Screening and Screening and AssessmentAssessment

Unit IV, Exceptional ChildrenUnit IV, Exceptional ChildrenKaplan UniversityKaplan University

Tristram Jones, Ph.D.Tristram Jones, Ph.D.

Identifying the At-risk:Identifying the At-risk: Kids with known conditions related to Kids with known conditions related to

developmental disability—hearing developmental disability—hearing loss, Down syndrome, poor vision.loss, Down syndrome, poor vision.

Those delayed in motor, cognitive, Those delayed in motor, cognitive, communicative, psychological or self-communicative, psychological or self-help skillshelp skills

Those deemed at risk because of Those deemed at risk because of biological and/or environmental biological and/or environmental events in their lives.events in their lives.

How do we know who the at-risk How do we know who the at-risk are?are?

Hospital recordsHospital records Family Interviews Family Interviews ObservationObservation Health screeningsHealth screenings

Any of which can lead to DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT by a multidisciplinary team

How well does identifying at-How well does identifying at-risk children actually predict risk children actually predict

disabilities?disabilities? Correlational studies prove: Correlational studies prove:

NOT VERY WELL!NOT VERY WELL!

SCREENING FOR AUTISM:SCREENING FOR AUTISM:There are complex types ofThere are complex types ofAUTISM (PDDs) or AutismAUTISM (PDDs) or AutismSpectrum Disorders.Spectrum Disorders.Here are some broadHere are some broadcategories:_______________categories:_______________ AUTISM-exhibiting severelyAUTISM-exhibiting severelydisordered verbal and nonverbaldisordered verbal and nonverbalbehaviors and odd behavioralbehaviors and odd behavioralpatterns.patterns.

Asperger’s syndrome: Asperger’s syndrome: Children exhibit Children exhibit non-verbal language problems—no marked non-verbal language problems—no marked delays in lingual and cognitive development.delays in lingual and cognitive development.

(Are these just kids with AUTISM and high IQs? (Are these just kids with AUTISM and high IQs? Is ASPERGERS the same as high-functioning Is ASPERGERS the same as high-functioning

ASPERGERS?)ASPERGERS?) PPD-NOS: PPD-NOS: Children with non-verbal Children with non-verbal

language difficulties that do not meet DSM language difficulties that do not meet DSM criteria for the above diagnosescriteria for the above diagnoses

This means screening isThis means screening is

done by clinical psy anddone by clinical psy and

psychiatric pros…or thepsychiatric pros…or the

State State

Behavior DisordersBehavior DisordersThere are so many that they often defy There are so many that they often defy

categorization, but we definitely think of:categorization, but we definitely think of: ANTI-SOCIAL andANTI-SOCIAL and NON-COMPLIANT NON-COMPLIANT disorders, right?disorders, right? SCREENED by teachers SCREENED by teachers

or or parents initially, thenparents initially, then expertly checked withexpertly checked with “ “SSBD” SSBD” Standardized Screening forStandardized Screening for

behavior disordersbehavior disorders

SSBD is a “TRIPLE GATE” SSBD is a “TRIPLE GATE” processprocess

GATE ONE: Observation by teachers GATE ONE: Observation by teachers whowho

determine external and internal determine external and internal behaviors.behaviors.

The WORST THREE (!?) are selected The WORST THREE (!?) are selected for screening with standardized for screening with standardized behavioral rating scales.behavioral rating scales.

Highest scoring kids are observed by Highest scoring kids are observed by specialists in a number of different specialists in a number of different settings.settings.

SCREENING FOR HEARING SCREENING FOR HEARING LOSSLOSS

Early diagnosis is essential for Early diagnosis is essential for medical help to assist in avoiding medical help to assist in avoiding language development problems and language development problems and address the problem! Diagnosis by 3 address the problem! Diagnosis by 3 is considered vital!is considered vital!

Diagnosis is Usually by Diagnosis is Usually by ObservationObservation

Newborn screenings (increasingly Newborn screenings (increasingly used).used).

ParentsParents PediatriciansPediatricians TeachersTeachers

SCREENING FOR VISION:SCREENING FOR VISION: Complicated by a lack of Complicated by a lack of

standardized instruments!standardized instruments!

THE GOOD OLD THE GOOD OLD SNELLEN CHARTSNELLEN CHART is is as as

close to standard as close to standard as

it gets! it gets!

Every state of the Union Every state of the Union mandates mandates

school vision testing.school vision testing. So the school nurse is the first line of defense!So the school nurse is the first line of defense! A Snellen chart of images exists for pre-A Snellen chart of images exists for pre-

readers.readers. Ramifications in reading are tested at Ramifications in reading are tested at

appropriate agesappropriate ages Final diagnoses are done byFinal diagnoses are done by optometrists, of course!optometrists, of course!

Did you know there is a Did you know there is a deviance model for the deaf?deviance model for the deaf?

Dr Donald F. Moores has discussed a Dr Donald F. Moores has discussed a deviance model explaining that the deaf are deviance model explaining that the deaf are somehow deficient psychologically! This is somehow deficient psychologically! This is based on psychological assessments that based on psychological assessments that demonstrate deaf children lie outside demonstrate deaf children lie outside healthy psychological parameters– should healthy psychological parameters– should we believe this?we believe this?