My son is in Kindergarten and he is struggling with some things in school. They would like to evaluate him over the summer but my husband and I are hesitant. Has anyone been through this. My son is 6 1/2 and has very high verbal skills, he is very social and makes friends easily. They say he needs a multidisciplinary evaluation composed of some of the following:
Individual measures of Cognitive Functioning
Individual measures of Academic Achievement
Individual measures of Auditory Processing
Individual measures of Visual Motor Processing
Measures of Social and Emotional Functioning
Language Eval
OT Eval
I want to help him succeed in school but I also don't want them just poking around without a clear idea of what they think his issue is. I don't know why he would need a measure of his social and emotional functioning. Any idea why so many tests? I understand that certain things can not really even be diagnosed, especially in boys, until they are 7 or 8 so I wonder if this is too much too soon. Any insights from parents or school psychologists are appreicated.
Oh, my other concern is having all this testing in his permanent school record. We're in an excellent school district but even there not every teacher is the best and I worry about this following him around for years or subject him to the prejudice of a teacher who will see him in a certain light because of this.
We met with the School Psychologist and talked with the speech language specialist and OT. We've decided to go ahead with it even though I don't think the OT and Language pieces seem necessary but we felt after talking to all these people that doing all of it will help get a complete picture. I am still a little uncertain and feel another year of school under his belt will go a long way as I do think he did not get a lot out of preschool due to the way they ran their program which was certified and had the highest state rating. We will work on things over the summer and see what comes of it. Thanks everyone.
If my child was 6 1/2 at the end of kinder and struggling, then ye, I would not hesitate to have her tested.
I have always wanted to know, how to help her be her best..
This may help give you some ideas, of what he struggles with , what he is good at and what he needs to improve on.
Parenting is not for the weak of heart. You can do this and face whatever may come.
Please do this. You can't help him if you don't know what's wrong. The evaluation will make it so you get help from the school at the outset - later on, other tests can be done for his age.
You can work with the school to get a teacher for him who will not be prejudiced against him. I promise you that it is easier to work with the school to get the right "fit" for a teacher if you have a child with an IEP. And an IEP will make a difference in your son succeeding in school.
Good luck,
Dawn
I urge you to go thru with the evaluation. Because of the list of tests, I suggest that they already have a focus. You don't want them to label him without the testing. The tests will rule in or out the areas in which he needs or doesn't need assistance. All of those areas are interrelated.
I also notice that several are focused on functioning and processing. This will tell educators how he learns so that they can focus on a more successful way of teaching. It will allow them and you to form an IEP, Individual Education Plan, that will specifically address his needs. Or the tests may indicate that he doesn't need an IEP. You can be reassured that he's maturing into a more regular school routine.
Which would you rather have? An evaluation that will help many of his teachers to help him focus and learn or have all teachers stumble along not knowing how to help him?
You will have certain teachers who see him in a certain light whether or not you have an evaluation on record. That light is more apt to be negative if your son continues to have difficulty and the teacher becomes frustrated because she doesn't know how to reach him.
The earlier you get started the sooner your son will be successful. The evaluation will change over time and with experience and success.
Maybe you should make an appointment with his pediatrition to discuss some of your concerns too and see what his/her though is. Personally I say get him evaluated and see what they say. You wouldn't want him to have problems in the future that may be taken care of now. The tests results may shed some light on things that you may see but never really thought too much about. On the other hand if you dont agree with the results you dont have to take it any further. I bet half time the teachers dont really look closely at the kids records unless there is a red flag, like something the teacher is noticing so they check the file. My son did alot of the testing and had services when he was younger, they made the tests seem more like games than "tests". You can talk to the district and see what their "testing" is. I never referred to it as testing to my son, just going to see someone who wants to ask some questions and play some games with you. Good luck!
Go have the evaluation. I liken it to this, if your doctor said, "your son might have this disease that will affect his ability to live a happy and fulfilled life. It is completly curable, but we have to know if he has it. We have to run a few uninvasive tests firsts and they are free."
Would you not do it?
If you want your son to succeed in school - have the tests done. :)
As a point of encouragement: My MIL is a special education teacher and has been for more than 25 years. It is amazing the stories of accomplishment and success the kids she teaches achieve. The educational system is much more aware that learning disabilities are more of a different way of learning, not the lack of an ability to learn. They do not carry a stigma that they once did.
I would go ahead with testing. I can't see a downside at all. Consider yourself lucky that they are offering the evaluation....I had to request the testing for my child..,,and didnt until 4 th grade because I didn't know better and then while he did poorly in some areas but overall did average they didnt want to qualify him! It's good you're finding out early.
Maybe I am nieve, but how would this change the light on how the teachers see him......either he will need extra help or not. At last they won't be guessing how to help him most...they will have guidance.
Talk to your pediatrician.
Show him the list.
Have him Rx the evils and recommend a place to have it done.
You don't "have" to go through the school system, although if there is support he needs, it would be helpful.
My thought is the sooner the better that anything (IF anything) is identified, then the sooner he can receive help, right?
(I'm not a pro, just a mom. My son's pre-K teacher pointed out his difficulty with fine motor at age 4, my per Rx'd an eval and he received OT and now he can't stop writing and drawing! Talk to your ped!)
Sounds like they want whats best for your son. I know my son's school would like us to get him tested for ADHD and may eventually do it so he will get the extra help. When he gets in the higher grades. There is nothing that says we have to medicate. I know when I was younger my mom had all kinds of test done one me cause she knew something was wrong. I had vision problems. Which I had to vision theropy for. Most people back then had never heard of that much less considered having test done that would detect it. My son had the same issues so we knew where to look to get him help. But you have to be willing and open to do the work if they say he needs somethign like that. But it helped me and my son emensly!!!!!!!!!!! I would not change what we did for him.
Good luck and God Bless!
I used to teach (now stay at home mom). I have 2 points to make. 1. The sooner a problem is caught the sooner it can be fixed or worked with at least. If there is a problem that goes undiagnosed, you risk your child falling behind grade level & then having to catch up. That can be very difficult & disheartening for your child.
2. Testing is one step in the process. If the tests show something, then you & the school will come up with an IEP (individualized education plan). This is the only thing the teacher's will get to see. They will never see the test results. You are not required to sign off on the IEP. You can deny services if you wish. You also control what goes into the IEP to a certain extent. (You can't make the school add things they don't think your child needs, but you can say "no" to all or part of the services they suggest. Finally, I dont know any teacher's who hold these issues against a student. It's just part of the job. I think you would be surprised by how many students have services or special considerations at some point during their school career nowadays.
PA has free assistance through the Early Intervention program. It's a state funded program and we had different issues with both of our sons that required each of them to be evaluated and my youngest son received some speach therapy through the program. It's an awesome program and they might be able to provide some help too. def talk with your ped too and get some insights there as well. good luck!
