Response to Another Student Discussion

Dayane De Leon

Unit 9 Discussion 1

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Based on Andrew “Andy” Davis’s referral concerns the standard battery would include an intelligence test, personality test and a screening for neurological deficit. Before implementing a series of battery tests, I would obtain Andy’s medical history, case history, and psychosocial history. Since Andy is 6 years old, the intelligent test that I would recommend is Wechsler intelligence scale. The Wechsler has a subtest that can isolate age-appropriate tasks to identify how two objects are alike (Cohen, Swerdlik, & Sturman, 2013). Using the Wechsler Similarities subtest may help determine if Andy thinks abstractly or concretely. In addition, I would implement Beck-Youth Inventories-Second Edition (BYI-II) and the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). BYI-II measures many factors such as “depression, anxiety, anger, and disruptive behavior in children and adolescents” (Cohen et al., 2013, p. 401). The BYI-II is usually used with children between the ages of 7 to 18 years old. However, because Andy is exhibiting signs of reduced social interactions, talking to himself while he is in the room, and destroying toys, the BYI-II may be a good complement to the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). Andy’s mother can also take the PIC true-false questionnaire about Andy’s behavior characteristics because it may provide important information such as Andy’s pattern of behavior. A neurological test that I would conduct is the Brunininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency is “designed to assess gross and fine motor skills” (Cohen et al., 2013, p. 549). This test is for children between the ages of 4 ½ and 14 ½. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency has subtest to “assess running speed and agility, balance, strength, response speed, and dexterity” (Cohen et al., 2013, p. 549). Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency may also help address Andy’s frequent falls.

Andy was also referred to a neuropsychologist called Dr. Woody Pride. Dr. Pride administered the Brief Neuropsychological Cognitive Examination (BNCE). I would not recommend the BNCE because this test is geared for individuals 18 years old and older (WPS, 2017). Instead, I would use a subtest from Halstead-Reitan Battery called Reitan Indiana Neuropsychological Test Battery. Reitan Indiana Neuropsychological Test Battery is the correct fit for Andy because it is for children between ages 5 to 8 years old. The Halstead-Reitan Battery is the choice for many experienced neuropsychological assessors. The Halstead-Reitan Battery “derived a series of 27 tests designed to assess the presence or absence of organic brain damage” (Cohen et al., 2013, p 559). In detecting the presence or the absence of organic brain damage in Andy these tests will help guide Andy’s parents to get the proper services he needs at an early age.  It is important that when test users conduct battery testing that they adhere to a code of conduct such as being held responsible for the interpretations of scores to the positive and negative consequence of test use (AERA, 2014). In addition, test users have a legal and ethical responsible to protect the test taker’s privacy (AERA, 2014). It is especially important that only trained professionals administer and interpret the test (AERA, 2014). It is also imperative that the test user does not take the test taker’s score and interpret it “in isolation; other relevant information that may lead to alternative explanations for the examinee’s test performance should be considered” (AERA, 2014, p. 145). A series of standard battery tests can help determine if Andy has a neurological deficit and which branch of psychology can best help him. For instance, a clinical psychologist’s focus tends to be more on severe forms of behavior pathology. Counseling psychologists tend to focus on how individuals deal with everyday interactions such as school, work, relationships, and family. Whereas neuropsychologists focus on the nervous system and how it relates to behavior. Depending on the interviews, observations, and reviewing Andy’s case history with the results of his standard battery tests, one would be better able to refer him to the right branch of psychology for help.

Reference

American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.

Cohen, R. J., Swerdlik, M. E., & Sturman, E. D. (2013). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

WPS. (2017). Brief Neuropsychological Cognitive Examination. Retrieved from http://www.wpspublish.com/store/p/2683/bnce-brief-neuropsychological-cognitive-examination

Dayane De Leon

MS in Psychology, ABA

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