The first term report cards are out and while some children are meeting grade expectations, it is clear by now that others are not. There may be a variety of reasons why some children fall behind their peers. Some of these reasons can be attributed to emotional factors, attentional or behavioural problems and/or processing weaknesses impacting academic performance. There is only one way to properly determine what is impacting your child’s ability to succeed: a comprehensive psychological assessment. This assessment will not only determine your child’s learning strengths and weaknesses but also guide academic support and remediation.
What Does an Assessment Entail?
A thorough evaluation involves a well detailed background history, input from the classroom teacher, access to report cards as well as standardized testing. The battery of tests administered should examine intellectual ability, academic performance, attention/concentration, memory and social-emotional functioning. This testing is conducted one-to-one with the child over a number of sessions. These tests will provide a measure of your child’s current level of functioning relative to others his/her age. Once testing is completed and results are calculated, a thorough report is provided to the family and a meeting to discuss the findings is arranged. Any assessment should not only provide test findings but also provide guidance for intervention. This intervention can be provided within the school setting and can include but is not limited to core resource support, curriculum modification and technological aids. Such support however, will only be provided if there is a diagnosis.
How Can I Get My Child a Psychological Assessment?
While the school boards do provide psychological testing to their students, only those “at risk” are brought forward for such testing and even so wait lists are very long and it may take up to two years to receive this assessment. Private assessments, if conducted by a registered psychologist, are recognized by school boards and can be accessed more readily, thereby providing the support for your child sooner rather than later. Private insurance companies may cover the fees of a registered psychologist, making the assessment more affordable.
Children are usually identified as struggling in their elementary years. Any assessment undertaken in this time period, likely will need to be redone, as most assessments are valid for about two years, given the amount of growth and change that occurs. Retesting a child prior to high school will assist in identifying appropriate course level placement as well as academic support. In addition, many colleges and universities require students to have updated evaluations (no greater than two years old), should the student request support post high school.
While some parents worry that diagnosing their child will forever stigmatize him or her and may limit their academic opportunities, this is a fallacy. By not providing the appropriate supports, your child might fall further and further behind. This experience might contribute to the child feeling frustrated and inadequate relative to their peers. The goal for any parent or registered psychologist is to support children in reaching their full potential.
Alter, Stuckler & Associates are a team of registered psychologists and a social worker that provide compassionate psychological care. We have provided service to individuals, couples and families from Thornhill, Markham, Vaughan and throughout the Greater Toronto Area for more than 30 years. Have a question for our team? Contact us today.
