What is . . .

Pediatric OT at Áha OT

On this page you'll find everything you need to know about our pediatric occupational therapy program. We know most people don't know what OT is - especially our style of OT - so we've tried to explain below. Also if you'd like more information about our pediatric feeding therapy services or about reflex integration/primitive reflexes just click below for more info.

What Makes Áha OT Different?

We take a whole-child approach and work from the ground up - ALWAYS. Rather than focusing on isolated symptoms, we look at how movement, posture, breathing, sensory processing, regulation, feeding, development, and family routines all work together. Our goal is not only to support your child, but to help YOU understand your own child's brain and body and to feel confident carrying that support into everyday life.

Our ABOUT US page has lots more info about our practice too.

FAQs

How do I know if my child needs occupational therapy?

Many families come to us because something feels harder than it should. Your child doesn't need a diagnosis to benefit from an evaluation or a screen (see FAQ below).

Common concerns include:

  • Picky eating

  • Sensory sensitivities

  • Big emotional reactions

  • Difficulty with attention or regulation

  • Coordination and motor skills

  • Anxiety

  • Challenges with daily routines like dressing, grooming, or mealtimes

If you're wondering whether OT might help, we'd be happy to talk through your concerns.

Does my child need a diagnosis?

No. A diagnosis is not required to schedule an evaluation or receive services.

What ages do you work with?

We work with children from infancy through adolescence, tailoring support to each child's unique needs and goals.

What happens during an EVALUATION?

During the evaluation session the therapist will assess your child’s breathing patterns, reflex integration, visual skills, posture, and other relevant developmental factors. You can expect open, honest feedback about what the therapist sees and your child will just think they've come to play. Most kids can't wait to come back!

They will also do some standardized testing as necessary and relevant to your child, and require some questionnaires from parents to provide more info about your child at home and at school.

The therapist will then use all of this information to write up a thorough evaluation document and work together with you to create a customized plan of care for your child and your family.

The cost of the evaluation is $1000 for kids ages 24 months and up, and $600 for kids ages 12-24 months. The cost of a screen (if you had one done) will be credited towards your evaluation fee. /

What happens during a SCREEN?

During a screening session, the therapist will conduct an informal yet focused observation to identify key areas for support. This may include assessing your child’s breathing patterns, reflex integration, visual skills, posture, and other relevant developmental factors. You can expect open, honest feedback about what the therapist sees and what next steps might be most helpful.

This session also serves as Part 1 of a full evaluation. If you choose to move forward, we’ll schedule an additional one-hour session, complete a bit more paperwork, and work together to create a customized plan of care.

The cost of the screening is $250, which is applied toward the total evaluation fee if you decide to continue care with us.

Do you work on picky eating?

Yes. We support children with selective eating, mealtime stress, oral motor challenges, sensory differences, and feeding concerns.

Click on the purple button the section above for a link our page about feeding therapy.

What does therapy look like?

Therapy is individualized and often looks like play. Sessions may include movement/obstacle courses, sensory experiences, feeding activities, skill-building, parent coaching, and strategies that can be carried into everyday life.

Will I be involved in therapy?

Absolutely.

Parents and caregivers are an essential part of the process. We believe therapy works best when families understand what's happening and feel confident supporting their child outside of sessions.

How often will my child need therapy?

Recommendations vary based on your child's needs, goals, and family priorities. After the evaluation, we'll discuss what makes the most sense for your child.

Do you take insurance?

No. We are not in network with any insurance companies. We do provide all of our families with superbills to submit to their insurance companies for out of network benefits.

Do you offer virtual services?

We do offer virtual consultative services for families that live outside of the state of GA. These are considered wellness consults and are not eligible for insurance reimbursement.

When you complete your request for services form, you will have the option to select what type of services you need for your family and also to let us know where you live. We will explain the rest to you.

My child is meeting milestones, but something still feels off. Should I be concerned?

Milestones are just one tiny piece of the puzzle. Many families reach out because feeding feels difficult, their child seems unusually tense or sensitive, daily routines are challenging, or they simply have concerns they can't quite put into words. Trusting your instincts is a good place to start.

Please reach out to us with questions if this feels like your situation. A screen is a GREAT way to get answer WITHOUT any sort of commitment.

Request Services

Click to fill out our service request form.

Did you know?

OT HELPS WITH THINGS LIKE . . .

AT HOME

Getting dressed

Toothbrushing & hygiene

Sleep routines

Big feelings & meltdowns

Mealtime stress

Growing independence

TOILETING & SELF-CARE

Potty training struggles
Frequent accidents
Fear of pooping
Difficulty recognizing body cues
Public bathroom fears
Wiping & hygiene skills

AT SCHOOL

Trouble sitting still

Difficulty paying attention

Handwriting struggles

Trouble keeping up with classroom demands

Avoiding challenging tasks

Difficulty organizing materials

IN THEIR BODY

Poor posture

Low muscle tone or weakness

Clumsiness and frequent falls

Coordination challenges

Reflexes that haven't integrated

Poor body awareness

VISION, AIRWAY & REGULATION

Mouth breathing

Sleep concerns

Headaches or fatigue

Visual tracking and eye teaming difficulties

Difficulty regulating energy levels

Kids who always seem "on" or "off"

FEEDING & ORAL MOTOR

Picky eating

Limited food variety

Gagging or texture sensitivities

Chewing difficulties

Tongue tie concerns

Feeding that takes longer than it should

THE THINGS NOBODY REALIZES ABOUT OT

Anxiety / Constant Worrying

Kids who need to control everything

Perfectionism

OCD-like patterns

Difficulty with transitions

Meltdowns at home but not at school

WHEN SOMETHING JUST FEELS "OFF"

Everyone says they'll grow out of it

Your child is struggling, but you can't quite put your finger on why

You've been told it's "just behavior"

You've tried all the parenting strategies and nothing seems to stick

Do these resonate with you? Feel free to reach out and chat with one of our OTs.

No commitment necessary. Let's see if OT at Áha is the right fit for you.

Chat with Us

Click to fill out our service request form.