Jinsong - Assessment Reports

[brookeamy]

Scenarios:

Jinsong Ma (2 years 7 months) is an only child. He lives with his mother and father, who are both in their early 40’s, and an elderly aunt. Jinsong was born in Australia and his parents and aunt have been in Australia for 10 years. Jinsong’s parents speak to him in Mandarin as well as English. His aunt speaks to him only in Mandarin.
Jinsong’s parents are busy professionals and work full time. Until quite recently he was cared for by the elderly aunt who is now unwell and unable to manage his care. Jinsong’s parents are seeking to enrol him at the centre full time.
Jinsong has a number of health issues. He is allergic to many foods including dairy, eggs, shellfish and wheat products. Reaction to these foods is generally mild but on occasions has been so severe that he has had to be hospitalised.
Jinsong is also asthmatic and uses a nebulizer morning and evening. Jingsong has been slow to reach developmental milestones. He currently is under the care of a paediatrician. Jinsong is also being treated with traditional Chinese medicines to build his immune system.
On the three occasions when the Director has met with his parents at the centre, Jinsong did not make any attempt to interact with his parents. He was observed to sit passively on the floor playing with a toy. He made no attempt to explore his surroundings. He was able to follow directions given in English but was not observed to engage in any verbal interactions.

Jinsong has been attending the centre for 12 weeks. During that time the educator has arranged for Jinsong to be assessed by the Special Education Unit as well as have his hearing tested. The centre has also obtained a report from the paediatrician, an Asthma and Allergies Management Plan, and a speech pathology assessment.
Jinsong’s parents have been very cooperative and have expressed their appreciation of the thoroughness of the centre in seeking assessments for Jinsong. Jinsong’s mother has told the educator, Zennie, that she worries that her son is not normal and will never catch up to the other children. She tells Zennie that her husband becomes angry when she says these things as he believes that Jinsong will soon grow out of his health issues and then be able to concentrate on learning.
The assessments and reports have revealed the following information:
• Jinsong is developmentally delayed – currently assessed as functioning at 18 months level of development.
• Jinsong has a 20% hearing loss.
• Jinsong‘s height/weight is well below average for his age – he tires easily.
• Jinsong has poor fine and gross motor skills.
• Jinsong’s language is delayed – he has a vocabulary of less than 50 words (a mixture of Mandarin and English)
Through observation and interaction educators have also identified the following information in relation to Jingsong’s interests, strengths and needs:
• Separates easily on arrival.
• Has settled well into the daily routine.
• Is beginning to form a secure, trusting relationship with his educators.
• Enjoys outdoor play - wheel toys, sand play, digging in garden.
• Enjoys music and likes to dance.
• Does not initiate interactions with other children.
• Able to follow simple directions – tends to follow the lead of other children.
• Rarely uses verbal language unless prompted by educators.
• Enjoys picture books – can correctly point to some animals and common objects.

Question

Prepare a list of the matters that will need to be discussed with the parents.

Answer

- Discuss the issure of Jinsong’s hearing – ask parents if they will be looking into getting him hearing aids to help with his hearing. Allow parents to know that they would be bettering his learning experience by getting him hearing aids – if they financially can’t afford these allow them to know that they will use microphone technology in class to help Jinsong hear
- Discuss with Jinsong’s parents ways the educators and themselves can ensure that Jinsongs development increases. Discuss and consider ways the parents and educators can collaborate and ensure his learning is continued at home
- Discuss Jinsong’s gross and fine motor skills – give his parents ideas of activities that Jinsong can complete while at home and the centre to develop his fine and gross motor skills (have him try to place beads on a piece of wool, kick a ball etc)
- Discuss the issue of Chinese medicines – allow parents to know that the centre cannot administer non-prescribed medicines
- Discuss the issue of Jinsong being shorter and underweight compared to other children his age. Possibly talk to parents about Jinsong’s feeding habits
Discuss the issue of Jinsong’s delayed language development – he only knows 50 words – mixed English and Mandarin. Talk to Jinsong’s parents and maybe talk about the option of only speaking one language at home instead of mixed to allow Jinsong to develop his language skills

Is there anything else I can add from the scenarios?

Thanks for the help!

[Lorina]

I think you got a good list of questions already!

,
Lorina