makes no sense. For gross motor, go to a PT but doing activities helps like gymnastics, swim, etc.

100% agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those don't sound like diagnoses OP, but rather observations of characteristics. Those characteristics may or may not be associated with, or part of, a disorder.

Yeah, I think the OP needs a global assessment. The kids that I know who see nutritionists have genetic disorders, severe food allergies, diabetes and/or endocrinological disorders. So I'm assuming there's a reason OP started seeing one, but if it was for picky eating, again that might be more of a characteristic of something else.