Skip to main content

Issues and Advances in Diagnostic Assessment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Pediatric Intellectual Disabilities at School

Part of the book series: Pediatric School Psychology ((PSP))

  • 563 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter reviews assessment strategies for medical, psychological, and educational functioning for persons with intellectual disabilities. This includes a review of background information important to diagnostic assessment including (a) medical history, (b) family and home life, (c) educational history, (d) developmental history, (e) behavioural/mental health, and (f) employment/community. A review of indirect (i.e. rating scales and interviews) and direct assessment (i.e. behavioural observations) techniques is discussed. Finally, psychoeducational assessment is discussed to assist individualized educational plan teams in determining if a child requires and is eligible for special education assistance. Specific psychoeducational assessment practices are reviewed including (a) behavioural and assessment techniques, (b) cognitive assessment strategies, and (c) the evaluation of adaptive behaviour, language, basic psychological processes, academic achievement, and social/emotional functioning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Achenbach, T. M. (2009). The Achenbach system of empirically based assessment (ASEBA): Development, findings, theory, and applications. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families. Vineland Social Emotional Early Childhood Scales.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpern, G. D. (2007). Developmental profile-3. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement. (2006). Identifying infants and young children with developmental disorders in the medical home: An algorithm for developmental surveillance and screening. Pediatrics, 118, 405–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayley, N. (2006). Bayley scales of infant and toddler development-third edition: Administration manual. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blasingame, G. D. (2016). Assessment, diagnosis, and risk management of sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities. In A. Phenix & H. M. Hoberman (Eds.), Sexual offending (pp. 227–246). New York, NY: Springer. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4939-2416-5_11

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, C. A., Boulet, S., Schieve, L. A., Cohen, R. A., Blumberg, S. J., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., … Kogan, M. D. (2011). Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in us children, 1997–2008. Pediatrics, 127(6), 1034–1042. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-2989

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bracken, B. A., & McCallum, R. S. (2015). Universal nonverbal intelligence test (2nd ed.). Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, I., Hatton, C., & Emerson, E. (2013). Quality of life indicators for individuals with intellectual disabilities: Extending current practice. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(5), 316–332. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-51.5.316

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruininks, R. H., Woodcock, R. W., Weatherman, R. F., & Hill, B. K. (1996a). Scales of independent behaviour – Revised. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruininks, R. H., Woodcock, R. W., Weatherman, R. F., & Hill, B. K. (1996b). Inventory for client and agency planning. Rolling Meadows, IL: The Riverside Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control. (2014). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2010. (2014, April 25). Retrieved May 18, 2017, from https://web.archive.org/web/20140425185152/http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6302a1.htm?s_cid=ss6302a1_w

  • Dykes, M. K., & Mruzek, D. W. (2012). Developmental assessment for individuals with severe disabilities (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, D. P., & Harrison, P. L. (2012). Contemporary intellectual assessment, third edition: Theories, tests, and issues. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenburg, W. K., Dodds, J., & Archer, P. (1990). The Denver II technical manual. Denver, CO: Denver Developmental Materials.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu, T. J., Lincoln, A. J., Bellugi, U., & Searcy, Y. M. (2015). The association of intelligence, visual-motor functioning, and personality characteristics with adaptive behavior in individuals with Williams syndrome. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 120(4), 273–288. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-120.4.273

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fujiura, G. T. (2013). The demarcation of intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(2), 83–85. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-51.2.083

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, M. F. (1999). Test of academic achievement skills. New York, NY: ATP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg, H., & Baroody, A. (2003). TEMA-3 examiners manual (3rd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glascoe, F. P. (1997). Parents’ evaluation of developmental status (PEDS). Nashville, TN: Ellsworth & Vandermeer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, P. (2004). Word memory test. Kelowna, BC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenspan, S., Harris, J. C., & Woods, G. W. (2015). Intellectual disability is “a condition, not a number”: Ethics of IQ cut-offs in psychiatry, human services and law. Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 1(3), 312–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemep.2015.07.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P. L., & Oakland, T. (2003). Adaptive behavior assessment system – Second edition. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological CorporationIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemmings, C., & Bouras, N. (2016). Psychiatric and behavioural disorders in intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ireton, H. (1992). Child development inventory. Minneapolis, MN: Behaviour Science Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. R., & McGurk, F. C. J. (1987). Black-white bias in “cultural” and “noncultural” test items. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 8, 295–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A. S. (2014). Kaufman tests of educational achievement (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (2004). Kaufman assessment battery for children (2nd ed.). San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, S. B., Reynolds, M. R., Liu, X., Kaufman, A. S., & McGrew, K. S. (2012). Are cognitive g and academic achievement g one and the same g? An exploration on the woodcock–Johnson and Kaufman tests. Intelligence, 40(2), 123–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2012.01.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, K., & Owen, M. J. (2015). Intellectual disability and psychiatric comorbidity: Challenges and clinical issues. Psychiatric Times, 32(5), 60–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langlois, J. H., Roggman, L. A., Casey, R. J., Ritter, J. M., Rieser-Danner, L. A., & Jenkins, V. Y. (1987). Infant preferences for attractive faces: Rudiments of a stereotype? Developmental Psychology, 23, 363–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DeLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (2008). Autism diagnostic observation schedule. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luckasson, R., & Schalock, R. L. (2013). What’s at stake in the lives of people with intellectual disability? Part ii: Recommendations for naming, defining, diagnosing, classifying, and planning supports. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(2), 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-51.2.094

