01/10/2025
Love this description of the depth of assessment that is needed to fully understand a person's individual sensory profile. Thanks for sharing Moyna! At The Cocoon Therapy Space we believe thorough assessment process leads to the best outcomes! Rachel Ineson Independent Occupational Therapist Laura Elliott Independent Occupational Therapist Moyna Talcer Consultant Occupational Therapist
Yesterday morning, I spent time teaching Ayres structured clinical observations to a collegue who I supervise. They already use them in practice but as part of their ongoing learning and clinical development, wanted to take the time to go a bit deeper and drill into the neuro structures being assessed. I love how they are so committed to their learning.
Ayres' Structured Clinical Observations are postural and motor tasks developed by occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres to assess sensory processing difficulties, particularly in children. These observations evaluate factors like muscle tone, postural control, vestibular function, and praxis, which are foundational for an individual's ability to engage in daily activities. The tasks are designed to be administered within a playful context and are the basis for more standardized assessments like the Structured Observations of Sensory Integration-Motor (SOSI-M).
Purpose
To assess sensory integration and sensory processing difficulties.
To identify underlying postural, motor, and neurological issues that may impede occupational performance.
To inform the development of tailored interventions that address an individual's specific sensory and motor challenges.
Key Aspects
Focus on Sensory-Based Motor Skills: The observations assess skills like proprioception (body awareness), vestibular processing (balance and movement), motor planning, and postural control.
