Please can someone help me work out what this means?

[chegirlwithbellson]

I have posted this here rather than SEN because it is not always busy over there (although I do value the advice I have had from there very much - thanks)

Just got a copy of DS's educational psychology report. It doesnt look too brilliant but I want to be sure I understand and dont jump to conclusions.

Does anyone know about t scores?

How bad/good/worrying etc are all of his scores being below 40?

Without revealing everything his scores are 36,31, 32, 35, 27, 31.

His lowest score puts him on 1 percentile which means out of 100 hundred children of his age he would score the same or better than only 1 of them

How worried should I be? What sort of IQ level does this put him at. I hate iq tests but I am feeling the need to get some sort of handle on my boy's cognitive abilities.

I would really appreciate some help. I need to know what we are dealing with so we can do what is right for our lovely boy.

Thanks

bumping for you che

Thanks Boys

I thought it may be a long shot but there must be people who know stuff like this on MNs.

I will keep bumping in hope.

I am feeling a bit crappy over all this. We knew he had problems but to see it all written down is still hard.

how to read t scores

Hi Che, I think I am right in saying that the t score is used so that 50 is the centre of average. 40 - 60 is called "average", so the reading numbers that you have, some are only just below average, so I would not be too discouraged.

DD3 had a report done when she was 4 or 5 and she was on the first percentile for a certain area. That area was worked on because it had been highlighted, now she is 15, still has some basic issues, but that specific area she would be up with the "averages". Not everyone in life needs to be a brain surgeon! Everyone can be happy and fulfilled in their life, what ever their abililty. Good luck with getting the help your DS needs.

Thank you very much.

Just an update.

Asked ed psych at work to help me out. She told me to look at the percentile scores rather than tscores.

They are very low. I suspected they were but as I had no real info I didnt want to jump to conclusions.

DS could go to special school with those scores but socially it wouldnt be in his best interests. It does mean that he will probably transfer to special school at secondary.

Not sure how to feel about it all really. Its not like its a suprise but I suppose it offical now.

He is so lovely

What was the test measuring and how old is the child?

chegirl- I just wanted to say that (as I think that) he's little then it's good that you have the scores now,so lot's of targeted work can be done with him. As PF says, he will develop greatly if people know what to do.

I was working with a family yesterday who had had a child in a special school from 5. The amount of progress that had been made was fantastic. The child was unrecognisable from the descriptions of them when they were little. Everyone involved in the case was so pleased.

Obviously all children are different and the future for you and your son is uncertain but I just wanted to share a positive outcome.

Think that psychologist's reports should be easier to understand!

Hi Che,

Don't panic!!!

I do know what you are going through. At the age of 3/4 we were told that DD3 would not be able to cope with a mainstream school. I just would not accept that my perfect, beautiful, loving daughter was not quite "perfect" in other people's eyes. I remember really losing my cool with a speech therapist and totally embarrassing myself by breaking down in front of this poor newly qualified girl who did not have a clue how to handle an emotional wreck like me! We did get DD3 into a special school and she got the most fantastic help there and was then able to move on to a mainstream school later on. She has always been in the bottom sets and has struggled endlessly, but she would never have been able to cope if she had gone straight into mainstream.
I remember feeling as if I was on a roller coaster. Once she was diagnosed it was easier to channel the help into what was needed, but it is also so very hard to accept that she needed that help in the first place. Our DD3 is very happy and socially has done very well. Most of her friends don't even know there is a "problem" as she has learnt how to "hide" things from them and to them she is just her. Although sometimes I can see she is a little quirky and has given us all many laughs when things have not quite gone according to plan for her! She is and always will be perfect to us! (although she is now a teenager and the word "perfect" and "teenager" do not sit too well together! )

Its now the Christmas hols, so take some time out to just think through what you think is going to be best for your DS. If you want to keep him at the mainstream school, then do you have a good relationship with his teacher? Can you go and speak with them to get in place the help that he needs?
Would it be best for him to go to a special school for a few years, get the intensive help he needs and then back tio mainstream. He may not need to stay at a special school for very long. If there is a good one wherever you live he may get expert, intensive support and so help him to get back to mainstream.

I really hope he gets all the help he needs. Be prepared to fight for what he needs. Don't accept any excuses, or slacking from thiose who should be helping him. I did lots of research and went armed with information to discuss anything. If you find someone who is willing to help you then praise them, use them and keep on the right side of them!!!! They are worth their weight in gold!!
I could rabbit on for ever, if you have any specific questions, or just want to chat, then please feel free to email me at directioneeded at aol dot com. I'd be happy to help.

Tub the tests were measuring cognitive ability i.e. verbal memory, recall etc and DS is 7 in March.

Merle Positively thanks for your messages. I wouldnt object to DS going to special school if I thought there was a suitable one in the area. The ones near us are actually very good but much more geared to children with complex needs and/or severe autism. I would love for there to be a school that specialised in children with mild/moderate learing difficulties.

I am upset with his school. He hasnt suddenly developed these difficulties overnight. I have been open with them since the start and they appeared to have done very little. The form they gave me to sign for his stat. assesment was unbelivable! It listed all the things I had told them plus some more I had asked them about and they had dismissed. I always ask them about his friendships and they tell me 'he is fine, no problems at all'. On the form they say he has difficulties relating to his peers . I am not suprised, children talk faster and have less patience than most adults so of course they are not going to have the time to relate to DS. By the time he has worked out what they have said to him, they will have moved on.

So I will move him to another primary that I know well. At least it will be a fresh start and they will be accepting DS as a child with SEN.

Thanks for the email Postitively its very kind of you and I may well be using that in the new year