Preferred Assessment Methods and Treatment Modalities for Hyperactive Children Among Clinical Child and School Psychologists

Abstract

This study was a survey that solicited clinical child psychologists and school psychologists' preferred assessment and treatment for hyperactive children. Three hundred eight practitioners responded to the survey. Results indicated that most practitioners use traditional assessment batteries consisting of interviews, behavioral observations, and a standardized intelligence test to assess suspected hyperactive children. Empirically derived rating scales were used less frequently and specific tests of vigilance-attention were infrequently employed. Treatment preferences indicated an acceptance of medication with a combination of behavioral and/or cognitive strategies. Although school psychologists differ from clinical psychologists on the use of neuropsychological tests and methods that directly assess vigilance-attention, there were no striking differences in the treatment preferences between these two groups. The need for more standardized and objective measures for assessing hyperactive children, and the...