Is my 5 year old too young for a neurospychological evaluation?
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CitaClark
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| I was determined to get my DD daughter evaluated ASAP (neuropsych) (she will be five in April) but her neurologyst (Dr. McCLintock form @ Children's Hospital) told me yesterday to wait until she is at least 6 years old. Is there an "appropriate" age to start these tests? I thought these test would help determine her placement for Kindergarten... |
Anonymous
| When my son was tested three years ago, the consensus was wait until age seven. |
Anonymous
| We just did one for our 6 year old at the recommendation of his kindergarten teacher and it was very helpful, but I don't think we would have gotten nearly as much out of it a year ago - I suppose it depends on the underlying reasons for getting the evaluation, but I think 5 is probably too early to diagnose specific learning disabilities like dyslexia and dysgraphia. |
Anonymous
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OP, are you applying to a private school that requires the WISC or WPPSI? (One or the other is usually included in a neuropsych eval.)
If not, I would wait a year and do a full eval if you suspect learning disabilities. The results will probably be more accurate. Some SN schools require an eval for admission vs. just a stand alone test like the WISC or WPPSI b/c it gives a fuller picture. |
Anonymous
| I have always heard 6. |
Anonymous
|
Psychologist here. It really depends on what your questions are. MANY of the tests we use have one version for kids under six, and another for kids six and up. Other tests just don't start until six (and some don't start until eight). Combine that with the fact that most kids develop unevenly, and kids with issues develop even more unevenly, and the information you get from a (time consuming, expensive) neuropsych evaluation will be only moderately useful in terms of predicting future performance. For that reason, you would probably have to test again in just one or two years.
So, if your questions are really pressing, or if you don't mind the idea of repeating the whole thing in, say, mid-first grade, go ahead. But if you can wait until six, you will get much more information. |
Anonymous
| We had a neuropsychological/psycho educational eval done for our son when he was 4yrs and 3 months old through his school. If you have it done through the public school system, it's free and no cost to you. The quality can vary but we were very happy with ours. It was done as part of an eval to get an IEP. |
Anonymous
| OP -- If you are doing this because you suspect some developmental issues, then do the testing now. Yes, some things don't show up until later and results can change over time, but if there are certain issues (perhaps not all, but definitely many) then early and aggressive intervention is the best chance of long term improvement, so I would not wait. If your reason for testing is just curiosity, then I see no rush (and personally I wouldn't even bother to test). |
Anonymous
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My daughter has a developmental delay, recently her school tested her for special needs elegibility (continuationof services, she has been in a specials ed classrom
Since she is two years old) and she was found to be ID. Her IQ scores were low (75 for verbal, nonverbal 65, IQ composite 62. She does have an extreme stranger anxiety problem and one of my concerns was her performance during the test, in front to a complete stranger, for example she is verbal at home bur barely talks in school, she knows her numbers and ABCs but she will not say them out loud to a stranger, she completely shuts down...I know she is below average but my fear is that these IQ results are not reflecting her real potential. Also, I understand this test was taken in one session...to me, and given her issues she needed more time than this. I understand the neuropsyc test would provide much more info than school testing, my hope is that it will tell us HOW she learns and what are her strenghts and weaknesses....and hopefully not just because she has an ID label she is placed on an ID program. her receptive language is excellent, but she has apraxia, her expressive language is really behind..... |
Anonymous
Unfortunately, it takes a long time for the public school to do it. I've been told the process can take 18 months in mcps. |
Anonymous
That sounds fishy. Once you request an evaluation, the school has 60-90 business days depending on jurisdiction to get the evaluation completed and not only neuropsych but OT, SL, PT, etc. and any other testing that was deemed necessary (for an IEP). We are in DC and it's hard to believe DC beats MoCo in this. |
Anonymous
| All schools, regardless of the county, have 65 days to complete testing once the parent signs off. The clock starts as the ink is drying. |
Anonymous
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/specialed/parents/process.aspx#q2 Here is a link to how the process works. based on my read (I could not be reading this correctly) the evaluation doesn't just happen if a parent requests it. It seems it is part of the process of setting up an IEP. There is a screening meeting to determine if the child meets the criteria and if there is a need for a further evalation, there may be a request for a further assessment. The 90 days is for the IEP meeting, not the assessment. |
Anonymous
| Yes, just because a parent requests testing, that does not mean it automatically happens. There needs to be evidence that the student is not making sufficient progress. AND if there are other factors that might contribute to the lack of progress, those may need to be ruled out or addressed before testing, ie the child has recently failed eye exams and hasn't gotten glasses yet. This is a team decision--school psychologist, teacher, special Ed teacher, administrator, social worker and parent. |
Anonymous
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^As I recall, I requested an evaluation by sending an email to the principal and ccing the Sp Ed coordinator in October. All assessments including the neuropsych was done prior to the eligibility meeting in Feb where it was decided my kid qualified for an IEP. The IEP meeting itself was 2 wks later in March (the 90 days does not include weekends and holidays) and everything - supports, services, accommodations, etc. was implimented within the week.
No way whould it take mcps 18 months. That's ridiculous and if a school official told you this, they are lying. |