Understanding Your Child’s Learning Challenges
When tutoring isn’t helping, a professional assessment may offer insight into a child’s learning challenges. This blog explains how evaluators determine the appropriate testing, how parents can discuss concerns with teachers, and how assessment results can guide classroom accommodations and support at home.
What signs suggest that a child’s academic struggles may require a professional assessment rather than additional tutoring or study support?
If you have tried additional tutoring and/or study support and there has been little progress after 2–3 months, then a more in-depth evaluation may be necessary to investigate what might be going on.
How do educational, psychological, ADHD, and executive-function assessments differ?
It really depends upon the referral question at hand: What is being looked at or investigated? Most assessments include elements of all four areas, depending upon the referral question.
How can parents determine which assessment may be appropriate?
This is where the professional evaluator steps in. Based upon the concerns that parents, guardians, teachers, or therapists have, the evaluator will develop a testing plan—a list of instruments that should be administered as part of the evaluation.
How should parents begin a conversation with their child’s teacher or school when they are concerned about learning challenges?
Straightforwardly: Set aside time—not during rushed drop-offs or pick-ups—to have a quiet, calm conversation with the teacher(s) and/or school about any concerns you may have about how your child is learning, and ask for recommendations about how to address them.
Once an assessment is completed, how can parents use the results to find appropriate classroom accommodations?
Most evaluations have concrete recommendations that flow from the data, its interpretation, and the summary of what this information indicates. These recommendations can include accommodations in the classroom as well as interventions and suggestions for the community and home.
Is there academic support that can be offered or explored at home?
Yes, depending upon the issue(s) that are being addressed or remediated.
Resource: www.understood.org