Question 1

How do I know whether my child needs an assessment?

Accepted Answer

If something about your child's development is worrying you — speech, movement, learning, behaviour, sensory responses or social interaction — that concern is reason enough. You do not need a referral or a diagnosis to book an assessment. Parents notice differences early and are usually right that something is worth looking at, even when they cannot name what it is.

Question 2

My child is very young. Should I wait and see?

Accepted Answer

Waiting is the most common thing families regret. The early years are when development is most responsive to support, so the period spent waiting is the period in which help would have counted for most. An assessment carries no downside: if development is on track you get informed reassurance, and if it is not, you have not lost time.

Question 3

Do I need a doctor's referral?

Accepted Answer

No. Families can contact the centre directly to arrange an assessment. If you already have reports from a paediatrician, school or another professional, bring them — they give useful background — but nothing is required to get started.

Question 4

Which therapy does my child need?

Accepted Answer

That is what the assessment determines, and it is not a decision you should have to make in advance. The assessment identifies which areas of development need support and which discipline — or combination — is appropriate. Many children work with more than one therapist, with goals coordinated between them.

Question 5

What happens at the first appointment?

Accepted Answer

The first appointment is a functional assessment. The therapist takes a detailed developmental and family history, observes your child directly, and uses structured assessment appropriate to their age and the concern raised. You will be asked a lot about what you see at home — that information matters as much as anything observed in the room.

Question 6

How should I prepare my child?

Accepted Answer

Keep it low-key. Describe it as going to meet someone who has lots of toys and games to play with. Avoid framing it as a test or as something being wrong. Bring any previous reports, and if your child has a comfort object, bring that too.

Question 7

Will I be told what the results are?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Findings are explained to you in plain language — what was assessed, what was found, what it means and what is recommended. If terminology is used that you do not follow, ask the therapist to put it differently. You should leave understanding your child's profile, not holding a set of scores.

Question 8

Does the centre give a formal diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The centre provides functional assessment — establishing what a child can and cannot currently do and what support they need. That is distinct from formal diagnostic classification, which may require input from a paediatrician, psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Where a formal diagnosis would be useful, you will be told and directed appropriately.

Question 9

How long is a therapy session?

Accepted Answer

Sessions typically run around 45 minutes. Assessment appointments are longer, since they involve history-taking and structured evaluation as well as observation.

Question 10

How many sessions a week will my child need?

Accepted Answer

This is set after the assessment and depends on the type and degree of difficulty, your child's age, and what is realistic for your family. More is not automatically better — consistency over time and what happens between sessions matter more than session count alone.

Question 11

Can my child receive more than one therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and many do. A child might see an occupational therapist for sensory and motor skills and a speech therapist for communication. When a child works across disciplines, the therapists coordinate goals so the programmes reinforce each other.

Question 12

Can I stay in the room during sessions?

Accepted Answer

This is discussed with your therapist and depends on your child and the goals being worked on. Some children settle better with a parent present; others engage more once they are working independently. Whatever the arrangement, you will be briefed on what happened and what to do at home.

Question 13

My child cries or resists at first. Is that normal?

Accepted Answer

It is common in the early sessions. A new adult, a new room and unfamiliar demands are a lot for a child who may already find change difficult. Therapists build rapport before pushing on goals, and most children settle within the first few sessions. If distress persists, raise it — the approach should change.

Question 14

How much am I expected to do at home?

Accepted Answer

Enough to matter, but it is designed to be sustainable. Home programmes are deliberately kept short and built into routines you already have — mealtimes, dressing, the drive to school — rather than added as another separate obligation to an already full day.

Question 15

How will I know whether therapy is working?

Accepted Answer

Progress is measured against the specific goals agreed with you at the start, and reviewed on a regular cycle. You should be able to see movement in concrete terms — a skill that has emerged, a behaviour that has reduced — rather than being asked to take improvement on trust.

Question 16

How long will my child need therapy?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the child, the nature of the difficulty and the goals set. Some children need a defined period of intensive support and then taper. Children with ongoing conditions may benefit from support across key developmental transitions. This is reviewed with you rather than left open-ended.

Question 17

Will you coordinate with my child's school?

Accepted Answer

Where it helps and you consent to it, yes. Therapy goals work better when the school is working towards the same things, and teachers can provide useful observation from a setting the therapist does not see.

Question 18

What are your opening hours?

Accepted Answer

Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Saturday, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Closed on Sunday.

Question 19

Where is the centre?

Accepted Answer

SK Plaza, 201–202 First Floor, Kailash Vihar, City Centre, Gwalior 474011 — near Chirayu Hospital.

Question 20

How do I book an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Call any of the centre's numbers, send a WhatsApp message, or submit the booking request form on this site and the centre will contact you to confirm a time.

Question 21

What should we bring to the first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Any previous assessment reports, medical or school records, a list of your main concerns, and details of any current medication. If your child has a comfort object, bring that as well.

Straight answers to the questions parents ask

Getting started4

Assessment4

Therapy & sessions5

Parents & progress4

Practical4

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