What Might be Included in the Assessment?

This initial or reevaluation may include observations, checklists, and other informal measures, in addition to, or in place of, formal standardized tests. The assessment should be multidisciplinary, with team members from a number of disciplines participating.

Parents will be asked to fill out questionnaires concerning their children's behaviors, skills, and needs, as seen from the home. Parents can provide vital information, as well, about their children's interests, as an educational plan that includes the interests and hobbies of a child with fragile X can be very effective. Parents should also plan on providing information about fragile X syndrome, as many times they know as much or more than other team members about fragile X and its effect on their child.

School psychologists may want to administer individualized intelligence (IQ) tests at this time. Some IQ tests are more appropriate than others for children with fragile X. For example, the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC), includes both simultaneous and sequential tasks. Since children with fragile X are often better at simultaneous processing, the Kaufman may be a way to show some of their strengths as well as weaknesses. Some achievement testing may be given, to see where the children's readiness levels are. Many children with fragile X show strengths that are not tapped by formal, standardized tests, so informal testing and other forms of information gathering are vital.

Gail Harris-Schmidt, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

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