These are ‘hot’ topics of interest

Jupiter School Psychologist

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Jim Forgan, Ph.D., is a Jupiter School Psychologist in private practice specializing in evaluating and testing children, teens, and young adults for learning issues such as dyslexia. Dr. Forgan also tests for math problems, writing problems, information processing disorders, gifted testing, and ADHD/ ADD testing  within the Jupiter, Florida area. As a Florida licensed school psychologist, Dr. Forgan’s gifted testing, dyslexia testing, and other testing reports are accepted by public and private schools. Dr. Forgan also tests college/ university students for learning issues so they may receive reasonable accommodations such as extended time on tests.

Jupiter School Psychologist Role

A school psychologist Dr. Jim Forgan works with children, teens, and young adults to determine if they qualify for special allowances or help in school.  The public schools offer two types of help which are either the 504 plan or an IEP.  The 504 plan allows students with documented needs to have allowances in school so that they can perform at the same level as their peers that don’t have school needs.  These allowances don’t cost the school any additional money.  Think about the child that requires glasses to help him or her see clearly when reading.  That’s an allowance or accommodation.  Now think about the child that needs larger print on tests.  That’s an allowance that is made for students if they have the proper documentation.  Dr. Forgan is a Jupiter School Psychologist that does the educational and psychological testing to document that the child’s needs are legitimate.  Once the testing is completed parents can bring the written report to the public school so they can start providing extra help.

The child with more significant learning needs such as dyslexia, learning disabilities, learning disorders, autism, emotional needs, anxiety, or dysgraphia may need specialized help.  Schools provide this specialized help through an IEP or Individualized Education Program.  This program does cost the school district extra money since they have to provide a special teacher or therapist to help the child with the more significant learning needs.  For example, the child with dyslexia requires being taught a different way to learn to read.  The school system provides a special teacher with training in how to teach children with dyslexia so it cost them extra person power.  The state gives the school district more money for each child with an IEP.  Dr. Jim Forgan is a Jupiter School Psychologist that specializes in the testing and evaluation of children.  If your child requires special instruction then you’ll bring the written report to the school so they can start the IEP process.

For young adults, Dr. Forgan tests to determine if they have a type of learning disorder that will qualify them for college accommodations.  The most common accommodation is extended time on tests followed by testing in a distraction reduced environment.  Some college students get the accommodation of receiving copies of notes or they are allowed to audio record the professor’s lecture.

Contact Dr. Forgan, Jupiter School Psychologist, if you need help with your child.

Understanding Autism

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Do you have a loved one with autism?  Watch this multi-part video if you are interested in understanding autism and even seeing successful individuals employed in the workforce.  An innovative employment program funded by TIAA-CREF is employing adults with autism in various parts of the country.
WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

10 Books to Help Parents and Kids Living with ADHD

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I love books and learning how to make my life better by reading.  This process is called ‘bibliotherapy’ and a few years back I wrote a book called, “Teaching Problem Solving Using Children’s Literature.”  It teaches teachers how to use popular children’s books in the classroom to teach problem solving skills.

These are 10 great books that may help you in your journey of raising a child with ADHD.

  1. Raising Boys with ADHD: Secrets to Parenting Healthy, Happy Children by Forgan and Richey
  2. Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach by Monastra
  3. The ADD & ADHD Answer Book: Professional Answers to 275 of the Top Questions Parents Ask by Susan Ashley
  4. Superparenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child by Hallowell and Jensen
  5. Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents (Revised Edition) by Russell Barkley
  6. Raising Resilient Children : Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child by Brooks and Goldstein
  7. Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary “Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Dawson and Guare
  8. Learning To Slow Down & Pay Attention: A Book for Kids About ADHD by Nadeau and Dixon
  9. Putting on the Brakes: Understanding and Taking Control of Your ADD and ADHD by Quinn and Stern
  10. Shelley, the Hyperactive Turtle by Moss

Girls With ADHD Are Different From Boys With ADHD

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Girls With ADHD/ADD

The majority of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) are boys.  Boys are generally identified more frequently than girls are because they are more active, always on the go, and demonstrate acting-out behavior more noticeable than girls.  Girls are often overlooked because they are quieter, are taught to conform, and are less likely to demonstrate acting out behavior.  Signals that your daughter may have ADHD or underlying problems include school phobia, low self-esteem, poor organizational skills, messiness, sleep problems, high intelligence and creativity with low academic performance, and messy appearance.

