Please give me a list of tests that a school psychologist would give to a child with ADHD and APD?

Question

My daughter is being reevaluated for her trianual this year. She has an IEP for speech. She also has a central auditory processing disorder which has been diagnosed by an audiologist. I would like to know what tests they should give her so that I can educate myself on what they are for. Please include a complete list of tests for ADHD and auditory memory?

Answer 1

You have to sort out a couple of things - first schools cannot do medical diagnosis AND a medical diagnosis does not meen a student will get services in school.

If you child already has an ADHD diagnosis from a Medical professional (MD) not a nurse practioner or Psychologist, the school will look at the following things (dependent on what was done outside)

IQ - there almost always has to be an IQ test - if one was done by a Psychatrist withint the last year - outside of school  School will use a different test or perhaps review the previous results.

Behavior Assesment Scale for Children (BASC)- this is a checklist filled out by you and teacher on what kinds of things bother your child, what behaviors are seen in various settings.

ABAS - is a tool for looking at adaptability - gets to safety concerns, self cares, independence etc. also a checklist for school and home

Academic TEsting - typically a Woodcock Johnson - to look at how the student applies their IQ

Work skills or org skills check list - to see what the issues are in work completion, time on task, organization etc.

Observations in several settings.

Perhaps a Speech/Language screening to get at processing and pragmatic language.

APD is not a disability category that is provided by most states so what they would look at is the impact of the issues on academic functioning.  Working memory and processing speed you get out of the IQ and Academic testing.

There would likely be a Sensory Processing set of tools - checklists, observations etc.

That said - in most school districts you also have to have an educational need.  So you can have a disability but if you are still passing your coursework - you may not qualify for service.

The key would be is the outside ADHD diagnosis from a medical professional and dated within the last year.

I'm sure there are a ton more but this is what I do and quite typically will give a pretty good overall look at a student.

Answer 2

In California the schools do not give a test for ADD or ADHD. They do give the teacher and the parent a questionaire about the child's behavior. They ask questions like, "How much of the time is the child on task during a work period?" They ask social questions about how they get along with others, if they follow directions, or just shout out answers. Can they work in a group to solve a problem? They are looking for patterns to see if the child is able to focus and stay on task, or if they just jump from one thing to another and are easily distracted. A doctor needs to make the actual determination and so the parent is usually given the information to take with them to the doctor. In my experience there is seldom an easy way to make the diagnosis. If the parents feel that their child has ADD or ADHD and they are doing poorly in school the doctor will often try treatment. If it is what they child needs there will usually be a marked difference in school work immediately. Parents will see improvement with homework if the medication is given to work throughout the day. If there is no change in behavior and work habits then the medication is discontinued and a search for other options is begun. I have always told parents if you think your child is ADD or ADHD it is certainly worth trying medication, because if the child needs treatment you will see improvement immediately, and if not just take them off the medication.

Things have improved greatly over the last few years. Docotrs understand ADD and ADHD and there are few problems for children and adults who need the medication. I have seen dramatic results in children. It can be nothing short of amazing, and for those that it works for the children are so very happy.

Answer 3

The school is suppose to do a 'full educational evaluation'  even though I'm not sure what that includes.

I do know that the school is suppose to do testing in ALL areas of suspected disabilities.

This just come to my mind. I don't know WHY the law states this because schools do NOT do testing for anything OTHER than learning disabilities.

What they do is testing to see if the child needs help with learning needs, no matter what the childs problems are, be it ADHD,  CAPD, or whatever.

Schools do NOT do testing to diagnose  any of these disabilties, they do testing ONLY to see what type of help a child needs for school.

Go to www.wrightslaw.com  to learn the laws for special ed.

Go to  www.schwabas.org to ask other greatly experienced parents about this.