Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids –Information Every Parent and Teacher Should Know
When a child is struggling at school, parents, teachers and classmates can also be affected. Knowing when an evaluation is necessary requires key information on when and what type of testing is appropriate, how it is done and what the results mean. Testing results often bring legal obligations for a school and school district. Expert child psychologists, Ellen B. Braaten PhD and Gretchen Felopulos, PhD, recently published “Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids,” an informative guidebook for parents and educators detailing the testing process from start to finish.
“Nearly one in five children receive some form of psychological, academic or intelligence testing each year,” said Ellen B. Braaten co-author and psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Every day thousands of parents are confronting the possibility that their child might have a learning disability or developmental delay. With dozens of different tests available, jargon-filled reports and complex numerical scores, it’s often difficult to determine what the test results really mean for the child’s future. Parents and teachers can wonder how to interpret results and what course of action is appropriate.”
Today’s emphasis on ‘No Child Left Behind’ education policies, heightened parental concern, increased budget constraints and limited resources can all play a part in the testing process. Testing can be a costly route, a parent or teacher’s decision can become easier when equipped with the right information. Every adult should know the right questions to ask, the differences between types of testing, the pros and cons of using a private or public evaluator, and rights defined by a child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). “Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids” explains the role testing plays in diagnosing and developing treatment plans for dyslexia, ADHD, math and reading disorders, and other childhood problems, including Asperger syndrome, depression and anxiety.
The guidebook is an excellent reference for parents, teachers, principals, school psychologists and other education professionals. “Sometimes even educators aren’t exactly sure what happens during the testing process and why certain tests are used,” says Felopulos, co-author and psychologist at Harvard Medical School. “Our book details: when, why, and how to have a child tested; what schools can and should provide; what the numbers say about IQ, development, learning disabilities; and, how to use the results to get the best help for the child.
“Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids” (2004) is published by Guilford Press and is available in both hardback and paperback editions.
For more information visit www.kidtesting.com or call 310-289-2149.
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