New Beginnings - Assessments

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ADHD is a neuro-psychological condition that includes one or more of the following symptoms:   

• Inattention
• Impulsivity
• Hyperactivity

ADHD can interfere with a child's life in many ways, such as:

• Academic Performance
• Social Integration
• Mood & Behaviour Fluctuations

Adults can also be impacted by ADHD by affecting:

• Information Processing
• Job Performance
• Mood
• Stress Levels
• Relationships

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, starts in childhood and affects development in the areas of social interaction, communication, and behaviour. Diagnosis requires a specialized assessment by a psychologist. From this assessment the psychologist is able to provide the appropriate supports and accommodations tailored to that individual .

Autistic Disorder is characterized in some by: 

• Withdrawn behaviour or other atypical social behaviours
• Difficulties using language to communicate
• Repetitive patterns of behaviour
• Inability to engage in imaginative play
  

Usually a child begins with normal development and shows regression between 12 and 24 months of age.

Children with Asperger's Disorder have no significant delays in:

• Language skills or in cognitive developmen
• Self-help skills or adaptive behaviour ​       

There is, however, significant impairment in: 

• Social functioning
• Stereotyped behaviours and/or repetitive mannerisms  

The time for concern is when there is a consistent unevenness in you child's ability to master certain skills.

Signs & Symptoms of Learning Disabilities  

          
Pre-School

• Problems pronouncing words          
• Trouble finding the right word          
• Difficulty rhyming          
• Trouble learning the alphabet, numbers, colours, shapes, days of the week                      
• Difficulty following directions or learning routines           
• Difficulty controlling crayons, pencils, and scissors or colouring within lines         
• Trouble with buttons, zippers, snaps, learning to tie shoes 

 Kindergarten - Grade 4     

• Trouble learning the connection between letters and sounds     
• Unable to blend sounds to make words          
• Confuses basic words when reading         
• Consistently misspells words and makes frequent reading errors        
• Trouble learning basic math concepts          
• Difficulty telling time and remembering sequences          
• Slow to learn new skills

Grades 5-8

• Difficulty with reading comprehension or math skills 
• Trouble with open-ended test questions and word problems 
• Dislikes reading and writing; avoids reading aloud 
• Spells the same word differently in a single document 
• Poor organizational skills (bedroom, homework, desk is messy and disorganized
• Trouble following classroom discussions and expressing thoughts aloud
• Poor handwriting