Is Your Child Quirky?
-June 16, 2009-Comments (0)
In the June 2009 issue of ParentLife, Jennifer Holt's article "A Quirky Kid" encourages parents to maintain a balanced perspective about their children's quirky behaviors. Are you concerned that your child's quirks may mean something more? If so, talk to your pediatrician about having your child's development evaluated.
What can you expect from an evaluation?
When a school professional or pediatrician recommends your child be tested, here are a few tips.
- Expect that the process will take time, involving multiple assessment tools and many steps.
- Write down your questions ahead of time. Bring a notebook and pen to jot down notes when professionals are sharing evaluation results. They will prepare reports in written form that are often written in educational or medical jargon. Be sure to ask for clarification in terms that are easy to understand.
- Do not be overwhelmed by the number of professionals involved in the assessment process. They all want what is best for your child, and they are tapping every resource they have to find some answers.
- Approach diagnoses with a healthy sense of skepticism. You know your child best, so if something is not making sense to you, get a second opinion!
- Evaluation should lead to a plan of action. If your child receives a label, it should come with a set of recommended interventions for both home and school settings. If no diagnosis is reached, the multidisciplinary team should still have some suggested steps for you to take next.
If you would like more information, be sure to check out the following Web sites.
- American Academy of Pediatrics — www.aap.org
- National Research Center on Learning Disabilities — www.nrcld.org
- Autism Information Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism
- Obsessive Compulsive Foundation — www.ocfoundation.org/ocd-in-children.html
- All Kinds Of Minds® — www.allkindsofminds.org
- Council for Exceptional Children — www.cec.sped.org
Has your child been evaluated for developmental delays? Do you have any encouragement to offer parents who may be going through this right now?
