Final Study Guide Flashcards
What are the characteristics of a good report? (5)
- Well written
- Contains clear findings and specific recommendations based on referral issues
- Does not over-qualify or explain away results
- Geared to the intended audience
- Thoroughly investigates central issues
*Be as accurate as you can be with the results
What are the common sections of a traditional report? (9)
- Identifying information (in the heading)
- Reason for referral
- Background information
- Behavioral observations
- Basis of evaluation
- Test results (including cognitive function and personality function)
- Summary
- Diagnostic impressions
- Recommendation
What is the purpose of the behavioral observation in a report?
To address notable behaviors observed during the testing.
What is the purpose of the summary in a report?
To integrate the findings into a comprehensive but concise picture.
What is the most important section in a report? What should you do?
Recommendations. You should be as specific as possible.
What are some suggestions when it comes to report writing? (4)
- Describe the tests rather than naming them.
- Use specific examples when they would help explain.
- Don’t be stuck in one way of presenting data - each report is unique
- Don’t use superlatives
What are the common pitfalls of report writing? (10)
- Poor writing
- Inappropriate detail
- Excessive raw data
- Unnecessary jargon
- Unnecessary abstraction
- Vague language
- Inappropriate generalizations
- Careless use of technical terms
- Recommendations that are impractical/unnecessary
- Exhibitionism
What should you assume when writing a report?
You should assume that someday your client will read the report.
How is a therapeutic assessment “report” written?
Generally written in a letter format addressing the client’s questions on which the assessment focus on.
What is the age range for the WISC-V?
6 years - 16 years, 11 months
What is the administration time for the primary 10 subtest?
65 mins
What is the administration time for the 7 primary FSIQ subtest?
48 mins
In the traditional paper and pencil format, what are the scoring options?
Handscore and Q-Global scoring/reporting
In the digital format, what is the scoring option? What materials do you need?
Automatic scoring and reporting via Q-Interactive. 2 iPads.
What are the setbacks with administration on Q-Global?
- Equivalence is still unsettled
- Block design is not possible online (they can be mailed to the parent, but that does not protect test materials)
What is the theoretical foundation of ….
Slide 25; Wk 6
What WISC-V subtests are included in the primary category makes up the FSIQ?
SI, VO, BD, MR, FW, DS, and CD
What WISC-V subtests are included in the primary category but does NOT make up the FSIQ?
VP, Picture span, and SS
What WISC-V subtests are included in the secondary category?
IN, CO, PCn, AR, LN, and CA
How do you enhance the clinical utility of the WISC-V?
By adding subtest to measure cognitive processes known to be sensitive to learning disabilities (complementary category).
What is useful for the pattern of strengths and weakness (PSW) model?
- Naming speed literacy
- Naming speed quantity
- Symbol translation (Immediate, delayed, recognition)
What are the descriptive classification for the WISC-V?
130 and above - Extremely high
120-129 - Very High
110-119 - High Average
90-109 - Average
80-89 - Low Average
70-79 - Borderline
69 and below - Extremely low
What is the hierarchy of cognitive disorders according to Pennington, McGrath, and Peterson?
- Neurological disorders
- Developmental disorders
- Learning disorders
- Specific learning disabilities
What are the 7 types of learning disorders that are supported by evidence?
- Speech Disorder
- Language Disorder
- Reading Disorder
- Mathematics Disorders
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Intellectual Disorder
What are the three systematic ways of diagnosing learning disabilities?
- Discrepancy Model
- Response to intervention approach
- Pattern of strengths and weaknesses
What is the main belief of discrepancy model?
That there is a significant difference between cognitive aptitude (IQ) and achievement.
Who decides the required discrepancy to diagnose?
Each state’s law. Usually a standard deviation or two OR computed from a regression equation)
What is the required discrepancy to diagnose in Colorado?
Colorado uses the regression model
What are the two categories of achievement test?
- Batteries (Broader test that include several subtest)
- Focal achievement test
What are some examples of battery achievement test?
Woodcock-Johnson Achievement Test (WJA-IV)
Wechsler Individual Achievement test (WIAT-IV)
Wide Range Achievement (WRAT-5)
What are some examples of focal achievement test?
Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP-)
Nelson Denny Reading Test
Gray Oral Reading Test (GORT)
Key Math test
What type of setting is the Response to Intervention Approach (RTI) based in?
School settings. It is a federal public school requirement.
Overall, how does RTI work?
Teachers try different interventions to see what helps
What is the overall goal of RTI?
To identify and address student academic and behavioral difficulties through effective, efficient, research-based instruction and progress monitoring in a multi-tired intervention model.
