Assessments
An assessment is a tool used to evaluate or measure the child’s present level of performance and needs for early intervention.
Assessments are administered with the family centered approach in mind which considers:
- Administering the test in a child's natural environment
- Including the family in the process
- A convenient time for the family
Assessments are designed to determine the development of the infant in one of the five areas (cognitive, social-emotional, communicative, adaptive, physical). These assessments may determine the type(s) of services that your child receives (ex: Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, etc.)
Types of Assessments
There are two different types of tests that are commonly used in the early intervention setting, norm-referenced and criterion-referenced.
Norm-referenced tests yield standard scores, standard deviations, and percentile ranks that are derived in relationship to a normal distribution, and therefore have a consistent and predictable relationship to each other and provide comparable information about a child’s performance relative to a normative sample.
Criterion referenced tests are not designed to compare one child’s performance to another. These tests are helpful in assessing children’s functionality, measuring progress, and linking assessment to intervention. Criterion referenced tests may also be helpful in evaluating children for whom norm-referenced tests are not available or appropriate due to the child’s age, condition, language or culture, or other factors that may influence test performance.
Typically tests that do not reflect a child's functionality are not used during the early intervention process.
Below is a list of the only approved assessments that can be used for Early Intervention.
The most commonly used assessments are The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Motor Scale, PDMS-II, The Sensory Profile, and the HAWAII
The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Motor Scale (3rd ed.) can be used to assess children from 1 to 42 months. This assessment focuses on fine and gross motor and takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to administer.
PDMS-II assesses both gross and fine motor skills of children 0-5 years. It has eight subtests, and is very detailed.
The Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile is used to assess children (0-36months) and their sensory processing patterns.
The HAWAII has many curriculum based components to tests children's early learning abilities.
In order to choose an appropriate assessment for your child your EIO:
What factors may alter the results of an assessment?
Environment, time of day, assessor, distractions, presence/absence of a parent
How are assessment results interpreted?
After compiling information from multiple sources and components of information the integrated developmental model is used to incorporate results into the family's IFSP. This model is based on typical child development. These results are used to determine a child's strengths and areas of growth.
An assessment is a tool used to evaluate or measure the child’s present level of performance and needs for early intervention.
Assessments are administered with the family centered approach in mind which considers:
- Administering the test in a child's natural environment
- Including the family in the process
- A convenient time for the family
Assessments are designed to determine the development of the infant in one of the five areas (cognitive, social-emotional, communicative, adaptive, physical). These assessments may determine the type(s) of services that your child receives (ex: Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, etc.)
Types of Assessments
There are two different types of tests that are commonly used in the early intervention setting, norm-referenced and criterion-referenced.
Norm-referenced tests yield standard scores, standard deviations, and percentile ranks that are derived in relationship to a normal distribution, and therefore have a consistent and predictable relationship to each other and provide comparable information about a child’s performance relative to a normative sample.
Criterion referenced tests are not designed to compare one child’s performance to another. These tests are helpful in assessing children’s functionality, measuring progress, and linking assessment to intervention. Criterion referenced tests may also be helpful in evaluating children for whom norm-referenced tests are not available or appropriate due to the child’s age, condition, language or culture, or other factors that may influence test performance.
Typically tests that do not reflect a child's functionality are not used during the early intervention process.
Below is a list of the only approved assessments that can be used for Early Intervention.
The most commonly used assessments are The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Motor Scale, PDMS-II, The Sensory Profile, and the HAWAII
The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Motor Scale (3rd ed.) can be used to assess children from 1 to 42 months. This assessment focuses on fine and gross motor and takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to administer.
PDMS-II assesses both gross and fine motor skills of children 0-5 years. It has eight subtests, and is very detailed.
The Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile is used to assess children (0-36months) and their sensory processing patterns.
The HAWAII has many curriculum based components to tests children's early learning abilities.
In order to choose an appropriate assessment for your child your EIO:
- Must use assessments off the approved list
- Use clinical judgement when picking the assessment
- Observe child in natural environment
What factors may alter the results of an assessment?
Environment, time of day, assessor, distractions, presence/absence of a parent
How are assessment results interpreted?
After compiling information from multiple sources and components of information the integrated developmental model is used to incorporate results into the family's IFSP. This model is based on typical child development. These results are used to determine a child's strengths and areas of growth.