Top tips when assessing an Infant

Written by otuser on . Posted in Uncategorized

1. Don’t be afraid to spend time watching the baby Explain to the parent that you need to observe and give the baby time to settle into the unfamiliar environment. Observation and interviewing skills are just as important (if not more) than any formal assessment you may choose to undertake). Observe the baby engage in a task with regards to the following:

  • the quality of what they are doing (interaction, movement, grasp, looking etc).
  • the variety of what they are doing (does this change?)
  • the repertoire of what they are doing (is there a common theme in their play/engagement?)
  • function (what is the baby able to DO with the toy/movement/sound?).

2. Remember that the parent is the expert on their child and the parent-child relationship is extremely important. Give permission for the parent to respond to the baby’s needs at any stage during the assessment or treatment session. Observe carefully and take cues from both the baby and caregiver during your assessment. For example, if the baby is extremely upset and the parent is visibly anxious about the assessment; reassure the parent that the baby can stay with them until he feels comfortable with you. It is likely that the mother will be able to more effectively engage the baby than you are able to.

3. Ask questions about the baby’s typical day. This will be important in understanding contextual issues and will give you valuable information toward your assessment.

4. Assessment may be completed over a number of sessions using a variety of assessment methods and environments/times as the baby may present differently at different times of the day. Clinics within hospitals and other health settings can be overwhelming and overstimulating for the infant. They may smell, sound, look and feel unfamiliar to the infant, which can impact on engagement in your session. Home video footage may supplement what you see in your assessment and give you an idea of the infant's capability in their home environment.

5. For children who have significant delays across many areas of their development, the use of the sequences charts along with parent goal setting may be a more sensitive approach to your assessment. It is ok to abandon an unsuitable assessment in favour of another or for a play based session in these circumstances.