My dd is getting a full evaluation throug the PS!

[Greta]

It's been so long since her screening, and since I practically begged (in writing) for a full evaluation that I was certain I was being ignored and rejected. But I got a call this morning and they have set up the first of her three-part evaluation for the 24th. I'm so relieved!

 

So no real information to report, but I wanted to share. Even though I don't *generally* take advantage of what the PS has to offer, I'm really grateful that it's there, and that they could help us in this situation.

[cillakat]

Here in GA, a 3 part evaluation still isn't a full evaluation.

 

If you really are getting what you think you're getting: yeah!!!! I just haven't ever heard of anyone getting a full psychoed eval from a ps.

 

Typically the first part is a prescreening so they can decide what to look for, then they spot pick tests to try to confirm or deny what they think the problem is.

 

But I think it's wonderful wonderful news that you're getting what you've been asking for....

 

:)

K

[Greta]

Oh, okay, thanks for the heads up. I did not understand the difference. I thought this was a full evaluation. I'm still really happy to be getting it! I'm sure it will help. In fact it might be all she needs. My concern is dysgraphia/dyslexia. Will this be enough to confirm or deny that?

[cillakat]

it depends on the school system. Here in atlanta, they don't and can't test for dyslexia and therefor won't/can't confirm/deny it.

 

However, an evaluation from an experienced reading specialist runs only around $150...... that generally can dx it if you have no other concerns and there are no other potential issues.

 

:)

k

[LizzyBee]

Oh, okay, thanks for the heads up. I did not understand the difference. I thought this was a full evaluation. I'm still really happy to be getting it! I'm sure it will help. In fact it might be all she needs. My concern is dysgraphia/dyslexia. Will this be enough to confirm or deny that?

 

I've been told that dyslexia is now considered a medical diagnosis because it's included in the DSM-IV as a medical disorder of neurological origin. The equivalent diagnosis in the educational and psychological field is Specific Learning Disorder - Reading. Educational psychologists claim that if they make a dyslexia diagnosis they could be charged with practicing medicine without a license. I'm running into this with my kids' testing - the local university won't dx them with dyslexia. But most medical doctors won't dx it either, except developmental peds and I can't even find one of those in my area. The thing that irks me is that dyslexia is broader than a reading disorder - I know my 12 yo won't meet the criteria to be dx'd with a reading disorder but that doesn't mean she doesn't have dyslexia.

Edited November 8, 2008 by LizzyBee

[Plucky]

Would you let me know how it goes? We were quoted $1200 from our pediatric psychologist for a complete LD workup, since insurance won't cover it. I'm going to start with the PS and see how things go. I'm really only concerned with dyscalculia, although I wouldn't be surprised if he had dysgraphia. I'm really interested in your experience. Thanks.

[Laurie4b]

The one thing you really, really want to get out of that is the WISC-IV. That test alone can run about $1000 privately (which is totally stupid given the amount of work it takes to give it, but that's another story.) So if the 3 part eval doesn't include that, keep squawking. I don't know how they could arrive at a conclusion about educational needs without it, but ya never know!

 

Anything else they do is icing on the cake. You can then take those test results somewhere else --if you need to-- and will have saved yourself a lot of $$.

 

Schools do not do diagnoses. They identify educational problems. Stuff like ADHD, Asperger's, etc. If they find a problem with reading, they will say it's a reading disability or a writing disability They do not use terms like dyslexia and dysgraphia. Be aware this is totally sematic.

[Laurie4b]

DSM-IV calls it "Reading Disorder" not dyslexia, unless I'm totally mistaken . You may find a neuropsychologist or someone like that who will use the term dyslexia or dysgraphia, but there is no standard diagnostic criteria for it --that I'm aware of anyway. Maybe in the International Diagnositic code (I can't remember the exact name of that one. It's a medical one, though, not mental health, like the DSM-IV) The word choice isn't really at issue. Reading disorder and dyslexia are interchangeable terms.

[Greta]

Thanks, everyone, for all this valuable information. I was not expecting this to be so confusing. I'm so glad that you are helping me go into this situation less ignorant than I would have otherwise!

[cillakat]

In this area, EdPsy's are the primary diagnosticians for reading disabilities (ie dyslexia)....and any/all other learning disabilities.

 

I've never heard of the reluctance (by an EdPsy) to dx dyslexia based. That's bizarre. But no doubt bizarre things happen:p

 

K

[LizzyBee]

Reading disorder and dyslexia are interchangeable terms.

 

Laurie, Do you know whether it matters in regards to tax deductibility of OG curriculum and tutoring? The EdPsy clinic told me that they won't dx dyslexia because it's a medical term, yet they use medical codes for the testing they do. In NC it's very difficult to find anyone who will dx and use the term dyslexia (NP's here don't use the term dyslexia either), but since that's the medical term, it seems like that's the dx one would need in order to make the OG curriculum and tutoring (and dyslexia school tuition, if applicable) tax deductible.

 

ETA: I've been thinking some more about this and the wording used in the articles I've read. Expenses may qualify for a deduction (or reimbursement from a medical reimb plan through one's employer) if a medical professional recommends the service or treatment and there is a medical diagnosis of a neurological disorder. Two of my kids already have a dx of APD, so that should work even if we don't have a dyslexia dx. I think having an EdPsy recommend OG might be sufficient to make the OG materials or tutoring deductible, since the EdPsy does use medical codes for the testing. To be on the safe side, I could show all the evaluations and recommendations from other practitioners to my kids' MD and ask him if he'll give us a written recommendation for OG even though remediating dyslexia is outside his area of expertise. If we already have a recommendation from the EdPsy, it shouldn't be a big deal for the MD to give us a 2nd recommendation.

Edited November 9, 2008 by LizzyBee

[AngieW in Texas]

In my district, an evaluation for learning disabilities along with the battery of tests for suspected dyslexia will include:

WISC-IV aptitude test, very expensive to do privately

WJ-III achievement test

CTOPP **you want to be sure to get this one**

TOWRE tests reading efficiency

GORT tests fluency and comprehension

 

I haven't had any problems at all getting the district to do testing. The first time I called was in the summer between 1st and 2nd grades. They called me back the next day and met with me the next week to figure out what kind of testing she needed. They did the testing the 2nd week of school and went over the results with me the following week.

 

The district is required to do the testing for me every three years if I request it. I called to ask about testing again at the end of 4th grade. We were being rezoned to a new school that was still under construction, so I wanted to know if I should get the testing done before the end of the schoolyear or wait until the new schoolyear. I called them on Thursday. The testing was done the next Monday. We had a meeting to go over the results the next Thursday (just one week after my initial phone call).

 

I never had any problems at all with the district. They didn't give me a hard time about hsing either and said that her best option was to continue hsing.

[Laurie4b]

Glad you answered your own question, cause I have no clue! :)