Assessment for Neurological Conditions

For the assessment, your child is asked to wear shorts and a T-shirt. It may be necessary for your child to remove further clothing so that the physiotherapist is able to assess your child fully. Parents are asked to remain in the room while their child is being assessed.

The assessment usually takes at least an hour and it may be necessary to complete the assessment over two appointments. The assessment will look at your child’s abilities and ascertain what movements and activities your child is able to achieve and to identify areas of difficulty. Some of the things covered in the assessment are:

• muscle tone (how stiff or floppy your child is)
• the range of active movement (your child carrying out the movement themselves) and the passive range of movement (when the movement is being carried out for them) in all the  joints
• muscle strength
• your child’s balance and saving reactions in different positions
• co-ordination skills such as eye hand co-ordination and eye foot co-ordination 
• fine motor skills including handwriting
• other skills that may be relevant

Following the assessment, goals are set with the parents (and, if possible, with your child) on the areas that you all would like to see improved. In addition, the physiotherapist will set aims of what she would like to see your child achieve.

Copies of the assessment are sent to the parents, referrer, G.P. and any other relevant professionals involved with your child.

Close liaison with the school and local therapy agencies is encouraged to ensure that there is good communication with the whole team.