Learning About Learning
A Free Presentation Series for Parents with Students of All Ages
Individual Matters hosts a series of presentations for parents of students of all ages. Join Dr. Katen and other local experts to learn about all things that have to do with learning.
for every 1st Tuesday of the month.
The presentations take place on the FIRST TUESDAY of every month for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. Topics will include:
- Learning Simulations
- ADHD: What is really causing the attention problem?
- Dyslexia and other Learning Disorders
- Auditory and Visual Processing
- Executive Function and Learning
- Learning Styles and Using Strengths to Find Success
- Gifted and Advanced Learners
- Successful Learning Skills: Organization and Homework Strategies
- Autism and Other Social Challenges
- IEPs, 504s, and Advocating for your Child at School
- And many more!
Location: 2530 E. Foresight Circle, Grand Junction, CO 81505
Day/Time: 1st Tuesday of each month, 5:30-7:00pm
If you can make it, please RSVP by email or phone so we can be sure to have enough seats and snacks.
Hope to see you there!
-Dr. Katen
- Published in ADHD and Executive Function, Development, Dr. Katen's Blog, Dyslexia, Gifted and Talented, learning assessment, Learning, Achievement, and Academics, Parenting, psychological assessment
Top 5 Things to Know Before Scheduling a Learning Assessment
So your school has recommended you get a “learning assessment” for your child… What does this mean?
Perhaps your child’s teacher or counselor has concerns about learning, behavioral, or attention problems. Or maybe testing is required as part of the admissions process for a certain school or program.
As a parent, you may be feeling unsure what to do next. After all, a quick internet search will tell you there are lots types of “learning assessments” available – and variety of people who provide them. But not all learning assessments are the same.
Here are 5 things you should know before scheduling your child for a learning assessment:
1. A learning assessment should be completed by a licensed psychologist.
A licensed psychologist is someone with a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), legal authorization to practice, and specialized experience/training in psychological testing. Typically, schools (both K-12 and college) will only accept assessments completed by individuals with these qualifications. In most cases, only a psychologist holds the requisite credentials for diagnosing clinical disorders, such as ADHD, specific learning disorders, autism, developmental delays, and intellectual disabilities.
2. Learning assessments should include a comprehensive evaluation of IQ and academic achievement.
“IQ” (intelligence quotient) testing refers to the evaluation of intellectual and cognitive abilities (i.e., verbal and non-verbal reasoning, working memory, and processing speed). Academic achievement testing measures acquired procedural knowledge, skills, and facts related to school (i.e., reading, writing, and math). A psychologist should use “gold standard” measures to evaluate these areas. We recommend the following:
- IQ: Wechsler intelligence scales (WPPSI-IV for preschool/kindergarten, WISC-V for children and teens, or WAIS-IV for late-teen and adults).
- Academic achievement: Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Third Edition (WIAT-III).
3. Screeners are insufficient for assessing learning problems.
Screeners are behavioral checklists and/or abbreviated versions of “gold standard” measures, and there are several reasons why they are inadequate for evaluating complex learning problems. First, they are not generally accepted by schools as evidence of diagnoses or need for classroom accommodations. Second, while they may be cost effective and a good first step towards identifying possible learning challenges, when used in isolation they do not allow conclusive or differential diagnosing (i.e., teasing out other possible causes). Third, they do not support identification of strengths. Fourth, screeners can deliver false positives/negatives for children with significant weakness, advanced abilities, or both (i.e., twice-exceptional learners). Fifth, unlike “gold standard” measures used by psychologists, screeners can and often are used by professionals with a wide variety of credentials and experience.
4. Insurance does not cover learning assessments.
Learning assessments are classified as “educational” rather than “medical” services. As such, health insurance policies will not pay for them. However, policies may cover testing that is provided by a psychologist or physician and results in a diagnosis for specific clinical disorder (e.g., ADHD or anxiety). The best way to find out what your policy will cover is to call the insurance company and ask. A psychologist can provide you with detailed invoices (that include clinical billing codes) that you can submit for possible reimbursement.
