Owatonna Hospital Occupational Therapist receives certification in advanced pediatric testing

OWATONNA, Minn. 08/06/2008--Brandon Simmons, an occupational therapist at Owatonna Hospital's Center for Rehab & Wellness, recently received certification in administering the Sensory Integration and Praxis test (SIPT) to help understand why some children have difficulty learning or behaving as developmentally expected.

Brandon Simmons, occupational therapist at Owatonna Hospital’s Center for Rehab & Wellness, demonstrates the Constructional PRAXIS subtest. Similar to a puzzle or building blocks, this three-dimensional assessment tests a child’s ability to see an object, think about it and then place it into the correct position based on a completed structure. By manipulating objects in space, this helps to identify visual processing abilities, which are crucial in letter formation.

SIPT is designed for children between the ages of 4 and 8 who have learning challenges or demonstrate mild to moderate difficulty with function at home, school and/or community settings. It's geared toward children with sensory integrative disorders, high functioning autism, Aspergers’ Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorder or those experiencing difficulty with sensory processing.

The test itself contains 17 different standardized subtests and is usually given in one to two sessions, totaling four to five hours of testing procedures. It helps to pinpoint specific problems associated with learning disabilities, emotional disorders and minimal brain dysfunction, as well as measures visual, tactile, kinesthetic perception and motor performance.

Sensory integration is the neurological process by which sensations, such as from the skin, eyes, joints, gravity and movement sensory receptors are organized for use. According to Simmons, "Praxis, or motor planning, is the ability in which children figure out how to use their hands and body in skilled tasks like playing with toys, using a pencil or fork, building a structure, straightening up a room or engaging in other activities." He added, "It’s knowing what to do as well as how to do it."

For a dyspraxic child, explained Simmons, "They have difficulty using their bodies, including relating to objects in the environment. They also may have trouble with simply organizing their own behavior." Children having sensory integration problems may become overwhelmed easily, avoid certain activities, act out, cry easily, become frightened with movement or have difficulty writing or learning.

Using the information from SIPT, an occupational therapy treatment plan can be developed, which is designed for each child’s unique needs to help with reading; writing; math; eye-hand coordination; gross, fine and oral motor skills; visual motor; and tactile discrimination and perception.

Simmons received his certification through Sensory Integration International, where he completed three courses that addressed theory, testing and assessment and interpretation of assessment data. He is the first occupational therapist in the area to provide this testing.

About Owatonna Hospital

The new Owatonna Hospital will be connected to the current Owatonna Clinic-Mayo Health System 26th Street location, off Interstate 35, creating a health care campus. The facility will be designed to create an environment for providing high quality, safe, patient-centered care for residents in the region.

Owatonna Hospital and Allina Hospitals & Clinics are taking a leadership role to promote healthy eating and physical activity through their heart healthy living and obesity initiatives with an emphasis on childhood obesity. Over the next five years, Allina and Owatonna Hospital will be working with community organizations to improve nutrition and increase physical activity to decrease obesity and improve heart health.

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