Associated conditions can cause or worsen a child's problems. Interviews with the parents, child, and child's teacher. Parents and teachers can provide information about behaviors not observed during the formal testing sessions. Behavior rating scales. Checklists of possible problems should be completed by parents or caretakers familiar with the child.
Many diagnosticians use the checklist for autism.
Direct behavioral observations. The child's behavior is recorded as it happens, and assessment results are often graphed to aid interpretation. The psychologist uses standardized instruments to evaluate the child's cognitive, social, emotional, behavioral, and adaptive functioning. Parents learn in which areas of development their child exhibits delays. Formal testing, observational assessment, and interviewing the child's parents are all useful strategies for assessing communication skills.