5. Learning assessments should evaluate strengths – and not just “problems.”
A quality learning assessment should provide insights and guidance that help scaffold a child’s overall happiness and success – not only in school, but across life. The process should include a survey of strengths, preferences, learning styles, interests, and temperament – all of which impact learning, self-concept, personal relationships, and career choices.
What is the first step you should take?
Some psychologists offer initial consultations for new assessment clients. During this meeting, they will gather history, ask about your goals for testing, review previous testing or other relevant records, describe their philosophy about assessment, outline the process, explain costs, and discuss other options. Essentially, clients should leave this session with a clear “road map” of what to do next, and what to expect along the way. The psychologist should then be able to connect with your child’s school to ensure that the testing they provide is what the school needs.
Above all else, never stop asking questions until you feel confident you’ve chosen the right path for you and your child.
– Dr. Katen
“Live the life you were meant to live!”
©2016 Individual Matters. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share this article with others, as well as to print or post it on other websites, so long as credit is given to the author.
Not All Learning Assessments are Created Equal
A Look at the Different Types of Learning Evaluations
There are many different types of testing available for learning-related issues.
Not All Learning Assessments are Created Equal
Where and why you seek testing for your child (or yourself) will determine who evaluates your child, which tests are administered, how results are interpreted and communicated to you, what findings and recommendations follow, and the total amount of time and costs involved in the process. Discussed below are a few different types of testing, as well as related factors parents should consider when choosing the most appropriate option for their children.
Why are you seeking an assessment?
Answering this question is the first and most important step in the assessment process. What are your desired outcomes for testing? Are you hoping to understand your child’s gifts? Would you like to help your child understand his or her temperament? Are concerned about your child’s academic performance? Do you think your child may have a learning or attention disorder? Are you uneasy about your child’s emotional, social, or behavioral functioning? Has your school or pediatrician recommended testing?
There are all sorts of reasons that parents consider having their children tested. By outlining your goals, you will have a clearer idea about what type of testing is most appropriate for your child.
Who should conduct a learning assessment?
There is not a simple answer to this question. Many types of professionals administer “learning assessments,” but they often have dissimilar qualifications. To complicate the matter, professional credentials and licensure vary by state. For that matter, so do the ways that schools classify learning issues.
Regardless where you live, a licensed clinical psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) has the prerequisite education and licensure for conducting psychological testing and issuing clinical diagnoses. But not all psychologists specialize in testing – some only provide therapy, while others assess mental health rather than educational performance or neuropsychological functioning. Any professional – psychologist or not – who provides psychoeducational testing should have not only the minimal licensure and credentials, but also specialized training and experience in assessment.
Typically, schools and colleges will only accept diagnoses and recommendations from an evaluation provided by a doctoral-level psychologist. Furthermore, these institutions require “gold standard” instruments – standardized tests produced by reputable companies and backed by years of scientific research.
What type of learning assessment will you need?
Depending on your goals, there are a variety of assessment options:
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Comprehensive psychoeducational assessment
This is a wide-ranging yet in-depth approach to understanding your child as a “whole person.” Comprehensive psychoeducational assessment evaluates neurological processes and cognitive functioning (IQ, attention, memory, processing speed, executive function, etc.), as well as academic achievement (skills in math, reading, and writing). Furthermore, the process will assess visual-motor integration, sensory processing, social and emotional functioning, visual and auditory processing, behavior, temperament and personality, gifts and strengths, learning styles, overexcitabilities, interests, life experience, and neurodevelopmental disorders. A skilled evaluator will be adept not only at administering the actual tests, but also at analyzing and integrating the results (including both quantitative and qualitative data). Essentially, this process should produce a manual that explains your child’s overall “operating system.” Since it evaluates multiple facets of your child – and not just learning issues – this process also supports conclusive diagnosis, generates specific recommendations, and guides the referral process.
