Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids –Information Every Parent and Teacher Should Know
What is educational testing? What does it diagnose? How can parent and teacher use the testing process to help a struggling child?
Boston, MA (PRWEB) July 19, 2004 -- 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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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/7/prweb141916.htm