Academic Testing

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Why Should I Get My Child Assessed?

It can be very discouraging to have your child come home from school every day and say “I am so bored in class…” or “I just don’t understand this subject…” Parents often come to us feeling helpless and at a loss for how to help their child when they express these concerns. Our specialized testing can shed light on a wide range of potential learning and developmental issues. Through formal and informal assessment, we can offer a full learning profile.

 

Testing is Available:

  • Comprehensive Assessment

  • IQ testing (Cognitive Assessment)

  • Achievement Testing

  • Gifted Identification and Parental Support

  • Twice-Exceptional (2e) Determination (e.g., Gifted and LD or ADHD)

  • ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis

  • Social-Emotional-Behavioral Assessment

 

IQ (Intelligence Quotient) Testing

Parents often obtain IQ testing to get an objective view of their child’s learning potential or learning style. This information helps parents make informed decisions regarding educational options and how to best meet their child’s individual learning needs. We can provide IQ testing for individuals from age 2½ years up to and including adults.

 

Achievement Testing

Many parents would like objective information about their child’s achievement in reading, math, and writing. Individually administered achievement testing can provide this valuable information, so parents can determine what their child needs to succeed in school. Interventions that are targeted to an identified deficit will make the most difference for that child.

 

The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-3rd Edition (WIAT-III) gives parents and school personnel objective data regarding where the child is currently performing. With a total of 16 subtests, the WIAT-III provides composite scores in these areas:

  • Oral Language (grades PK-12)

  • Total Reading (grades 1-12)

  • Reading Comprehension & Fluency (grades 2-12)

  • Mathematics (grades K-12)

  • Math Fluency (grades 1-12)

  • Written Expression (grades K-12)

Giftedness & Twice Exceptional (2e) Identification

Gifted can mean many different things to various groups of people. The State of Ohio Department of Education recognizes four different types of “giftedness:

  • Superior Cognitive

  • Specific Academic

  • Creative Thinking

  • Visual and Performing Arts

At Avenues we can identify students as “superior cognitive” and/or “specific academic” gifted. We use state-approved identification instruments to accomplish this assessment. These tests are the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Third Edition (WPPSI-III), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-3rd Edition (WIAT-III).

Some gifted children do not do well on the group ability tests that school districts administer as part of the screening process. Individually administered IQ testing offers more in-depth, valid and useful information than do group tests. Most districts will consider a privately administered IQ test to determine gifted identification.

 

The Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration-5th Edition (VMI) measures visual-motor integration in children and adults. It is useful in screening for visual-motor deficits that can lead to learning and behavior problems.

ADHD Assessment

Determining if a child or adolescent has ADHD takes many steps. There is no single test to diagnose the disorder. A comprehensive evaluation is necessary to establish the diagnosis, rule out other causes, and determine the presence or absence of coexisting conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.).

Our ADHD assessments include:

  • Complete history (developmental, medical, social, emotional, behavioral, academic)

  • Various rating scales and checklists for parents, teachers, and child

  • Consultation with child’s teacher

  • Review of all school assessments and performance

  • In-depth interviews with parents and child

  • Observation of the child’s behavior

  • Determine if further testing is warranted

  • Collaboration with the child’s physician

Adult ADHD

ADHD is not just something limited to children. However, it may look different in kids than in adults. Experts estimate that as many as 8 million adults in America met the criteria for ADHD. Although, only 20% had been properly diagnosed and treated.

  • Is it difficult to sustain your focus and concentration while working or studying?

  • Are you often distracted by every little thing going on around you?

  • Do you often make careless mistakes in your work or feel completely unproductive?

  • Are your relationships suffering because it’s hard to pay attention in social conversations?

  • Are you forgetful of scatter-brained most of the time?

  • Do you struggle with feelings of restlessness and irritability?

  • Does it take a great deal of effort for you to sit still?

  • Do you tend to make impulsive decisions of later wish you could take back?

Nicki Masters