|
With
the advent of digital technology: video cameras, camcorders, and
even telephones with camera capabilities, creating a digital video
of a child in the orphanage is entirely within reach of a visiting
parent, who, being very personally involved and interested, can
create a larger and more objective video file of a prospective
child. Such data may be helpful in the initial screening of this
child, but it should be gathered according to certain guidelines
(not randomly) to be useful for further professional assessment.
This unit is devoted to the description
of what and how to record to make the most of your recorded data.
What is a videotape evaluation?
A
pre-adoption videotape can provide useful and at times unique
data about a child’s current functioning and possible school-related
problems. Videotape analysis can complete, refine, or sometimes
rebuff the information contained in written files (e.g., medical
records). Two factors are needed to make tape evaluation effective:
the quality of the tape and the qualification of the evaluator.
The length, quality of recording, and the content of recorded
material is crucial. An examiner must be trained and experienced
psychologist or speech pathologist who are fluent in the child’s
native language. Sometimes a side-talk on the tape may carry
out very useful information and only a native speaker could
take notice of it A videotape should be considered together
with medical and educational (in case of older children) information
and may corroborate each other.
At
BGCenter, we have developed a certain methodology in evaluation
of video files. Our method is based on the Brigance Inventory
of Basic Skills for different age groups starting from 12 months
to 12 years. Our approach is not only developmentally specific
but is also culturally/language sensitive, taking into consideration
national and regional social/cultural differences. It includes
the following aspects for a comprehensive analysis:
- General physical appearance.
- Gross motor coordination.
- Fine motor functioning.
- Vision and hearing.
- Speech (articulation and fluency)
- Language: signs of any pathology (e.g.: perseveration,
echolalia, etc.), expressive and receptive aspects, pragmatics
(use of language for social interaction), cognitive/academic
language.
- Behavior and social skills.
- Cognitive skills and processes (memory, attention,
speed of reaction, etc.)
- Academic skills.
The
usefulness and scope of a professional conclusion based on a
videotape is limited and solely based on information explicitly
presented on the videotape. Of course, there is no substitution
for a thorough “hands-on” psychological and developmental
evaluation, but videotape could make a valuable contribution
in our understanding of the child’s current functioning
and to point to possible difficulties in school.
Requirements to videotapes of children of different
ages
Sample
psychological report based on a videotape analysis
|
