Oct
29
Written by:
SpeechTree
10/29/2010 4:04 PM
You will often find a Developmental Therapist working in the following settings:
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Early Intervention
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Counseling Groups that support play therapy and behavior management
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Hospitals that provide team medical diagnostics
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Teaching Hospitals – NICU
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Child Developmental Centers & Daycares
A developmental therapist assesses and provides intervention in a global approach considering all areas of development from cognition, communication, adaptive/self-help skills, social –emotional and fine and gross motor.
A developmental therapist is instrumental and necessary in Early Intervention as he/she is often needed to conduct a global assessment to determine eligibility and to provide one of two opinions needed to develop an IFSP. A developmental therapist is often part of a medical diagnostic team as the child development specialist. They work closely with counseling and child development facilities to provide not only direct intervention but also education about typical vs. atypical developmental milestones.
You should refer to a Developmental Therapist when a child displays the following difficulties:
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Attending to task
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Functional and pretend play skills
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Following verbal directions
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Turn-taking and reciprocal play
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Social and personal boundaries
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Atypical behavior during activities and interactions
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Understanding of concepts
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Interest in others
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Separation anxiety
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Playing alongside/with other children