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Learning disability (dyslexia) testing
This type of assessment is recommended for the purpose of evaluating and diagnosing a suspected learning disability. In these cases, a qualified professional is someone who holds appropriate licensure and can issue a correct and pertinent diagnosis. The learning assessment will measure and compare a child’s IQ with his or her academic achievement – the traditional method for identifying a learning disability. If indicated, diagnosis of a specific learning disorder by a clinical psychologist qualifies a child to be considered for learning accommodations at school. While a “learning specialist” might test for dyslexia, it is important to understand that “dyslexia” is not a clinical diagnosis (per the DSM-V). By itself, identification of dyslexia may not be sufficient to qualify your child for special services at school. Furthermore, limited assessments such as these may not reveal or conclusively rule out other causes of learning problems – in fact, sometimes they produce more questions than they answer.
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ADHD assessment
Attention-Deficity/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder (not a learning disorder). Who can diagnose ADHD? Generally speaking, only a medical doctor (M.D.), psychiatrist (M.D.), or psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.). In most cases, diagnosis is based solely upon results of behavioral checklists and interview with the child and parents. However, there are many reasons for a more in-depth evaluation. As a result, some psychologists assess ADHD using not just checklists and interviews – but also neuropsychological measures of IQ, attention, memory, and executive function. Unfortunately, there is no single, decisive test for identifying ADHD.
What are the costs of a learning assessment?
Just as the types and scopes of testing vary, so do the costs. Some learning professionals and tutors provide “learning assessments” for as little as $300 or $400. These can be completed in a few hours and may (or may not) utilize standardized tests of IQ or achievement, result in diagnoses, or provide individualized recommendations. Unless completed by a doctoral-level clinical psychologist, these evaluations may not qualify a student for accommodations at school.
Evaluations conducted by schools may be more extensive, but schools do not diagnose learning disorders or ADHD. Schools may assess for learning “issues” like dyslexia and make recommendations for special education services, but only psychologists and doctors diagnose clinical or medical disorders. Furthermore, school evaluations are not intended to assess your child as a “whole person” – only whether he or she has a condition that affects functioning in the classroom. Since educational classifications and resultant accommodations are based upon your child’s current grade-level and classroom functioning, they may not be pertinent a year from now.
Finally, comprehensive psychoeducational assessments are conducted by doctoral-level clinical psychologists. Prices typically range from $1500 to $5000. The entire process involves 8-15 hours of testing, twenty or more hours of scoring and analysis, an extensive and detailed written report (15-25 pages), a feedback session with parents, and school consultation. Clinical diagnosis of a learning disorder by a psychologist who utilizes “gold standard” test instruments is often required by schools before they will consider a student for school-based learning services and supports. Furthermore, a high quality assessment will accurately capture your child’s gifts, strengths, personality, and underlying areas of challenge (the “whole person”) – and stay relevant for years to come.
Want more information?
As a parent, you justifiably want to ensure that whoever evaluates your child can deliver outcomes that support your specific goals for testing. How do you do this?
One way to find out is simply to call their offices and inquire. Some will provide basic information over the phone.
Another option is to schedule an initial consultation. During this meeting, you can ask the assessment professional about his or her background and scope of expertise. Also, find out what specific tests they use, whether they issue clinical diagnoses (as contained in the DSM-V), and if their findings can and will be accepted by your child’s school. You might also inquire about their overall philosophy towards assessment, learning, and ADHD – in other words, how they approach testing, and why. While psychologists are unlikely to share client testimonials (due to patient privacy policies), they might offer generic samples of past reports. Furthermore, consultation with an experienced assessment psychologist sometimes results in immediate referrals that save you time and money. In any case, this initial step will give you solid information – a “road map” for action – that helps you to be more informed about, and comfortable with, the testing process.
– Dr. Katen
“Live the life you were meant to live!”
©2016 Individual Matters. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share this article with others, as well as to print or post it on other websites, so long as credit is given to the author.
Is it ADHD, sensory processing, anxiety, or something else?
