Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Overview of the Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing Process

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Purpose of Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 3-6

   3. The Psychoeducational Assessment Process

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 7-15

   4. Interviewing and Gathering Data

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 17-42

   5. Observing the Child

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski, Karen L. Gischlar

      Pages 43-62

   6. General Guidelines on Report Writing

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 63-72

3. Section-by-Section Report Writing Guidance

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 73-73

      PDF

   2. Identifying Information and Reason for Referral

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 75-80

   3. Assessment Methods and Background Information

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 81-87

   4. Assessment Results

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 89-98

   5. Conceptualization and Classification

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 99-115

   6. Summary and Recommendations

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 117-138

4. Guidance Regarding Assessment and Classification of IDEA Categories Including Sample Reports

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 139-139

      PDF

   2. Learning Disabilities

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 141-173

   3. Autism

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 175-219

   4. Emotional Disturbance

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 221-253

   5. Intellectual Disabilities

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 255-275

   6. Other Health Impaired

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 277-293

   7. Miscellaneous IDEA Categories and Section 504

      • Stefan C. Dombrowski

      Pages 295-317

This textbook provides in-depth instruction for conducting psychoeducational assessments of children in grades K-12 and conveying results through detailed, well-written reports. It takes readers step by step through the assessment process – collecting data, writing reports, and communicating conclusions – for students with conditions spanning the range of IDEA classifications such as autism, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, and conditions covered by Section 504. The book offers not only a broad understanding of assessment and communication skills, but also of the ethical, legal, cultural, and professional considerations that come with psychoeducational evaluation. And its sample reports model clear, well-organized results accessible to parents and caregivers as well as teachers and colleagues.

Key areas of coverage include:
• Assessment basics: the testing environment and protocols, interviewing, and observation.
• Report writing section by section, from reason for referral to summary and recommendations.
• Guidelines for oral reporting, with case examples.
• Special issues in psychoeducational assessment and report writing.
• Sample psychoeducational reports using this framework.

Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing is an essential text for graduate students, researchers, professors, and professionals in child and school psychology; assessment, testing, and evaluation; social work; and psychological methods/evaluation.                     

• Autism spectrum disorders and assessment
• Clinical assessment of children and adolescents
• Emotional disturbance and psychoeducational assessment
• English as a second language and psychoeducational assessment
• Evaluation reports and students
• Hearing impairment and psychoeducational assessment
• IDEA classifications and psychoeducational assessments
• Independent educational evaluation
• Learning disabilities and psychological reporting
• Multiple disabilities and psychological reporting
• Oral feedback and psychoeducational assessment
• Oral reporting and psychological assessment of students
• Other health impairment assessment
• Psychoeducational assessment in schools
• Psychoeducational reporting in schools
• Psychological assessment of students
• Psychological evaluation of children
• Psychological reports of children and adolescents
• Report writing for kindergarten through high school
• Visual impairment and psychoeducational assessment

“Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing provides the reader with a strong and detailed description of the processes and principles of psychoeducational assessment and report writing with the school-aged child. … The chapters are well written and the author utilizes practical expertise with real-world examples that are easy to follow. ... The text is clear, detailed, and interesting. … Any professionals responsible for psychoeducational evaluations of school-aged children or trainers of these professionals will benefit from its content and practicality.” (Sofia Garza, Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, August, 2015)

“The version focused on the assessment required in the school set up. The key feature of the current book is practical and application orientated in developing the report. Thus, it is an outstanding resource book for practitioners, supervisors and trainees in psychology.” (T. S. Seemanthini, Disabilities and Impairments, Vol. 29 (2), 2015)

“This volume is an outstanding resource for graduate students learning about psychoeducational assessment and report writing for students in grades K to 12, as well as practitioners seeking to update and refine their skills. The text is remarkable in its coverage of a range of disabilities (e.g., intellectual disability, learning disability, autism, emotional disturbance, and other health impairments including ADHD) and methods of data collection (e.g., clinical interview, test observation, classroom observation, developmental history, direct testing, and rating scales). The book is both scholarly and exceptionally practical. Readers will be particularly pleased with the inclusion of numerous samples of reports for children with varying disabilities.” (Thomas J. Power, PhD, ABPP, Chief Psychologist, Professor of School Psychology in Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Education, The Children Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania)

“This book is a practical guide for learning the procedures of psychoeducational assessment, and will serve as a useful reference for practitioners and supervising psychologists. The chapter on interviewing will be helpful to beginning students and the inclusion of the Child Development Questionnaire provides a model for students and practitioners for obtaining the broad range of background information thatis central to a fully informed assessment. This volume is grounded in the distinction between the IDEA classification systems used in educational settings and the DSM-5 diagnostic system used in medicine. This is a complex and confusing issue for many in training, and this volume illuminates the issues involved. In sum, I am favorably impressed by the focus, detail and practicality of this volume. I will recommend it to my colleagues.”(Roy P. Martin, Emeritus Professor, University of Georgia)

“Stefan Dombrowski s recent book titled, Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing provides psychology students and professionals interested in the evaluation of children a rich resource unlike any other currently available. The volume is unique in that it provides explanations of myriad related concepts (e.g., the honeymoon effect), details about relevant laws and assessment tools, and even suggestions based on practical expertise (e.g., Make a classification decision and stand by it ) in conjunction with step-by-step suggestions for every step of the evaluation process. Dr. Dombrowski s volume makes a particularly important contribution to the literature for its detailed explanation of effective report writing. Additionally, the book offers numerous applied tools, such as questionnaires, and case studies as demonstrations. Psychological Assessment and Report Writing is a must have for anyone who conducts evaluations of children.” (Amanda B. Clinton, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico)

“I enjoyed reading Dombrowski s Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing (2015), and I learned many facts and teaching strategies along the way. The book, with its emphasis on collecting assessment data and reporting results that address IDEA and state-level special education classifications (e.g., learning disabilities and emotional disturbance), makes a welcomed contribution to the literature. Other books focused on these activities are typically much broader and are not always applicable to practitioners in schools or trainers focusing primarily on school-based psychoeducational assessments. I was delighted to see the insight-rich chapter focusing on the oral reporting of assessment results to parents and teachers and the innovative chapter focusing on low-incidence IDEA classifications, such as traumatic brain injury and hearing loss and deafness. I believe that Dombrowski s real-world examples and practical wisdom offer much to students and practitioners in school and clinical child psychology.” (Randy G. Floyd, Ph.D., Associate Chair, Department of Psychology, Director, School Psychology Doctoral Program, The University of Memphis)

“Dr. Dombrowski's text book masterfully covers the essentials of psycheducational assessment and is a handbook that all school and clinicalpsychologists should have. It is helpful, practical, and soundly connects to current evidence-based practice. It is as an excellent foundational resource that is needed by trainers of psychology and aspiring psychologists.” (Martin Mrazik, PhD, R.Psych., Associate Professor, University of Alberta) 

• Rider University School Psychology Program, Lawrenceville, USA

  Stefan C. Dombrowski

Stefan C. Dombrowski, Ph.D., is Professor and Director of Rider University’s Graduate Program in School Psychology. He is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist who has maintained a psychoeducational and clinical evaluation practice for more than 15 years. Dr. Dombrowski has written four books and more than 50 articles/book chapters. He is the 2011 recipient of the Dominick Iorio Distinguished Research Award at Rider University. Dr. Dombrowski has advanced training in the clinical and psychoeducational assessment of children and adolescents. He holds a Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of Georgia and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical child psychology from the University of California, Davis Medical Center.

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