Language/Literacy screenings vs. evaluations

I hear the two terms 'screenings' and 'evaluations' used interchangeably all the time.  It leads to a lot of confusion about what has and hasn't been done for a child.

First, let's discuss screenings.  A screening is a quick snapshot of language or literacy skills.  These screens take about 5-15 minutes.  They look at key concepts and whether your child does or does not exhibit risk factors for those skills.  A screening is a fast way to determine if a child appears to be developing typically when compared with peers.  Screens do NOT diagnose.  They can't be used to determine whether a child is eligible for special education services.  Screenings don't look at every skill, just a few important ones and because of this, screenings can sometimes miss kids who actually do have language or literacy problems.  If you have concerns about your child, tell the speech-language pathologist about them so she can consider those concerns while she does the screen.  Your concerns may change the type of screening that is provided for your child.  A screening just tells us whether we should investigate things further using an evaluation.

Now, let's talk evaluations.  Evaluations are lengthier and comprehensive.  They look at many specific skills related to language and literacy.  Your child may be given formal standardized tests, informal tests, and even be observed during their play or classroom time.  The speech language pathologist may also want to look at examples of work, like writing or drawings, completed independently by your child.  An evaluation may also include a family history.  At the end of an evaluation you will be told either that your child's skills are typical or you will receive a diagnosis.  We use a diagnosis to help us explain the patterns of strengths and weaknesses found in the testing.  An evaluation is used to help determine eligibility for services in schools.  The information gathered will then be used as the basis for a treatment plan that is developed with you to help your child succeed.  

If you have concerns, it is possible to obtain screenings and evaluations for your child at your local public school free of charge.  If you prefer a private language or literacy screening or evaluation, and live in the northwest Oklahoma City/Edmond area, you can contact Educational Inspiration at slpinspiration@gmail.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spelling Isn't a Scary Halloween Costume

Image
Spelling has always been the scary part of reading instruction.  It's always the thing we don't have time for because we are avoiding it at all costs.  People tell us spelling doesn't make sense or that learning to write is becoming obsolete with increasing technology to do it for us. In schools, teachers have focused less and less on spelling instruction.  Many schools even quit teaching it at all after third grade.  Parents whose children struggle to read are often in favor of ignoring spelling.  After all, there's spell check for that, right?  And memorizing those spelling lists each week seems like cruel and unusual punishment for a struggling child.  I've even heard professionals tell people that it's OK to ignore the spelling lists.  So let's talk about that. Get ready. I'm going to use the word " research ."  Brace yourselves.  I'll be brief so stick with me.  Here goes.  The research tells us that kids can more easily read
Read more

Is vision therapy helpful for dyslexia?

Image
When I talk with parents about dyslexia, the topic of vision therapy almost always comes up.  It is heavily discussed on parent dyslexia support forums and one of the first results on a google search about dyslexia.  As a parent it is difficult to sift through all the information and determine what's good research and what's pseudoscience. In 2009 the following professional organizations issued a joint statement that explains the scientific evidence does not support vision therapy : That list of reputable and respected medical organizations should definitely give you pause.  In summary, their joint statement said this: "Currently, there is no adequate scientific evidence to support the view that subtle eye or visual problems cause learning disabilities. 8,30,31,45,46,48–59 Furthermore, the evidence does not support the concept that vision therapy or tinted lenses or filters are effective, directly or indirectly, in the treatment of learning disabi
Read more
Image
'Tis the Season...for wondering what gifts to buy.  You want to get your kids something fun.  But you also want to sneak a little educational purpose in without them noticing.  Check out the new gizmo called Moonlite .  It's a story projector for your iPhone. It's got all the right stuff.  It easily hooks up to technology - your iPhone.  It's also high interest.  Now, stay with me just a minute while we flash back to the 80s.  Insert time warp sounds here..... Remember those old Viewmaster projectors? I got one of those when I was a kid and that was just the coolest.  Lay out the blankets and pillows, bring in the popcorn, turn off the lights, and shine that Viewmaster projector on the wall.  Instant movie.  But the best part for parents? It's got guilt-free educational purpose! Ok, enough of the good old days.  Back to our holiday shopping dilemma.  Similar to the classic  Viewmaster , Moonlite uses the flashlight of your phone and story "reels&
Read more