Second Psycho-Educational Assessment

[CdnBuzzFan]

Our paediatrician is pushing me to get a second psycho-educational assessment done on DS10. The first one (done privately) was done at the end of grade 1. He is now in grade 5.

I was told at the beginning of the month that the school’s review committee had decided he should have another one and that they were going to go ahead and arrange one for the end of this month. He was actually first on their list. Today, the school psychologist informed me that he was not going to be given one. She is saying that since he has already been tested and has been formally diagnosed another would not be necessary. She also said that since he is performing within the expectations of his IEP, any further testing would produce the same results as the original one and having another one done privately would just be a waste of our money.

I am wondering if anyone has ever had a second psycho-educational assessment done on their child (or was told it was necessary) and found it useful in anyway and if you would recommend it. The paediatrician seems pretty adamant that he get the second one, however, the psychologist made sense as well. Is it possible that she was just trying to justify not wanting to retest him?

Any responses would be appreciated.

 

[DisneyPups]

That's a tough call. If you feel like any of the results of the first psycho-ed were underestimates of your child's abilities, it may be helpful to push for a new one. If you think your child has not changed drastically, or that testing would not benefit the team (including you) in writing the IEP, than yes, it is a lot to pull your child from class to do the assessment. If there has been any regression in skills, I would also suggest assessment. But between 5 and 10, your child's profile may be very similar. I might wait until after 12yo when cognition stabilizes to have your child re-tested. I agree though, I wouldn't pay for a private eval. Just try to get an eval at the next triennial.

 

[taylor3297]

Our paediatrician is pushing me to get a second psycho-educational assessment done on DS10. The first one (done privately) was done at the end of grade 1. He is now in grade 5.

I was told at the beginning of the month that the school’s review committee had decided he should have another one and that they were going to go ahead and arrange one for the end of this month. He was actually first on their list. Today, the school psychologist informed me that he was not going to be given one. She is saying that since he has already been tested and has been formally diagnosed another would not be necessary. She also said that since he is performing within the expectations of his IEP, any further testing would produce the same results as the original one and having another one done privately would just be a waste of our money.

I am wondering if anyone has ever had a second psycho-educational assessment done on their child (or was told it was necessary) and found it useful in anyway and if you would recommend it. The paediatrician seems pretty adamant that he get the second one, however, the psychologist made sense as well. Is it possible that she was just trying to justify not wanting to retest him?

Any responses would be appreciated.

Not sure what school district you are in , but in the two that I have worked in re-evaluations are done every 3 years, no matter how the student is performing.

Kids change a lot from 1st to 5th. I would insist on the second test.

 

[Piper]

My school district also did a re-eval every 3 years.

 

[bookwormde]

Yes at least every 3 years under IDEA unless the school and the parent agree it is not needed.

 

[CdnBuzzFan]

Thanks for your responses. We live in Ontario. The pediatrician is pushing for the second assessment because it has been three years since the first one and she feels that another one would be beneficial although I'm not sure what her reasons were.

I dont think he's changed much since the initial assessment. They rated him at a moderate to severe level and I would question the 'severe' part but that's all. If that rating were changed, I'm not sure it would impact his IEP. We've been pretty lucky, I think, with his school. For the most part, the principal and his teachers have been very accommodating and supportive.

If the psychologist is correct about the two test scores being the same (she mentioned the Whisk test) then it may not make sense to get the second one done, however, I was hoping that the second one would find that he requires a computer to access curriculum. I suppose, however, that there are other avenues I could venture down to get that to happen. He is enrolled in typing classes that start next week.

Anyway, it's a little frustrating to first be told that it's going to happen and then that it's not going to happen. I wouldn't have minded the withdrawal from the classroom for the sessions because it's still pretty early in the year and he has a tutor who could have helped him catch up on anything that he may have missed.

If a second one would definitely benefit him, then we should get one done privately but if the same results will be produce then perhaps there would be no point. I just wish I knew which way to go here.

 

[cgncga]

Thanks for your responses. We live in Ontario. The pediatrician is pushing for the second assessment because it has been three years since the first one and she feels that another one would be beneficial although I'm not sure what her reasons were.

I also live in Ontario and when my daughter had her Psycho-Ed assessment done at the end of SK, I was told that she should have another one done in about 3 years time (which would be later this year since she's now in Grade 3). I was told that a lot of things can change in that time-frame and that it can be easier to figure out more about a child's learning challenges as they get older and the gaps between their skills and their peers skills get larger. I think that will hold true for may daughter. Her areas of strength 2 1/2 years ago are still strengths, but her weak areas are just getting weaker as the expectations become higher.

Catherine

 

[DisneyPups]

Actually IDEA requires that you REVIEW the child's eligibility every three years. It does not say you have to do formal evaluations. Often times, school districts do several assessments throughout the year that provide significant data for continuing eligibility without requesting a full psycho-educational evaluation. I would recommend testing prior to a transition (elementary to middle, or however your school system does it).

 

[CdnBuzzFan]

Actually IDEA requires that you REVIEW the child's eligibility every three years. It does not say you have to do formal evaluations. Often times, school districts do several assessments throughout the year that provide significant data for continuing eligibility without requesting a full psycho-educational evaluation. I would recommend testing prior to a transition (elementary to middle, or however your school system does it).

Actually, the reason the school committee chose him as a candidate for the assessment is because he will be transitioning from elementary to middle school next fall. The psychologist said that he wouldn't need another one until two years before he enters post secondary education.

 

[1308Miles]

In the 50 States under IDEA, a student is eligible to be re-evaluated every 3 years for continuation of SPED and related services. Intelligence quotients are more stable in later years (testing at an earlier age tends to yield skewed results) and thus, I would HIGHLY recommend a re-evaluation.