11/16/07

What Will Happen?

If we haven't already met and discussed your child's history and your concerns, I will schedule an initial appointment with you to learn more about your child.  At that meeting, we will agree on a tentative schedule of testing sessions for your child.  We will also talk about how to explain the evaluation to your child, so that he/she is prepared and not unduly anxious.

Testing typically takes 4-6 hours, usually scheduled in 1-1 1/2 hour blocks.  Younger children are usually scheduled for a shorter period of time, as they tend to have shorter attention spans.  I also prefer to schedule younger children earlier in the day.  While I'll certainly work with you to avoid disrupting your child's usual routines, we want to see what your child is capable of at his/her best.  Young children are usually exhausted after school, and cannot give the tasks their best attention.

This is a completely individualized program, so the number of sessions I'll need to complete the evaluation will vary.  Some children work faster than others.  Plus, some kids go further through some of the tests before they reach what's called a "ceiling," meaning the hardest level of work they can handle comfortably. Whatever your child needs, we will adjust the schedule so that it works for her/him and gives us the most accurate picture of your child's current level of functioning.

Initially, I will complete a basic battery on your child.  Based on his/her results, I'll then delve into greater depth in any areas which seem to need further inquiry.  By individualizing the contents of the test battery, your child will get exactly the assessment he/she needs without any unnecessary testing.

Kids usually enjoy the testing.  Some of it is creative--drawing pictures, telling stories, etc.  Some of it involves puzzle-type activities, similar to those many children do in their leisure time.  Some of it involves right and wrong answers and school-like activities, but they are carefully pitched to the level at which your child is currently functioning.  Thus, kids succeed at the vast majority of the tasks I give them that have right or wrong answers.

What Tests Do I Use?

As I said previously, the exact package I'll give your child is individualized. 

The assessment always includes:

After this introductory battery, which gets us oriented, I almost always do additional testing as well.  Depending on the situation, this may include: