Testing Special Needs for Services and/ or a Diagnosis

Getting a special needs services and/ or a diagnosis is a process. It involves medical history, observations, and testing done by therapist, doctors, and/ or specialist. If you are concerned about your child not meeting developmental milestones, then you have a few choices to begin testing for services and/ or a diagnosis:

 

Option One: Early Intervention

If your child age 0 to 3 years old, you can contact Early Intervention for your state and submit a referral for an evaluation. This service is done at no cost to you (covered by our taxes). After you have applied, Early Intervention will send a state coordinator to your house to evaluate your child to see if your child needs to be tested for a disability or developmental delays. If the coordinator thinks testing needs to take place, they will then send out a therapist or specialist at a later date for an evaluation. After the evaluation, you will meet with the coordinator and anyone else involved with the testing to review the data from the test. They will talk to you about whether your child qualified and the services available. If your child qualifies, they will write up an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan). This document will explain the services that your child and family will receive. You will then give your consent for services to begin. Your child’s goals will be reviewed every six months until they are no longer receiving services.

 

Option Two: Public Schools

If your child is over the age of three, they can receive testing through the public schools (even if you home school or if your child attends private school). This service is also free to you (covered by our taxes). All you need to do is contact the special education department of your local school district, and they arranged for your child to be tested by therapist or specialist. After testing, results are discussed and if qualified, an ARD is set up at a later date. At the ARD, (Admission, Review, Dismissal process) you will to over your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and see what modifications and accommodations will help your child be successful.  It will also note if your child will receive additional therapy services. After the meeting, the child’s services begin.

 

Option Three: Private Practice Offices

Any child at any age can be evaluated at a private practice all you need is a referral from your pediatrician or family doctor. If you have insurance or the funds to do this testing, it is more extensive than the options above. For example the options above will only use one test for qualification, whereas, private places will use three. Because the testing is so extensive you will also see many people with this option. Types of specialist that you may test during a diagnosis include: a speech and language therapist (test for feeding disorders, and speech delays), occupational therapist (test for sensory problems), and physical therapist (motor delays). Once a delay has been noted, the child will then see a psychologist/ psychiatrist who will add to the therapists’ evaluations with a clinical interviews, IQ testing, behavioral testing, and personality testing. These professionals will then work as a team to determine an accurate diagnosis. If the child is of school age, they might also ask for input from that child’s teacher. Once a diagnosis is established, recommendations can be made for therapy or special services.

 

I have used all three of these avenues for testing. I started off testing through the state (public schools/ Early Intervention) and then took my results to a private practice for more extensive testing. When it came to a diagnosis for my children, I wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page. It never hurts to get several options.