FAQ's
What is Occupational Therapy and how can it help my child?
Paediatric Occupational Therapist’s (OT’s) are allied health professionals who provide comprehensive services for children, who may be experiencing difficulties or have delays in their development. OT’s have a holistic focus which helps them to target a broad range of areas to assist development of vital life skills. We offer assessment and therapy in our Wilton clinic or in the child’s home, childcare, preschool or school. Our goal is to enable them to cope with demands, adapt to tasks and overcome challenges, in order to be independent and engaged with their peers and environments. Our service caters for children aged between 2 years up to 18 years. No matter what age a child/teenager is, they may need some help with parts of their life. Trying to find the route of a problem with an OT may be the first, and most important, step you can take if you are worried about any aspect of their life.
Are OT assessments and intervention sessions covered by private health insurance?
Some insurers do not cover assessments. Occupational Therapy intervention services are covered by most health insurers in Ireland, some even offer up to 75% cover. Our therapists are all CORU registered so there will be no issue as long as your health insurance covers it. You should contact your insurance provider/check your policy document to clarify what your plan covers. In addition, you may be able to claim tax relief on certain unclaimed medical expenses by submitting a Form MED1 which can be downloaded from www.revenue.ie.
Does my child need a full assessment?
If your child has not had an OT assessment within the past 12 months, a full assessment is generally required. This will help us to identify the factors contributing to your child's difficulties. We will ask you to complete and return a pre-assessment questionnaire to help us fully understand your concerns and your child’s difficulties. Following this, we conduct a face-to-face assessment session lasting approximately 1.5 – 2 hours. At a later date we will meet for a parent only session to discuss the findings of the assessment and make a plan going forward. We may ask your permission to send a questionnaire to your child’s teacher. Our reports are detailed and take 3-4 hours to complete; we aim to complete reports within two weeks of assessment.
Do I need to be present for therapy sessions?
This depends on the child. Generally, we would advise for you to be present for the first couple of sessions, but this can depend on age and your child’s preference. We do prefer for you to stay so we can discuss ideas during the therapy sessions.
How does intervention work best?
Continuing with skills that your child is exposed to in therapy sessions and replicating these at home is essential for effective therapeutic intervention. We will work with you to explain what we are working on in therapy sessions and how we are doing it. We will give homework for you to do on at home/at school and any equipment that may be beneficial.
How do I pay?
Fees are payable in full on the day of attendance. We accept payment by card, cheque or cash.
What if I need to cancel an appointment?
There is a very significant demand for appointments at Spring Therapy and many children have to wait to see a therapist. We endeavour to see children as quickly as possible. We have put a cancellation policy in place to help more children be seen and to give us time to book in children on the waiting list into cancellations slots. If you know you will not make your appointment, please let us know so we can give the appointment to somebody else.
.Individual sessions: We understand that children can get sick and we give leeway around this. You will receive a reminder text two days in advance of your appointment. If you cancel 24 hours before your appointment you will not be charged. If you do not turn up for your appointment or cancel within 24 hours, you will be charged 50%. Please phone the clinic as soon as you know you will not be able to attend.
Groups: Groups run on a 6 session block basis. Payment for groups are taken in full and upfront. Unfortunately there is no pay per session available for groups. If your child cannot attend a group session, you will still be charged and issued with a receipt after the session.
.Individual sessions: We understand that children can get sick and we give leeway around this. You will receive a reminder text two days in advance of your appointment. If you cancel 24 hours before your appointment you will not be charged. If you do not turn up for your appointment or cancel within 24 hours, you will be charged 50%. Please phone the clinic as soon as you know you will not be able to attend.
Groups: Groups run on a 6 session block basis. Payment for groups are taken in full and upfront. Unfortunately there is no pay per session available for groups. If your child cannot attend a group session, you will still be charged and issued with a receipt after the session.
