By Penny Hays, Ph.D.
Educational testing is a confusing topic for many parents. For those who have children with learning differences, the idea of testing gets even more complicated. By offering the simple guidelines below, Kids Enabled hopes parents can better navigate the maze of testing options and find the best fit for their child.
Since many learning issues have complex cause and effect relationships, they can be easily misdiagnosed without a thorough evaluation. Learning differences and behavioral/emotional issues have many components as to how they affect a child’s learning abilities. Knowing how your child learns, and what his strengths and weaknesses are will help you make the best choices for his intervention and therapies. The results from testing can also help parents and educators avoid wasting time with strategies that are ineffective. In some cases, psycho-educational evaluations are often a necessary step for admission to programs in schools designed to help students with academic concerns. Also, physicians often require a complete evaluation before prescribing medications that may have a positive impact on a student’s learning. The components of a psycho-educational evaluation
There are four basic components of a psycho-educational evaluation:
- Intellectual – Intelligence or ability testing gives a picture of the student’s overall ability so expectations can be realistic and effective.
- Academic achievement – The basics of learning, reading, writing, arithmetic and their subcomponents are thoroughly examined. For younger children, it often means looking at prerequisite skills.
- Information processing – This is often the most useful and informative part of the evaluation because it attempts to answer why a student is having difficulty and what to do about it. Areas often covered are: visual, auditory and tactile processing, memory, attention span and executive functioning. Many of these measures are neuropsychological tests.
- Social-emotional – Here the focus is on emotional issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as behavioral concerns that often co-exist in students with academic issues.
The results of the individual tests are then compiled and analyzed to form clear recommendations and strategies.
The testing process
Below are the steps generally taken in the process of testing and evaluation.
- Initial consultation – Parents and professionals meet to gather information, address questions, and decide which tests are relevant. Rating scales are given for parents and teachers to complete.
- Testing sessions – Testing generally takes from two to three sessions, depending on the referral concerns and the extensiveness of the evaluation requested.
- Test scoring and interpretation – The tests are scored and integrated with questionnaires and rating scales completed by parents and teachers. Patterns and consistencies are gleaned from these multiple sources in order to develop a learning profile.
- Feedback session – The information obtained including strengths and weaknesses is discussed. Specific strategies that address the concerns are given. A written report covering all results is provided within a few weeks.
- Follow-up consultation – Follow-up meetings may be helpful. The meetings may include reviewing results with school personnel or follow-up appointments months later to evaluate progress. Meeting with older children directly to review results can also be useful in making sure the child feels a part of the process.
Preparing your child for testing
Children may find it very helpful to know why they are being tested; that is, they may find relief in knowing there is help for their academic struggles. Some children need just a small amount of information regarding the “why” of the testing, while others will want a more detailed explanation. Either way, remind your child that the testing is a means of helping, not a judgment about what he can or can’t do academically. Be honest and open with your child. Below are more tips when preparing your child for testing:
- Make sure your child is well-rested.
- Schedule testing for the time of day when your child functions best.
- If possible, visit the test site before the actual day of testing.
- Explain to your child the types of questions that will be asked.
- Make sure your child has a healthy breakfast the day of the test.
Though the testing process can be confusing and overwhelming, the results are crucial to understanding a child’s learning profile. The results then lead directly to compensation and remediation recommendations. Understanding a child’s strengths and weaknesses can help teachers, therapists and other professionals ensure a child’s success.
Dr. Penny Hays has been a licensed psychologist in private practice in Atlanta for more than 20 years. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of learning disorders, behavioral problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression and anxiety disorders in children, adolescents and adults. She can be reached at 770-414-0098 or through her Web site, www.drpennyhays.com.
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[...] aware that something is “not right,” testing is needed to obtain a diagnosis. In the article Psycho-educational Testing: A Primer, Dr. Penny Hays explains the process of testing and what to expect. The article, Parent Advocate: [...]
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