A diagnostic test isn’t just a medical procedure you have done in the hospital. In fact, if your child struggles with learning, diagnostic testing could be one step on the road to healthy learning! Hear more from HSLDA Special Needs Coordinator Faith Berens and your host Mike Farris, on today’s Home School Heartbeat.
Mike Farris:
Faith, we’ve been talking about how regular assessments can be of great benefit to struggling learners and their homeschooling parents. I’d like you to explain what a diagnostic inventory test is and how it plays a part in what we’re talking about.
Faith Berens:
Diagnostic inventories are generally individually administered assessments. There are different types of diagnostic inventories, such as a reading inventory that can be given by a reading specialist. Another example are the Brigance Diagnostic Inventories, such as the Inventory of Early Development. This diagnostic tool will help parents to determine developmental skills across different areas such as motor skills, language, reading readiness, writing, and math.
Mike:
Faith, how often would you recommend that parents do this? And is this for every child, or just some kids?
Faith:
Well, it’s particularly useful for children with special needs or struggling learners. And typically we recommend that parents give this type of test annually. It can be very helpful when given annually to help them design a program specific to their child’s needs. It can help them identify any areas of delay, strength, and also for monitoring their child’s progress from year to year.
Mike:
Faith, thanks so much for the good advice for families with struggling learners! I’m Mike Farris.
