Frank is a first grade student who was referred by his teacher for high distractibility, short attention span, and difficulties affecting his classroom performance. Testing showed strengths in auditory and visual memory but weaknesses in academic skills like phonics and writing, likely due to attentional issues. The psychologist recommends a medical evaluation to further assess Frank's activity level and attention difficulties, which his mother supports given his current struggles in school.

1. S
Case Study- Frank
Mac Roche

2. Background
S New student (1st grade) at Rayberg Elementary school
S Lives with parents and younger sister
S Father is an engineer and isn't home often
S Began kindergarten in Alabama
S Following summer moved to Kansas
S In October of that year he moved to Indiana
S February moved to a “southern state” where he is at now

3. Referred
S Frank was referred by his first grade teacher for:
S High levels of distractibility and activity
S Short attention span
S Both were affecting his daily classroom performance
S Seems to be happy, intellectually curious and very verbal

4. Difficulties
S His short attention span affects both his comprehension of
directions and reading skills.
S Frequent reversals of letters and numerals when writing
S Disorganized in his work habits
S Easily distracted by his own thoughts
S When frustrated and tired, he acts immaturely and throws
temper tantrums
S Hits his head saying “It wont work”

5. Mother’s thoughts
S Mother indicated that Frank has always struggled paying
attention in school
S All of his teachers had concerns about his behaviors
S Mother was under stress during pregnancy
S Prolonged labor
S On oxygen for the last 8 hours because decrease in Frank’s
heartbeat with every contraction
S Doctor said he had normal neonatal health

6. Developmental Milestones
S Frank met most developmental milestones within expected
ranges
S Began walking early at 9 months

7. Difficulties due to Physical
Impairment?
S Many teachers thought he might have difficulties due to hearing
problem
S Frank had extensive ear infections that required tubes in his ears at
age 3
S Recently checked his hearing and he was found to have normal
hearing
S Also passed both near and far vision screenings
S Receives speech therapy for articulation problems.

8. Teaching Strategies
S Modified instruction and use of multisensory literature-based reading
program
S Receives math instruction through an activity-based manipulative
program
S Supplementary texts and materials such as tapes, word cards, and
dictated stories
S Received praise for appropriate responses by his parents and teachers
S All efforts resulted in improvements in Frank’s academic skills and
behavioral responses

9. School based testing
S Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test 4
S Standard score: 115 Percentile: 84
S WIAT-II
S Cluster scores
S Oral language: 105
S Reading: 97
S Math: 114
S Written Language: 97

10. Cont.
S WIAT-II
S Subtest scores
S Listening Comprehension: 115
S Oral Expression: 95
S Word Reading: 99
S Pseudoword decoding: 95
S Comprehension: 98
S Spelling: 95
S Math reasoning: 113
S Numerical Operations: 116

11. School Psychologist
S Performed complete psychological evaluation
S He was attentive to individual activities
S Put forth good effort
S Very bouncy and physically restless throughout
S WISC-IV
S Full scale IQ: 118
S Verbal Comprehension: 119
S Perceptual Reasoning: 112
S Working Memory: 98
S Processing speed: 100

12. WISC-IV results
S Overall abilities fall within average to high-average
S Minor weaknesses in areas affected by attention and
processing speed
S Underestimate his true potential because of his physical
restlessness and distractibility throughout

13. Additional assessment
S Short term visual and auditory learning
S Responses suggested strengths in immediate memory for
auditory and visual cues
S Reversed several numerals
S Formation and spacing of his numerals suggested impulsivity
in responses

14. WIAT-II results
S Deficits in academic skills, which were reflected in his
classroom performance
S Difficulty with basic phonetic skills affects his ID of less
familiar words
S Some of his correct answers on the passage comprehension
were achieved by guessing
S Used pictures as clues when he didn’t recognize a word
S Written responses revealed week phonetic skills

15. Attention Deficit Disorder Behavior
Rating Scale
S Significant concerns about his:
S short attention span and impulsivity
S weak listening skills
S poor concentration
S high level of distractibility
S weak organizational skills
S tendency to interrupt or speak out of turn

16. Result
S Frank is a student who would benefit greatly from a more
detailed medical evaluation to further evaluate his activity
and attention
S His mother is all for it because of his current difficulty in
school