PLANNING YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY OR SPEECH THERAPY VISIT WITH SENSORY KIDS IOWA?
Check out these answers to frequently asked questions.
What do I need to do before my first visit at Sensory Kids Iowa?
1. Intake Paperwork
The time we spend with your child during their appointment is just a snapshot compared to the rest of their life. You help us get a broader picture by filling out our intake paperwork before your initial appointment. By providing this information ahead of time, you’re helping us prepare for a successful first visit.
You can either fill out the intake forms online or pick up physical copies from our location in North Liberty.
2. Gather up examples
If applicable, gather up some examples of your child’s handwriting or drawing to bring to the first visit. If your child has difficulty with eating, your therapist might reach out before the evaluation with a request for you to bring specific food items so we can observe how your child eats different textures. Bring notes or jot down examples of concerns your child’s teacher may have mentioned.
3. Dress for success
Please dress your child in comfortable clothing so they can move and jump around easily, maybe even get a little messy.
What to expect during the first visit?
During your first visit, we complete your child’s initial evaluation. Plan on about 60 minutes for your initial evaluation. During this time, we get to the heart of any issues and form a partnership with you to figure out how to make things better. To help you prepare, here is what to expect:
1. Discussion with parents
Understanding your child’s background and development helps us figure out how to help your child. This is the time to share any and all concerns you have for your child. Ahead of time: think of your top priorities for therapy so we can narrow in on your top 5 areas of concern to address during therapy.
Building on the information provided in the intake questionnaire, the therapist might also ask follow-up questions about specific developmental skills or daily life. We’ll cover a range of topics including eating habits, communication, language development, social skills, daily routines, emotional responses, and sensory preferences
2. Observe your child
After talking with you, it’s time for the therapist to work with your child. If any additional forms need to be completed, you can work on those during this time.
The first visit is a combination of building a relationship with your child and observing their skills. Whether in the sensory gym or a quiet, private room, the therapist will observe and suggest different activities to understand your child’s sensory system, motor skills, communication, and ability to follow directions.
3. Overview of Recommendations
At the end of the first session, your therapist will discuss the preliminary findings and recommendations for ongoing therapy. The therapist may recommend continuing the assessment using standardized evaluations, observing your child in their school environment, or asking for additional questionnaires to be filled out. The full evaluation reports will follow with a detailed analysis of findings as well as the goals we create together to “gently” challenge your child.
What to expect during treatment sessions?
Every session is different based on current goals, your feedback, and even your child’s mood on a given day. Fortunately, we have the equipment and training to provide a combination of services to best meet your child’s needs.
No matter what we do in our treatment sessions, we encourage parents to be actively involved. That being said, this is a safe place no matter what you need. If you’re having a tough day and just need a break, feel free to check in with the therapist and take some time for yourself. Please return at least 5 minutes before your child’s session ends to allow time for the therapist’s feedback.
Generally, a session lasts 30 minutes for ST and 60 minutes for OT. Just like the initial evaluation, plan to dress your child in comfortable clothes that can get messy and allow for movement.
What insurance do you accept?
We are only in-network with BlueCross BlueShield. This includes BCBS plans from the University of Iowa and local school districts, as well as out of state BCBS plans. Please bring your insurance card for us to make a copy.
Other than that, families can choose to pay privately for our services. Download our prompt pay rates here. Simply ask about our payment plans if you’re concerned about the cost of treatment. We’re also able to provide a superbill receipt in case you’re looking to self-submit to an out-of-network insurance.
What is sensory integration and who does it help?
Sensory integration refers to how the body and brain work together to understand and respond to information from the senses outside the body (sight, sound, taste, smell, body position) and inside the body (hunger, thirst, anxiety, and urge to use the bathroom).
A sensory system that’s not processing information easily can show up in daily life as meltdowns, avoiding certain clothing or foods, repetitive activities, or classroom disruptions.
What’s interesting is that sensory processing challenges overlap with another childhood diagnosis such as autism, ADHD, or anxiety. As part of a comprehensive treatment plan, addressing the body’s ability to integrate sensory information can improve a lot of frustrating pieces of daily life for a child with or without a formal diagnosis.
What does it mean to be SIPT certified?
We’re proud to have a SIPT certified therapist on staff at Sensory Kids Iowa!
Being SIPT or SI certified indicates that a therapist has completed advanced training in sensory integration. This is the highest level of certification that is offered in regards to evaluation and treating sensory processing challenges. This means we’re equipped with specialized sensory integration knowledge to offer options for kids in Eastern Iowa with behavior disorders, attention deficits, autism spectrum disorders, and developmental delays.
Do I need a physician referral to start therapy at Sensory Kids Iowa?
This depends on how you plan to pay for therapy services. We’re a private fee-based clinic so we don’t require a physician’s order to begin therapy if you’re going to pay for therapy out-of-pocket.
However, keep in mind, a physician’s referral IS REQUIRED by insurance to get reimbursement for your child’s therapy services. So if you plan to submit to insurance, you’ll need a doctor’s order faxed to our clinic. This applies to both BlueCross BlueShield or any other insurance you plan to self-submit to using a ‘superbill’ receipt. You can download the doctor’s referral form here.
Is it possible for a Sensory Kids therapist to come into my home or school?
Yes! We are dedicated to doing what it takes to help your child, even if that means going outside the walls of our clinic. When needed, we’re able to go to your home or school to provide a consultation or session within that context. Sometimes being able to see your child in that specific situation really helps us provide more personalized and situation-specific support. Please check with your child’s school to see if they allow outside consultants.
*Please note: off-site visits are limited to a 5-mile radius of Sensory Kids Therapy Services clinic.
What’s the fastest method to get results with occupational or speech therapy?
If you’re looking for a faster way to get results for your child, therapy intensives might be a good option for you. Especially during the summer months.
The intensive model involves more visits in a shorter period of time for improved carry-over from session to session and faster results. Ultimately, the exact number of visits depends on the needs of your child but we most commonly recommend 3 sessions per week, over 10 weeks.
With parents included as a big part of the program, families have been delighted not only by progress in the clinic but what a difference they see at home.
Following the intensive program, families frequently take a break from therapy to recharge and fully implement the program before adding anything new.
Ask about our pre-pay discount for therapy intensives!
Why do families travel so far to come to Sensory Kids Iowa?
The fact that families travel to come to our North Liberty clinic is a testament to our special blend of therapy services. It’s not just our advanced training and unique therapy space. It’s also the way we welcome and authentically connect with each family who walks through our doors.
We know we’re doing something right when families continue to show up despite making the drive from places in Eastern Iowa including Ames, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Muscatine.
My child doesn’t have a formal diagnosis, but I have concerns. Does it make sense to start therapy?
We believe that if you have concerns about your child, you should be seeking support sooner rather than later. Even without a formal diagnosis. The early years are so critical, there is no reason to wait for your child to fall farther behind before taking steps to help them.
This is especially true in the context of increasing rates of autism and the research supporting the benefit of early intervention for positive long-term outcomes. While we don’t assume a child has a diagnosis like ADHD or autism, we also don’t want kids to miss out on making progress during these important early years just waiting for a diagnosis. While our therapists can not make a diagnosis, we can help point you in the direction of the right professional if needed.
As a judgment-free zone, we promise to hear you out and provide a complete evaluation to understand your child’s skills in relation to peers, and then support you with resources for whatever next steps are needed.
