July 19, 2004 - When a child is struggling at school, parents, teachers
and classmates can also be affected.  Knowing when an evaluation is
necessary requires key information on when and what type of testing is
appropriate, how it is done and what the results mean. Testing results
often bring legal obligations for a school and school district. Expert
child psychologists, Ellen B. Braaten PhD and Gretchen Felopulos, PhD,
recently published “Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids,”
an informative guidebook for parents and educators detailing the
testing process from start to finish.

“Nearly one in five children receive some form of psychological,
academic or intelligence testing each year,” said Ellen B. Braaten co-
author and psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Every day
thousands of parents are confronting the possibility that their child
might have a learning disability or developmental delay. With dozens
of different tests available, jargon-filled reports and complex numerical
scores, it’s often difficult to determine what the test results really mean
for the child’s future. Parents and teachers can wonder how to interpret
results and what course of action is appropriate.”

Today’s emphasis on ‘No Child Left Behind’ education policies,
heightened parental concern, increased budget constraints and limited
resources can all play a part in the testing process.  Testing can be a
costly route, a parent or teacher’s decision can become easier when
equipped with the right information. Every adult should know the right
questions to ask, the differences between types of testing, the pros
and cons of using a private or public evaluator, and rights defined by a
child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). “Straight Talk about
Psychological Testing for Kids” explains the role testing plays in
diagnosing and developing treatment plans for dyslexia, ADHD, math
and reading disorders, and other childhood problems, including
Asperger syndrome, depression and anxiety.

The guidebook is an excellent reference for parents, teachers,
principals, school psychologists and other education professionals.
“Sometimes even educators aren’t exactly sure what happens during
the testing process and why certain tests are used,” says Felopulos, co-
author and psychologist at Harvard Medical School. “Our book details:
when, why, and how to have a child tested; what schools can and
should provide; what the numbers say about IQ, development,
learning disabilities; and, how to use the results to get the best help
for the child.

“Straight Talk about Psychological Testing for Kids” (2004) is published
by Guilford Press and is available in both hardback and paperback
editions.