Because you are an expert on your child, you will help Dr. Scott learn about your child and his/her experiences at home and school. You will assist Dr. Scott by discussing your concerns, completing a developmental history, gathering school records, and being an advocate for your child.
You may want to talk to your child about the upcoming evaluation. Dr. Scott recommends telling children that you and his/her teacher(s) are concerned and want to help him/her do his/her best. The visit is for Dr. Scott to understand how your child learns and find ways to help him/her improve.
Avoid using words like "test" or "testing" because it can put pressure on a child and may imply that they will either "pass" or "fail." The evaluation process explores your child's strengths and weaknesses and does not include any components that he/she can "fail."
Children are asked to do things such as answer questions, look at pictures, and solve problems or puzzles. Most children enjoy the evaluation process and leave feeling good about their performance.
You will also want to make sure your child has a good night's rest the evening before and has eaten appropriately the day of the evaluation. If your child wears glasses or a hearing aid, be sure he/she has them on for the evaluation.
