Most school districts have the most commonly used assessment protocols. Each year there is a budget and I know we added one or two yearly. They can also be borrowed from other districts so if you hear of something you want to try no problem. The Occupational Therapist (OT) and PT folks have less options but what they have is pretty standard and good.
They will likely list several tests, including standardized and checklist types. They should also have listed record review, parent interview, and developmental history.
The important thing is to cover the areas
Adaptive Behavior
Behavior Issues
Receptive Language
Expressive Langauge
Social/Pragmatic Communication
Fine Motor
Gross Motor
Sensory
MAYBE ability(he is young, I am not big on ability tests except they can help show learning style etc... )
Cognitive development/Developmental areas overall....
For early childhood several tests cover all of these areas as subtests. Sometimes different professionals do their area of expertise for the subtests, other places the primary assessor does the whole test.
But also make sure that separate more in depth investigation is done by each person.... to just use one test that is an overall dev. test ... it can miss more subtle things. At his age it only takes a few positive answers, very limited items, to pass a cut off.
It is good you are going thru another evaluation. I agree that it will be important, especially since the dev. pediatrician. team felt he did not qualify for an autism diagnosis (yet) .... keep up with the Occupational Therapist (OT) and Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) evaluations. You sound very on top of getting the evaluations so just realize many of us have received on again off again diagnosis for our kids. It is an ongoing challenge. Wish I could say differently but it is just that way.
Remember, when they meet with you about the assessment, you do not have to sign right then. Just say great! I will take it home and review this to make sure I dont have any other ideas and will send it back soon (you have several days)... then feel free to come here and we can at least give ideas about what they are proposing.... it is up to you of course.
You are doing amazing. Just keep digging in there.... HUGS
