My child is having trouble in school. Can a psychologist help?
If the problem is academic in nature, a psychologist can help diagnose the problem and can help coordinate an effort between parents, child, and school. Testing is generally done to help with the diagnosis. I see many children who are having attention problems in school which prevent them from succeeding. I give a series of tests (about two hours in length) which help diagnose whether a child has ADD or ADHD. Testing to uncover other kinds of learning disorders is referred to as “educational testing.” This is a very extensive battery of tests to determine why a child may be struggling in school and is something I wish every child could have. A well designed battery of tests uncovers a child’s strengths and weaknesses which, in an ideal situation, could help determine how that child should be taught. It is also, obviously, a good indicator of what the child naturally excels at and can quite possibly provide a glimpse into the kinds of occupations a child might be channeled toward. Educa