What are the 4 levels of assessment in RTI?
Level 1: Screening
Level 2: Instruction supplements focused on non-responders to Level 1 interventions
Level 3: Problem-solving
Level 4: Test for Specific Learning Disorder
What goes into level 4 of RTI?
Formal testing so that someone can get a diagnosis which can lead to an IEP OR a 504 (less intensive). This is based on the child’s response to scientific, research-based interventions.
What is the emerging consensus with the discrepancy model?
Distinguishing between ability and academic performance is arbitrary and counterproductive.
What is the emerging consensus with RTI?
It is a solution of trial and error that doesn’t effectively address SLDs.
Why is it believed that RTI is a method that is “waiting [for students] to fail”?
- Because each intervention takes a minimum of 6 weeks at each RTI level there is a delay in getting the “correct” intervention for the child.
- There is a high ability that student with SLD are not identified
- Teachers who are already over burden get more responsibilities
- Continued failure can impact student’s self-concept
What are the current efforts with diagnosing disabilities?
- To make assessments more consistent with empirical evidence
- To use tests to identify patterns of academic strengths and weaknesses is superior to the discrepancy model
- To use other sources of information, such as history and observation, as equal footing as testing
What does the quote “Every child is like all children, like some other children, and like no other children” mean? How does that quote effect how we treat individuals?
- “Like all” > Species level
- “Like some” > Diagnostic level
- “Like no other” > Unique
- Science is not possible at the species or unique level. So, understanding and treating depends on group level variation.
Why are diagnoses important?
- To efficient identification and treatment
- To facilitate communication
- To provide access to support
- To facilitate research
- Can be therapeutic to the individual
What is a pro in using patterns of strengths and weaknesses approach when diagnosing specific learning disabilites?
It is strongly grounded in and emerging from research evidence.
What are the complicating factors when it comes to diagnosing learning disabilities?
- Heterotypic continuity
- Brain plasticity
- Comorbidity
- Multiple levels of consideration
- Genetic and environmental factors are bidirectional
What are the multiple levels of consideration when it comes to diagnosing learning disabilities? (4)
- Etiology
- Brain development
- Neuropsychology
- Effects on cognitive ability
What is heterotypic continuity?
That the underlying impairment/disorder is continuous through life but the expression of it is different across age. In other words, symptoms manifest differently with different developmental phases/tasks.
Why are neurodevelopmental disorders bidirectional?
Because development is occurring throughout life and the environment also affects brain development (nutrition, experiences, etc.)
Plasticity of brain development is the interplay of what?
Risk factors and protective factors
What type of model does the plasticity of the brain best fit?
The probabilistic model
Why is comorbidity common in neurodevelopment disorders?
Because of shared risk and protective factors at the etiological level
With a learning disorder, what is the probability of having ADHD?
20-25%
With ADHD, what is the probability of having a learning disorder?
30-70%
How many children with Tourette’s also have a learning disorder?
~60%
With Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, how many people have a learning disorder?
About one third
What is the summary model of neurodevelopment disorders?
- The etiology of complex behavioral disorders is multifactorial and involves the interaction of multiple risk and protective factors, which can be either genetic or environmental.
- These risk and protective factors alter the development of neural systems that mediate cognitive functions necessary for normal development, thus producing the behavioral symptoms that define these disorders.
- No single etiological factor is sufficient for a disorder, and few may be necessary.
- Consequently, comorbidity among complex behavioral disorders is to be expected because of shared etiological and cognitive risk factors.
- The liability distribution for given disease is often continuous and quantitive, rather than being discrete and categorical, so that the threshold for having the disorder is somewhat arbitrary.
What is the holistic approach to diagnosis? (3)
- Consider context (family, school, community)
- Evaluate the full picture (including social, emotional, and behavioral aspects)
- Integration of information from history, observation, tests
What is included in the history in the holistic approach to diagnosis?
- Family history, including diagnosis and difficulties in school
- Developmental, medical, and educational history
- School performance and any assessment results
- Psychosocial history
- Sleep patterns
What is included in the observation in the holistic approach to diagnosis?
- Begins with first contact
- Classroom/work observation
- Parent and teacher observation
- Testing observation (cooperation and effort, problem solving approach, and types of errors made)
What is included in the tests in the holistic approach to diagnosis?
- Flexible battery approach - including areas most relevant to LD and emotional screen
- Performance validity tests are widely used to determine the client’s level of motivation
What are the reading disorders?
- Dyslexia - impaired basic literacy skills
- Poor comprehenders - normal single word readers but impaired reading comprehension