School Problems

Children are whole people. In this age of specialization, many professionals forget this simple truth. This is particularly true in treating school behavior or learning disorders. Too often the student has only a psychological, or only a L.D./educational evaluation done. Totally ignored is the obvious fact that medical problems also influence emotional well-being, emotional problems affect learning, and so on. Recommendations based on the “standard” limited evaluation often miss the mark. Therefore, the child makes no progress and the family’s feelings of frustration and hopelessness grow. If this situation is to be avoided, a multidimensional approach must be taken, which looks at all aspects of the child and the way these aspects interact.

For many years we participated in Child Diagnostic Associates, a group of professionals we co-founded who had come together to provide a complete, multidimensional evaluation for students with problems. The CDA evaluation process, which was featured, at the editor’s request, in two articles in the national journal Contemporary Pediatrics, included a complete medical, physical, and neurological assessment done by the pediatrician and pediatric nurse practitioner, standardized tests for intellectual ability and personality assessment and a family interview by a clinical psychologist, and educational testing of both the learning process and the student’s achievement level done by a professional educational evaluator. While the intrusion of HMOs has forced discontinuation of this particular program, we have built on our experience with it and greatly expanded our direct, personal assistance with interpreting and expanding evaluations done by school systems.

Learning is one of the most critical ongoing processes in a child’s life, and ongoing monitoring is important. We are available for treatment, guidance, and “coaching” for learning problems of all types and severities.

Essex Office One Wildwood Medical Center
35 Saybrook Road
Essex, CT 06426
Tel: 860.767.0168

Hours:
8:30 am to 5:00 pm M-F
8:30 am to noon Saturday


Ped-I-Care After Hours Care
Available in Our Essex
Office

Hours:
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm M-F
Noon to 5:00 pm Saturday
11:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday & Holidays

Old Saybrook Office 30 Elm Street
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Tel: 860.388.4545

Hours:
8:30 am to 5:00 pm M-F

NCQA Recognized