Behavioral Checklists Are Just the First Step Towards Accurate Diagnosis
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is an incredibly complex neurodevelopmental disorder. While behavioral checklists serve as useful starting points for identifying the possible presence of ADHD, they may be inadequate when used in isolation.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder whose essential feature is “a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development” (DSM-V). The disorder begins in childhood and lasts into adulthood, often causing a lifetime of personal, academic, and professional struggles.
What causes ADHD?
Unraveling the neurodevelopmental causes of ADHD is still at the frontier of neuropsychological research. Numerous theoretical models have been proposed for understanding what causes the disorder, how it impacts daily functioning, and how it correlates with other issues. In recent decades, ADHD has had an assortment of other labels, including “minimal brain dysfunction”, “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood”, “executive function disorder”, and “attention deficit disorder (ADD).” Some experts simply refer to ADHD as a “symptom complex” – that is, a cluster of behavioral symptoms whose neurological cause is not well understood. Other experts regard ADHD a “context disorder” – a group of behaviors that stem from a mismatch between an individual and his/her environment.
How is ADHD diagnosed?
Overlapping Symptoms of ADHD and Other Psychiatric Disorders. From A.D.D. Resource Center.
In most cases, ADHD is assessed in a medical setting and the diagnosis based upon an individual’s behavioral symptoms. Since no genetic or blood test exist for ADHD, the diagnostic process often relies upon behavioral checklists completed by (and dependent upon the observations of) parents and teachers. Checklists ask parents and teachers to rate the severity of a child’s conduct at home and in the classroom.
Why might checklists be insufficient?
ADHD is not a behavioral disorder—it is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Behavioral checklists, as the name suggests, measure the presence of specific behaviors. These behaviors may be symptomatic of a neurodevelopmental disorder like ADHD, or they might be due to something else. The most informative way to assess the neurodevelopmental workings of a child’s brain is to use objective neuropsychological testing.
Since checklists only emphasize behaviors, relying solely upon them to make an ADHD diagnosis invites the risk of misdiagnosis. The behaviors listed on ADHD checklists can be caused by a variety of other factors, including anxiety, auditory and visual processing issues, temperament, fine motor delays, learning styles, learning disabilities, sensory processing difficulties, poor environmental fit, physical health problems, and/or other neurological pathologies/abnormalities. In other words, just because a child displays a large number of behaviors that are typically associated with ADHD, this is not confirmation of the presence of ADHD.
Why does accurate diagnosis of ADHD matter?
Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective intervention. For example, a child with sensory issues may display behaviors that are nearly identical to symptoms of ADHD. Based upon a checklist, this child might be diagnosed with ADHD. Interventions for ADHD can include behavioral strategies, skills-building, environmental modifications and, in some cases, medication. While a child with a sensory processing may benefit from behavioral strategies and environmental modifications, medication would not be appropriate. Furthermore, a child with sensory issues needs occupational therapy. If diagnosed with ADHD, he may be less likely to be assessed and treated by a sensory processing expert.
In addition to the possibility of over-diagnosing ADHD, behavioral checklists can also lead to under-diagnosing. Some children do not display obvious symptoms of ADHD and, therefore, will not score highly enough on a behavioral checklist completed by their parents or teachers. This is particularly true for children who have only an inattentive type of ADHD, as well as introverts, highly compliant children (aka “pleasers”), and the intellectually gifted. Under-diagnosis is also common among girls who suffer from the inattentive form of ADHD. As a result, girls often develop social anxiety and depression, for which they may seek help. In these cases, intervention usually focuses on their anxiety and mood symptoms, while the underlying ADHD goes undetected.
Takeaway
In short, if you have met one child with ADHD, you have met one child with ADHD. It is not a behavioral disorder, but a neurodevelopmental one – and it is exceptionally complex. ADHD affects everyone differently, and not everyone who displays ADHD-like symptoms truly has the disorder. While behavioral checklists are a good first step, individuals suspected of having ADHD should be referred to a psychologist or other professional who specializes in this disorder and provides objective neuropsychological assessments.
– Dr. Katen
©2016 Individual Matters. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share this article with others, as well as to print or post it on other websites, so long as credit is given to the author.