OT approval for the following?

2 1/2 year old does not

- drink from an open cup, can't hold a juice box without squeezing the entire contents

- can eat from a fork but not a spoon

- very sensory hugging hard, pinching, slapping doing all this for affection not when angry or anything.

- knowing he will have difficutly with potty training since he has expressive& receptive issues and diagnosed with pdd nos

Do you think any of the above might qualify him for additional services OT?

Re: OT approval for the following?

Does your child have other significant issues with object manipulation, eye-hand coordination, use of both hands when doing fine motor activities? Squeezing the contents of a juice box may be part of sensory seeking behaviors you also noted (hugging hard, pinching, etc.). If child can eat from a fork but not a spoon, you may be advised to use the eating tool that looks like a fork but curved like a spoon (spork). Has your child had an OT eval in the past? If not, you may request one now while your child is still in EI. Your concerns are enough to request for an OT eval. There is a good chance that your child may be approved because of the diagnosis. As per NYC EI regs (am not sure about Long Island), a child may be eligible for services (OT, PT, Speech, SI, etc.) when they have a diagnosed condition with a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.

EIP memorandum

Feel free to ask more questions.

Re: OT approval for the following?

My DS got speech/feeding and the speech therapist actually worked on the drinking out of a cup with him tirelessly. His OT worked on the sensory stuff and fine motor skills. He also had special ed, so between the special ed teacher and the speech therapist, they worked on the cup and spoon. OT stuck with other things.

Does he get OT now, or not at all? If he was diagnosed on the spectrum, was he ever evaluated for OT? My DS has PDD-NOS and OT made a big difference for me.

Potty training is different for everyone. My DS was trained just after he turned 3. I am not trying to brag, but just want to point out that although he has delays, he may be ready to train sooner than you think :)

Re: OT approval for the following?

IMO no...

My son is almost 5 and can really not use an open cup, he hates it and is still having potty training issues.

My 2 and 1/2 yr olds ( typical) cannot drink from cups yet, tend to squeeze boxes and my one doesnt use utensils, she is very sensory seeking, though not classified and likes to eat with her hands.

If there were more sensory issues, THEN I would say push for O/T. Or play up the sensory stuff ? And there might be some fine motor delays that will get you approved.

GOOD LUCK!!!