Understanding Assessments
Assessments are a formal way of measuring how well or how poorly a child is functioning. They zero-in on the affected skills or areas that are having an impact on his life.
Families often look for assessment to help solve problems at school, but they can also be used to shed light on behavioural, emotional, or social problems at home and in the community.
To be accurate, assessments need to gather information about the child in various settings. We combine information from parents and teachers with clinical testing and our skilled observations to create a complete picture.
When a child is not happy or successful, an assessment can help us answer questions like,
- Is the child bored because he’s more gifted than the rest of the class?
- Is he having difficulty paying attention in an under-stimulating environment?
- Does he have some type of developmental issue that is interfering at home, at school, or in the community?
The results of the assessment point us in the right direction to help us figure out,
- What is the best way we can help him?
Our specialty is making sure that parents understand what the results of the assessment mean for their family, and how they can best help their child to fit in and succeed. The recommendations we provide are designed to ensure that everyone involved with the child has the best tools in place to create success.
Are There Any Downsides to Getting an Assessment?
There are times when parents are hesitant to begin an assessment because it may feel like not knowing is better than finding out that their child has a special need. They may worry that receiving a diagnosis could label their child, and that others might judge or lower their expectations of him.
We understand these fears and the potential downsides that could come from a diagnosis. Our team works to alleviate those concerns and address the risks by giving the family clear and accurate information about the child’s true potential, the success he’s capable of with the right strategies in place.
This empowers parents to choose with whom they share the information. For example, they may wish to disclose a diagnosis to schools and community agencies, who will be in a better position to provide extra resources if they know the details about a child’s diagnosis. However, neighbourhood parents and other family members might only need to know how they can help when they approach the child. A parent might say, “our child is having a tough time with (a certain skill) right now, and (this strategy) is what we’re trying to help him; it would be great if you could support our plan.”
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The Bottom Line
We truly believe that every child can thrive, and that the more we know about a child’s unique strengths and needs, the better we can teach and guide him. It’s not the fact that we have struggles, but how we approach them that makes all the difference.
Whatever the diagnosis, the greatest value an assessment provides is in the strategies it uncovers to let the child to achieve his full potential.
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