Comprehensive Guide to Child Development
Assessments
Look at this guide to know what referrals might be made
by a psychologist or other health professional.
COMMON CONCERNS
When children are referred for assessment of behavioral,
emotional, social or learning difficulties parents have to
deal with a lot of new information. The parent is trying to
understand the nature of the problem and may be uncertain
that they are consulting with the best professional in each
field. Referral by one professional in the field to another
is the best safeguard for good service.
Parents usually rely on the doctor or paediatrician, psychologist,
speech pathologist and teacher to identify the need for specialist
testing. Some children require several interventions and parents
have to prioritise and select the sequence in which interventions
are provided. This aspect can be discussed with the psychologist.
Mapping out the interventions required and the time each one
is likely to take is helpful.
Here is a guideline of tests and treatments commonly used
for child development. A reference for a professional on the
NORTH SHORE in SYDNEY is included. These professionals are
willing to spend 10 minutes on the telephone with you to discuss
your child's assessment needs in their field of practice.
1) A REMEDIAL ASSESSMENT is
conducted by a remedial teacher and measures reading, writing,
maths performance levels for a particular age group.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
RAZAAN RYAN tel (02)
9908 6487
2) A SPEECH AND LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT
is conducted by a speech pathologist and identifies and treats
specific expressive (speech and writing) and receptive (listening,
comprehension, recall) language problems.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
WENDY BRYANT tel (02) 9955
0961
3) AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSESSMENT
is conducted by an occupational therapist and identifies fine
motor co-ordination and 'desktop' problems that affect learning.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
SALLY INGLIS tel (02) 9884
9488
4) A PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSESSMENT
is conducted by a physiotherapist and identifies body movement
co-ordination and other developmental movement problems.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
CHRISTINE HEBERLEIN tel 0402
965918
PEPE STARTE tel
(02) 9438 1782
5) PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
are conducted by a psychologist and assess emotional, social
and behavioural development and health, learning ability,
intelligence, problems with vision, hearing, attention, memory
and comprehension.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
ANCA RAMSDEN tel (02)
9418 3692
PHILLIP WOLFERS
tel (02) 9439 2255
6) HEARING TESTS are conducted
by an audiologist and measure the ability to hear and interpret
sound.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
LINDSAY REINHARDT tel (02) 9419
6999
7) VISION TESTS are conducted
by an optometrist and measure the ability see clearly and
to interpret what is seen.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
LEONARD FINE at OPSM tel (02) 9413
1749
8) NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
are conducted by a neurologist and measure neurological health.
Referrals are made by a medical doctor.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
DR ALANNA HORADAN (general practitioner) tel (02) 9953
3097
9) A PAEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT
is conducted by a paediatrician specialising in specific childhood
disorders. Referrals are made by a medical doctor.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
DR ALANNA HORADAN tel (02) 9953
3097
10) A HOMEOPATHIC ASSESSMENT
is conducted by a homeopath specialising in childhood disorders.
PROFFESIONAL RESOURCE:
PATRICIA JANSSEN tel (02) 9906
2455
ROLF JANSSEN (chiropractor) tel (02) 9906
2455
Call Anca now on +61 2 94183692
or on +61 414 414 286 for your
personal appointment. |
