Impact on the family of assessment and diagnosis of disabled children: six case studies
Loading...
Authors
Katz, Elizabeth A.
Issue Date
1992
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Psychology
Alternative Title
Abstract
The assessment and diagnosis of children with developmental disabilities can be a very painful experience. The family suffers a characteristic losof self-esteem in recognizing the problem and deciding to seek professional help. The process is complicated by feelings of loss and grief associated with the child's diagnosis.
The experiences of families who have undergone the assessment/diagnosis process were studied. Those families reported a significant adverse impact on their levels of trust and confidence in their ability to cope. Despite heightened awareness of ways in which professionals might ameliorate the negative effects of assessment and diagnosis, poor experiences remain the norm.
Developing procedures which could be incorporated into an institution's systems is suggested as a way of fostering positive change. This would provide a way of ensuring that a family's experiences are not solely dependent on the quality of their interactions with professionals.