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luckasson, R., & Schalock, R. L. (2015). Standards to guide the use of clinical judgment in the field of intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 53(3), 240–251. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-53.3.240

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyle, M. L., & Simplican, S. C. (2015). Elite repudiation of the R-word and public opinion about intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 53(3), 211–227. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-53.3.211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mardell, C., & Goldenberg, D. S. (2011). Developmental indicators for the assessment of learning (4th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markwardt, F. C. (1997). Peabody individual achievement test – Revised. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mather, N. (1997). Mather Woodcock group writing test. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neisworth, J. T., Bagnato, S. J., Salvia, J., & Hunt, F. M. (1999). Temperament and atypical behaviour scale. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearl, A. M., & Mayes, S. D. (2016). Methods and procedures for measuring comorbid disorders: Psychological. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Comorbid conditions among children with autism spectrum disorders (pp. 45–63). New York, NY: Springer. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-19183-6_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Raven, J., Raven, J. C., & Court, J. H. (1998). Manual for Raven’s progressive matrices and vocabulary scales. Section 1: General overview. Oxford, England: Oxford PsychologistsPress/San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, S., & Valenti-Hein, D. (1990). Reiss scales for children’s dual diagnosis: Test manual. Worthington, OH: IDS Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, S., & Valenti-Hein, D. (1994). Development of a psychopathology rating scale for children with mental retardation. Journal of Consultation and Clinical Psychiatry, 62, 28–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, S. B., Brady, M. P., & Taylor, R. L. (2014). Cognitive and intellectual disabilities: Historical perspectives, current practices, and future directions. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, S. (2015). Intelligence: All that matters. London, England: Hodder & Stoughton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roid, G. (2005). Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales for Early Childhood–Fifth Edition. Lutz, FL: Pro-Ed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roid, G., & Barram, R. (2004). Essentials of Stanford–Binet intelligence scales (SB5). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roid, G. H., Miller, L. J., Pomplun, M., & Koch, C. (2013). Leiter international performance scale-third edition. Wood Dale, IL: Stoelting.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., LeCouteur, A., & Lord, C. (2008). Autism diagnostic interview – Revised. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattler, J. M. (2008). Assessment of children: Cognitive foundations (5th ed.). San Diego, CA: Sattler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schalock, R. L., & Luckasson, R. (2015). A systematic approach to subgroup classification in intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 53(5), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-53.5.358

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schalock, R. L., Luckasson, R. A., & Shogren, K. A. (2007). The renaming of mental retardation: Understanding the change to the term intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 45(2), 116–124. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556(2007)45[116:TROMRU]2.0.CO;2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon, D. A., Félix, J. K., Krumholz, A., Goldstein, P. J., & Harris, K. S. (1984). Hearing screening of high-risk newborns with brainstem auditory evoked potentials: A follow-up study. Pediatrics, 73, 22–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shrank, F., Mather, N., McGrew, K., & Woodcock, R. (2014). Woodcock Johnson tests of achievement: IV. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shrank, F., McGrew, K., Mather, N., & Woodcock, R. (2014). Woodcock Johnson tests of cognitive ability—Fourth edition. Rolling Meadows, IL: The Riverside Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simeonsson, R. J., Granlund, M., & Bjorck-Akesson, E. (2003). Classifying mental retardation: Impairment, disability, handicap limitations, or restriction? In H. N. Switzky & S. Greenspan (Eds.), What is mental retardation? (pp. 309–329). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Balla, D. A. (1998). Vineland social emotional early childhood scales. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Salnier, C. A. (2016). Vineland adaptive behaviour scales-III. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Squires, J., Twombly, E., Bricker, D., & Potter, L. (2009). The ASQ user’s guide for the ages and stages questionnaire: A parent—Completed, child monitoring system (3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Paul Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stadler, M., Becker, N., Gödker, M., Leutner, D., & Greiff, S. (2015). Complex problem solving and intelligence: A meta-analysis. Intelligence, 53, 92–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2015.09.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tasse, M. J., Balboni, G., Schalock, R. L., & Zhang, D. (2010). AAIDD diagnostic adaptive behaviour scales. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23, 436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tassé, M. J., Luckasson, R., & Nygren, M. (2013). AAIDD proposed recommendations for ICD–11 and the condition previously known as mental retardation. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(2), 127–131. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-51.2.127

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tombaugh, T. N. (1999). Test of memory malingering. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Virués-Ortega, J., Pritchard, K., Grant, R. L., North, S., Hurtado-Parrado, C., Lee, M. S. H., … Yu, C. T. (2014). Clinical decision making and preference assessment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 119(2), 151–170. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-119.2.151

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2009). Wechsler individual achievement test – IV. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2012). Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence – Fourth edition. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2013). Wechsler adult scale of intelligence — Fourth edition. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2015). Wechsler intelligence scale for children — Fifth edition. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, Y., Oakland, T., & Algina, J. (2008). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis for the adaptive behavior assessment system-ii parent form, ages 5–21. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 113(3), 178–186. https://doi.org/10.1352/0895-8017(2008)113[178:MCFAFT]2.0.CO;2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, L. G., Saklofske, D. H., Holdnack, J. A., & Prifitera, A. (2015). WISC-V assessment and interpretation: Scientist-practitioner perspectives. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiig, E. H., Semel, E., & Secord, W. A. (2013). Clinical evaluation of language fundamentals-5. New York, NY: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Shaw, S.R., Jankowska, A.M. (2018). Issues and Advances in Diagnostic Assessment. In: Pediatric Intellectual Disabilities at School. Pediatric School Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02992-0_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics