Sharlet Pep-R | Autism PDD

Hi everyone, Sharlet is redoing her PEp-R (level function test) that was done
when she was dx. She was 2.5 and scored functioning level of between 12
and 18 months in a range of categories.

Has anyone else redone a function test at the 12 month mark after dx?
What should I expect? Do these test results usually improve? or stay the
same? do people feel that they even reflect the true level of functioning for
their child? Or if people's kids have redone these tests, do you think they
have reflected the progress their children have made?

Thanks so much everyone...

P.S I will post about my holiday and add pics tomorrow

The Psychoeducational Profile-Revised (PEP-R) (Schopler, Reichler, Bashford, Lansing, & Marcus, 1990) offers a developmental approach to the assessment of children with autism or related developmental disorders. It is an inventory of behaviors and skills designed to identify uneven and idiosyncratic learning patterns. The test is most appropriately used with children functioning at or below the preschool range and within the chronological age range of six months to seven years. The PEP-R provides information on developmental functioning in imitation, perception, fine motor, gross motor, eye-hand integration, cognitive performance, and cognitive verbal areas. The PEP-R also identifies degrees of behavioral abnormality in relating and affect (cooperation and human interest), play and interest in materials, sensory responses, and language.

The PEP-R kit consists of a set of toys and learning materials that are presented to a child within structured play activities. The examiner observes, evaluates, and records the child's responses during the test. There are 131 developmental and 43 behavioral items on the PEP-R. The total time required to administer and score these items varies From 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Because it is not a test of speed, variations in total testing time depend on the child's levels of functioning and any behavior management problems that arise during the testing situation. At the end of the session, the child's scores are distributed among seven developmental and four behavioral areas. The resulting profiles depict a child's relative strengths and weaknesses in different areas of development and behavior. The Developmental Scale tells where a child is functioning relative to peers. The items on the Behavioral Scale have the separate, but related, assessment function of identifying responses and behaviors consistent with a diagnosis of autism. The PEP-R provides a third and unique score called emerging. A response scored "emerging" is one that indicates some knowledge of what is required to complete a task, but not the full understanding or skill necessary to do so successfully.

 

shell

Allegra, We didn't have this test, but did do repeat testing a few weeks ago. He was first evaluated last summer. Most of his scores last summer were in the 9-15 month range. The most recent ones done he scored in the 8-18 mo range with scattered to 24 mo. He is 3.7. I think they are pretty accurate. I always think of him as a toddler. I tend to forget how old he really is. Even though the results didn't show a lot of improvement, there has been tons. Last year he barely even babbled. Now he is repeating many words and saying some words and even 2 word phrases appropriately. He called my mom "grandma" the other day, then the neighbor, and a few other people. ha ha even a 13 yr old neighbor boy.  Apparently everyone without a specific name, i.e. his siblings and myself, are grandmas. I think the biggest change is his desire to be social, to interact and play with us. It wasn't all that long ago that he would scream if you tried to play with him. He still needs lots of time alone, but loves a good game of ring around the rosie now. So, I guess what I am saying is, the fact that the scores didn't go up much didn't bother me that much because I can see so much improvement. Donny's mom, I kind of thought that might be the case with Sharlet.  I think she is improving all the time in cognitive areas, but I still think the gap is getting bigger between her and her peers as she gets older, I'll be really interested to see if her scores reflect my suspicions.

Jan, Sharlet is going well on her meds for day to day meltdowns and irritability, but it hasn't been as helpful as I'd hoped for phobias and anxiety.  She does lift her bottom for pulling up pants, but not for putting on nappy.  She will push her arm through an arm hole once I have put it in the hole for her if that makes sense.
Thanks Jan, Your answer was very useful to me. I am not specifically asking about the PEP-R, but any tests that have been repeated at some point after dx.
Anyone else?
No problem. When watching videos and hearing descriptions of Sharlett, I think she and Ethan are very close in skill level. His biggest problem that I see right now is the weak muscle tone, sensory and anxiety problems. They are all getting worse, or more pronounced. If I could chart the language development going up, I bet these other issues would be going down equally on the same chart. Does this make sense. I have been waiting to hear further how the medication is working for Sharlett. Does Sharlett move any of her body parts to help you dress her? I would give anything for a "butt lift" during diaper change or just to keep his leg straightened when putting pants on. Sorry off your topic. If I wasn't so lazy, I would retype this and pm you.In Donny, his test scores, when they look at age equivalency, show steady
improvement (albeit slow). However, when they compare him to norms of
kids his age, they show steady decline, as the gap between Donny and his
peers widens.

For example, his adaptive functioning testing, done when he was diagnosed,
showed a very mild delay. Now, almost 7 years later, it shows a moderate/
severe one.
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