Evaluation Question

[katiekat]

Back in July before Sean started school I requested an evaluation. They said "lets take the wait and see approach".
At our meeting last month I again brought up the subject. They told me they recommend I take him for the nuero appt. OK but what about evaluation-they said the nuero would do a much more thorough eval and that in order to get a dx we needed to go to nuero.
The psych. told us the other day that is a bunch of bull,the eval is the same and theyre just basically being lazy. Request it in writing they have to do it.
So I did that on Monday and yesterday when I got home there was a message on my machine from CST that they need to talk to me about the request I sent them. SO I need to know whos right-the CST or the psych. I AM entitled to have him evaluated by the school right? I just dont like to argue a point unless I know what Im talking about. Help!

[misty]

Yes, you are entitled to have him evaluated by the school & once you send the request in writing they have only I believe 60 days (?) to get it done.

You can read more about your rights here:

www.wrightslaw.com/


That being said, I do think you'd get a more thorough eval with the neuropsych.

[charliegirl]

If there is any reason to suspect an LD (and that does include ADHD), they have to test. Thats the law.

If you have him tested by a neuro as they suggested, you can request they pay for it. If your insurance covers it, then no problem. If it doesn't cover and you want the school to help pay, you need to document as much as possible, as fully as you can.


Send a copy to the person you were discussing it with and say "This is what we discussed on XX/XX/07 concerning Sean and an evaluation. I want to be sure I got it right. If this isn't what we discussed or what you meant, please reply back. If I don't get a reply explaining what you meant, I'll assume that this is correct.) Quote that person verbatim as much as possible.

Don't mention them paying at this point or that you know they have to test. Its in Sean's best interest to have the eval done by a neuro. If they haven't tested and you can prove they suggested it as better than theirs, you are more likely to be in a position to get what the neuro suggests on his IEP.

Send it either return receipt requested or by e-mail. If you have a setting on your mail that will notify you when a message is received and read, use it.

My guess is that they already suspect that Sean may have more than just ADHD going on and needs the neuro eval to ensure he is diagnosed properly. If they eval him, they are doing an educational eval with some behavioral checking, but they aren't equipped to screen for more than that. Even if they suspect anything, its not likely that what they give you will be enough to get more than a dx of ADHD. You will still have to go the neuro route.

If he is bipolar and their testing indicates ADHD, which is likely, giving him stimulants for ADHD could do more damage than good. If you had no way to get a neuro to test him, I would push for the school to do it, but since you can get a neuro exam, its much better.

[lillian]

When the subject of the neuropsych evaluation came up, what was happening in the conversation? Were you talking about having him evaluated for bipolar by a neuropsych?

[lillian]

Also, does your child have any private medical dxs, like ADHD, that you already have shared with the school? Do you suspect an LD, in addition to the medical dx?

[katiekat]

Lillian, I have never brought up the bi polar with the school. We were at our monthly meeting re: Sean and the teacher was telling us that there is no improvements in his behavior and also that he has a lot of trouble with number and letter recognition. I said I wanted him evaluated and thats when they said it would be better to go to a nuerologist. I do suspect that there are LDs.
The only tetsing that we have had done was the Conners rating and we did that through the school but I dont know if that is considered an official dx.

[lillian]

Well, then, I agree entirely with Barb. They have said a neuro is better and can do more thorough testing. They're right, but I'm surprised they admitted to it. You need to get that in writing, any way you can. Have them admit that they want a neuro to do all the testing, not the school. They will be obligated to pay for the eval and to accept the findings.

[lillian]

Hold on. In the first post, you were saying "neuro", and I thought you were talking about a neuropsychologist. Are you talking about a neuropsychologist or a neurologist? If you are talking about the latter, s/he won't test for LD's, only neurological medical conditions. If you are talking about a neuropsychologist, s/he will give a full battery of tests, including tests for LD's.

[katiekat]

Lillian,It was recommended to us at our last meeting, which was attended by my husband and I, Sean's teacher,the principal and the school nurse.(No clue as to why she was there) that we take him to a nuerologist. We have that scheduled for the end of February. Then about a week later the guidance counselor,who sees him once a week, called me and suggested that we take him to a psychiatrist or psychologist because she felt he needed more than she could give him with the limited time he is in school(only 2 1/2 hours a day). We had our 1st appt. last week and have another one on Tuesday. While there the psychologist told us that the school can evaluate him as well as the nuerologist. We then sent a letter to the CST requesting a complete evaluation last week-havent heard back.
My concerns with Sean are numerous both academic and other issues ie-depression,anxiety,nightmares,hyperactivity.
Sorry if I was unclear befor-I think I got everything straight this time.

[lillian]

This is really interesting. It sounds to me like the school wants you to take him to a neurologist to have him tested for a medical condition, which the school cannot diagnose. Now, I think the school is dropping the ball on the educational evaluation, though. I doubt a neurologist is going to give an IQ and achievement tests. Have you asked the neurologist if s/he gives these tests? Also, I'm wondering if the school wants medical issues ruled in/out before doing their testing? They need to know if there is a medical issue that can cause a problem with their testing, that can influence the IQ and achievement test scores?