A Guide for Parents and Physicians

This page provides an understanding of the differences between educational and medical therapy models as they pertain to a child’s therapy needs and how each is beneficial.

Example to help differentiate . . .

A school-age child who is unable to pronounce the “R” sound but is not carrying the deficit over into spelling or writing assignments, and is still intelligible to a listener would not qualify for therapy services under the educational model because while there is an impairment present, there is not an educational need. However, this child’s articulation deficits and mispronunciations of the “R” sound affect their social interactions and appropriate communication exchanges during activities of daily living, hence this child would qualify for therapy services under the medical model.

Educational Model

The Educational Model focuses on the skills impacting educational performance in all subject areas. Deficits are addressed through an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that is agreed upon by the school-age child’s educational team. A child’s IEP in this model will focus solely on the functional outcomes that enable a child to benefit from his education program, therefore, the school therapist(s) (PT or OT or Speech or a combination thereof) will direct therapy into the acquisition of functional skills, using natural opportunities for the child to develop sensory/ motor competence in integrated environments, and to identify strategies that school staff and parents can use in the child’s daily routines in the school environment. Therapy services are provided in school and most often within a group setting.

Eligibility: Eligibility for related services must be based on assessment and must include an educational need for service.

Educational Eligibility = Impairment + Educational Need

Medical Model

The Medical Model generally focuses on the impairment regardless of severity level to ensure that the child can successfully perform the basic activities of daily living (i.e., putting on their clothes, feeding themselves, speaking clearly their wants and needs). Services are performed on a one-on-one basis in an isolated environment such as in an outpatient clinic or home setting.

Eligibility: A physician or other certified practitioner along with a child’s parents/ guardian determine the severity and impact and develop a Plan of Care (POC) for the therapist to follow.

Medical Eligibility = Impairment+ Performance in Daily Living Activities