If you have specific concerns about your child’s academic performance, you should investigate whether your child would benefit from a Custom Assessment.

 

The Custom Assessment incorporates diagnostic testing that relates to your specific area or areas of concern. 

 

The Custom Assessment will enable you to determine if your child has a learning disability related to one or more of the areas being tested, to understand the relationship between your child's learning disability and your child's academic performance issues, and to develop an effective plan for addressing your child's academic performance issues. 

 

The Custom Assessment is comprised of four standard phases (Initial Consultation, Information Gathering, Diagnostic Testing) and two optional phases (Student Debrief, School Conference).

 

1.  Initial Consultation

The Initial Consultation is a simple and effective way for you and Dr. Smith to determine if your child would be a good candidate for a Custom Assessment.

This phase requires that you participate in a half-hour telephone conference with Dr. Smith.  The phone conference is an opportunity for you to present information about your child's current academic struggles and your reasons for inquiring about an evaluation.  Dr. Smith will ask you clarifying questions about your child's educational and developmental history, previous interventions and evaluations, and your specific concerns.

2.  Information Gathering

The second phase of the program is Information Gathering.  You will be asked to complete and return a questionnaire.  In addition, Dr. Smith will request copies of your child's academic records and results of any previous evaluations. 

3.  Diagnostic Testing

The third phase of the assessment is Diagnostic Testing.  Your child will participate in two hours of testing with Dr. Smith, during which time Dr. Smith will administer tests in the following areas:

Verbal Ability:  In the diagnosis of a reading disability, one important consideration is a discrepancy between verbal ability and reading achievement.  Some clients will have formal documentation of verbal skill from a previously administered intelligence test.  In cases where this has not taken place, Dr. Smith will administer a measure of word knowledge (PPVT-III) known to be highly correlated with the Verbal scale of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

Reading Achievement and Related Skills:  Dr. Smith will administer standardized measures of word reading, reading comprehension, reading fluency, and spelling.  The battery of tests typically includes subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement-Third Edition or the Wechlser Individual Achievement Test-Second Edition and the Gray Oral Reading Tests-Fourth Edition.

Cognitive Processing:  In order to examine the underlying cognitive processes that are important for reading development, measures of phonological awareness/memory, rapid naming, visual memory/orthographic coding, and graphomotor skill will be given.  Commonly used tests include the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing, the Phonological Awareness Test, and other informal measures.

The testing session will take place at the KinderMinds office in Bellevue .  Your child will be given breaks, as needed.  Healthy snacks will be provided during each of the breaks.

4.  Parent Conference

At the time that you schedule your child's Reading Assessment, you will also schedule a Parent Conference.  The Parent Conference will last approximately one hour and will take place within two weeks after your child's testing session.

During the Parent Conference, Dr. Smith will review your child's diagnostic report with you.  The diagnostic report is a formal written document that summarizes the results of the testing and provides a recommended plan for addressing your child's learning needs.  The plan will include recommendations for educational goals and teaching methods designed to remediate your child's learning difficulties as well as classroom accommodations that will enable your child to demonstrate his/her full potential at school.

Effective treatment of your child’s learning disability may require that you retain the services of a learning specialist trained in specific remedial methods.  If this is so, Dr. Smith will help you identify and retain a qualified specialist.

Following the Parent Conference, you will be asked to review your child's report.  As a result of doing so, you many find that you have additional questions, concerns or feedback.  Dr. Smith will contact you during the week following the Parent Conference and will address any such issues at that time.

5.  Student Debrief (Optional)

The Student Debrief is an optional one hour conference that takes place after the parent conference.  When an older student is struggling in school, it is critical that he/she develop a clear understanding of his/her intellectual strengths as well as his/her academic weaknesses, the reasons for those challenges, and what he/she can do about overcoming them.  Often, bright students have developed a false belief that their struggles in school mean that they are "stupid" or "lazy", and these beliefs may begin to pervade their self-esteem.  The debrief is designed to be encouraging and empowering.

6.  School Conference (Optional)

If you opt for the School Conference, Dr. Smith will attend a 1-2 hour meeting with you at your child's school to discuss the results and implications of your child's testing with your child's teachers.