Clinical vs School-Based Occupational Therapy - What's The Difference?

Summary

In this video, Dana, a pediatric occupational therapist, explains the primary differences between clinic-based and school-based occupational therapy (OT) settings. Clinic-based OT is holistic and follows the medical model, addressing a wide range of childhood occupations and skills, from socializing to sensory sensitivities. In contrast, school-based OT is more focused, following the educational model, and targets skills directly related to academic success, such as fine motor skills and executive functioning. Dana also touches on why children may qualify for one setting but not the other, highlighting the narrower focus in school-based OT.

Takeaways

• 😀 Clinic-based OT follows the medical model, starting with a doctor’s referral and evaluating a child's needs across all environments.
• 😀 School-based OT follows the educational model, focusing specifically on the child’s academic performance and school-related activities.
• 😀 Clinic-based OT is broad and holistic, addressing areas like fine motor skills, socialization, sensory sensitivities, and motor planning.
• 😀 School-based OT is more focused and aims to improve skills necessary for school activities, such as handwriting and sensory regulation.
• 😀 Clinic-based OT sessions are typically one-on-one and can be conducted in a variety of specialized environments, like a sensory room or rock wall.
• 😀 School-based OT is often done in small or whole groups and doesn’t usually have specialized equipment like in clinics.
• 😀 In clinic-based OT, treatments may address issues like picky eating, fine motor delays, sensory sensitivities, and motor coordination.
• 😀 School-based OT includes tasks like assessing a student's ability to hold a pencil, open their lunch box, or use assistive technology for handwriting.
• 😀 Clinic-based OT is often covered by insurance, but out-of-pocket payment is also an option for families.
• 😀 Children can qualify for one setting (clinic or school-based) but not the other, with school-based OT being more difficult to access due to its narrower focus.

Q & A

What is the primary difference between clinic-based and school-based pediatric OT?

The primary difference is that clinic-based OT follows a medical model, addressing a broad range of concerns in various environments, while school-based OT follows an educational model, focusing specifically on how a child’s skills affect their performance in school.

How does the referral process differ between clinic-based and school-based OT?

In clinic-based OT, the referral typically comes from a doctor, while in school-based OT, a teacher, parent, or other school personnel makes the referral when academic concerns arise.

What kinds of concerns does clinic-based pediatric OT address?

Clinic-based OT addresses a broad range of concerns, such as fine motor delays, socialization issues, sensory sensitivities, feeding difficulties, motor coordination, and more. It looks at how children participate in home, school, and other environments.

What is the focus of school-based pediatric OT?

School-based OT focuses on the skills needed for academic success, including fine motor skills for tasks like writing, sensory regulation, and executive functioning skills, such as organization and planning.

What kinds of treatments are used in clinic-based OT?

In clinic-based OT, treatments can involve one-on-one sessions using specialized equipment like rock walls or ball pits, and can address a wide range of skills, from feeding to fine motor coordination.

What is a common feature of school-based OT sessions?

School-based OT sessions are typically conducted in smaller groups or individually, often in a classroom setting, and focus on academic skills like handwriting, sensory regulation, and task organization.

What type of equipment is typically available in a clinic-based OT setting?

A clinic-based OT setting often has specialized equipment such as a rock wall, ball pits, swings, and other sensory tools to engage children in therapeutic activities.

What role do school-based OTs play in assistive technology?

School-based OTs often act as consultants, making recommendations for assistive technology, such as speech-to-text tools, to help children who struggle with traditional methods like handwriting.

Can a child qualify for clinic-based OT but not school-based OT?

Yes, it is possible for a child to qualify for clinic-based OT but not school-based OT. This is because school-based OT has a more narrow focus, primarily addressing academic-related issues.

Why is it generally harder for children to qualify for school-based OT compared to clinic-based OT?

It’s harder to qualify for school-based OT because it follows the educational model, which is more focused and specific to academic performance. Clinic-based OT is broader and addresses a wider range of concerns, making it easier for children to qualify.