The Complete Picture A&E

Our Assessments & Evaluations Consider the Whole Child Including Their Family, School, and Community

Early Assessment + Continuous Evaluation = Important

Behavioral, Emotional, & Social Development

Social-emotional and personality evaluation tools help us understand and address challenges such as depression, anxiety, and social deficits that may impact our daily lives. By using these assessments, we can develop effective strategies to support individuals at home or in school and provide valuable information to therapists for treatment planning.

Memory & Attention

Neuropsychological testing is a powerful tool for uncovering the potential within individuals, helping to identify attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and assessing memory skills, reasoning abilities, and executive functioning, such as planning and organizational skills.

Achievement

Psychological and educational assessments play a crucial role in evaluating a student's reading, mathematics, and writing abilities, as well as identifying any learning challenges, such as dyslexia. For students with special needs, these assessments are instrumental in developing a tailored Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) during a collaborative Planning and Placement Team meeting (PPT).

Intelligence

The evaluations encompass a wide range of areas including developmental progress, cognitive abilities, language and communication proficiency, nonverbal reasoning skills, and the capacity for quickly grasping and assimilating new knowledge

Assessments are always individualized, based on the needs of the child, address the concerns

What Should Parents Expect with Child's Assessment

Introductory Period, Initial Assessments & Evaluations

Parents embark on a journey by completing the initial assessments before their first appointment. They diligently complete questionnaires detailing their child’s developmental, medical, social, and educational history. This valuable information, combined with previous evaluation results and reports from therapists, early interventionists, and schools, serves as the foundation of the assessment plan. This paves the way for DYM to create custom-tailored services that cater to the unique needs of every child.

In the next phase, we will have the opportunity to engage in interviews with the parents, the child, and the teacher if the child is currently enrolled. The Director/Assistant Director/EHS Lead/PS Lead may also be involved. During these interviews, parents and teachers can share valuable insights about the child’s strengths and weaknesses and discuss any areas of particular concern. Following this, the child will undergo several classroom observations and evaluations through play and lesson plan activities, providing a comprehensive understanding of their cognitive, educational, and social-emotional functioning.

Once the written report is completed, the evaluator meets with parents to review the results and discuss the proposed recommendations. Our evaluation team comprises dedicated clinicians committed to empowering children to conquer challenges and achieve their full potential. As researchers, we delve into and assess the effectiveness of new treatments. In clinical practice, we have encountered some of the most challenging and complex cases, fostering a distinctive perspective and high level of expertise that positively impacts every child we serve.

Early assessment is vital for guiding children into early intervention or treatment, which can positively affect current symptoms and difficulties and long-term outcomes. In early childhood education, assessment is an integral component that plays a pivotal role in gauging a child's progress, understanding their needs, and tailoring a practical learning experience. It takes on a unique significance as it forms the foundation for a child's educational journey. Defining assessment in early childhood education is a multifaceted process that involves gathering information about a child's abilities, strengths, and areas that require further development. It goes beyond traditional testing, focusing on holistic observation, documentation, and ongoing evaluation

Importance of Early Assessment, Identification, & Evaluation

Early childhood assessment involves gathering information about a child, reviewing it, and using it to plan goals and interventions and determine needs and support.

We have observed significant learning difficulties in elementary students, which may lead to decreased motivation and self-esteem. These difficulties can continue to affect individuals into adulthood. Identifying children with learning difficulties early through early childhood assessment and identification is crucial to prevent further learning concerns or obstacles. The focus should be identifying children "at risk" as early as possible.

Key Elements for Assessment & Evaluation

Individualization:

In early childhood education, we celebrate every child's distinctiveness, personalizing assessments of their specific needs, interests, and abilities to offer the right support and guidance.

Observation:

Observation, a primary assessment method in early childhood, allows educators and caregivers to keenly observe and document children's behaviors, interactions, and activities, providing valuable insights into their development.

Documentation:

Assessment often involves keeping records of a child's progress over time. These records may include photographs, videos, written notes, and the child's work samples. Documentation helps educators and parents track growth and development and make informed decisions about the child's learning journey.

Formative and Summative Assessment:

In early childhood education, assessments can be categorized into formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are continuous and provide immediate feedback to guide instruction and support. Summative assessments, on the other hand, are typically used to measure a child's progress at specific points in time.

Authentic Assessment:

Assessing children through real-life situations and activities instead of standardized tests allows educators to better understand their learning experiences and abilities in context.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may exhibit symptoms that overlap with other developmental disorders, making diagnosis challenging. ASD is a spectrum, so early assessment using various methods is crucial to determine the necessary supports, interventions, and resources. People with autism may also display secondary symptoms like aggression, tantrums, and self-injury. Research indicates that early intervention, stemming from timely assessment and identification, can reduce or prevent these behaviors (Horner, Carr, Strain, Todd, & Reed, 2002). Additionally, "early intervention increases the likelihood of improved long-term outcomes" (Koegel, Koegel, Ashbaugh, & Bradshaw, 2014, p. 52).

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

It is essential to conduct early assessments for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to ensure effective and evidence-based treatment. A thorough diagnostic assessment may involve input from various sources, such as parents and teachers. It may include diagnostic interviews, behavior rating scales, direct behavioral observations, and continuous performance tests (DuPaul, Reid, Anastopoulos, & Power, 2014). Research has shown that when ADHD goes undiagnosed, individuals may face psychological, financial, academic, and social difficulties. Additionally, untreated ADHD in childhood can increase the risk of mental health issues in adulthood (Hamed, Kauer, & Stevens, 2015). Late identification of ADHD often leads to children not receiving timely support.

Behavioral Health Services & Therapeutic Trauma Informed Childcare