10 Evaluation Mistakes Pediatric OTP’s Make (and How to Avoid Them)
As a pediatric OT, you’ve been there: you're elbow-deep in paperwork, your coffee’s gone cold, and you’re still trying to decode that kindergarten teacher’s note about a child who "just can’t sit still."
But in the rush to complete evaluations, even the most seasoned OTs can fall into common traps. Here are 10 mistakes many of us make—and how to sidestep them with confidence.
Skipping the Occupational Profile
Without it, you miss the child’s context. It's not just what they can’t do—it’s what they need to do.Over-relying on Observations Alone
Observations matter—but standardization adds credibility. A balance is key.Using Outdated Tools
That assessment from 1994? It may not reflect today’s research or inclusive norms.Not Linking Findings to Function
You can say a child has low core strength. But what does that mean for recess, cutting, or toileting?Ignoring Participation-Level Data
Start with: what can the child not participate in that others their age can? Then dig into why.Underutilizing Parent and Teacher Input
They’re your eyes and ears outside of the session—tap into that!Writing Reports Like a Thesis
Less jargon, more clarity. The goal: accessible, defendable, actionable reports.Missing Developmental Red Flags
Subtle things—like retained reflexes—can be easy to overlook without a checklist.Neglecting Sensory & Executive Functioning Profiles
Motor is visible. But sensory and EF challenges often drive the behaviors we’re called in for.Waiting Too Long to Try a New Workflow
If your eval process feels like a slog, it probably is. Consider a system that’s magically streamlined.
Want a smarter way to evaluate? O.T. Wizard gives you standardized tools, dynamic reports, and less paperwork—without losing your clinical magic.
Sources:
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S200
Case-Smith, J., & O'Brien, J. C. (2015). Occupational therapy for children and adolescents (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
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