One Girl With ADHD

I recently worked with a family that was concerned about their daughter because she was very forgetful, her grades were slipping, and she was not feeling good about herself.  We worked together to do a comprehensive school neuropsychological evaluation and determined that there was inattentive type ADHD (ADD) as well as some processing difficulties that were making learning much harder.  This girl was very intelligent so she had been able to get by on her intelligence but the academic demands of middle school finally caught up with her and she became overwhelmed.  Before coming to me, her parents thought she just was not trying and was getting lazy but it turned out she really had legitimate needs.

You Suspect Your Daughter has ADD/ADHD

If your daughter is struggling and you are unsure if there are underlying problems, consider these important questions: (1) Are these behaviors things you have noticed for a while?  Are they interfering with life functioning at home or at school?,(2) Are the behaviors a continuous problem, not just a response to a temporary situation like final exams or a teacher conflict? (3) Do the behaviors occur in several settings or only in one specific place like the home or in school?  If you answered ‘yes’ to most of these questions, my evaluation may help you and your daughter.  I give parents strategies to use at home and in school that can help your daughter.

When you are ready to help your daughter call me or fill out my contact form.

Dyslexia Testing in Jupiter- Palm Beach

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Are you searching for a certified dyslexia testing specialist to test your child?  You’ve found the right source as Dr. Jim Forgan is a certified dyslexia testing specialist and licensed school psychologist.  This means his testing is accepted by all Florida public and private schools, colleges, and universities.

Dyslexia is a language disorder that is neurological in origin and often hereditary.  According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 15-20% of school age children have dyslexia.  This means in a class of 25 children as many as 5 children could have dyslexia.  It is the number one type of learning disability served in public schools.  Children with dyslexia have difficulty with reading and spelling.  Unfortunately, most teachers and reading specialist have not been trained in the most effective methods that children with dyslexia need in order to be successful readers and spellers.  If you think your child is dyslexic, get him or her evaluated as soon as possible so you can begin the most effective remediation program.  According to dyslexia expert Susan Barton, programs that don’t work well for children with dyslexia include: Hooked on Phonics, the Phonics Game, Reading Recovery, Accelerated Reader, Reading Recovery, and most commercial learning chains.

What Works for Teaching Kids With Dyslexia?

Scientific, independent, replicated reading research supports the reading programs based on Orton-Gillingham sequence and methodology.  Dr. Sam Orton and Anna Gillingham developed a unique method and sequence to significantly improve the reading and spelling skills of children and adults with dyslexia during the 1930’s.  Orton-Gillingham programs are “best practices” when teaching reading to students with dyslexia.  An Orton Gillingham based reading system is simultaneously multisensory, systematic, and cumulative with direct and explicit instruction in phonics.  This type of program shows how reading and spelling are related and provide intense practice for a child with dyslexia.

One-on-one tutoring using Orton-Gillingham methodology is the gold standard for dyslexic reading instruction.  The benefits of this type of tutoring are supported by research.  Consider the evaluation and tutoring the best investment you can make for the future success of your child.  Their self-esteem will rise along with their academics.  For a list of local tutors using Orton-Gillingham methods, call me.

I am a certified dyslexia testing specialist located in Jupiter, Florida (West Palm Beach area for anyone reading this out of town) and I can test your child for dyslexia.  Dyslexia testing is a four hour process that is completed in two, two hour sessions. It can be done in one day. Use my contact form or call me so I can help you determine if your child has dyslexia and how to help him or her overcome it.  I can also help you find a dyslexia tutor or dyslexia school in the West Palm Beach area.