[US ABA] What are the differences in assessment tools used in Korea and the US?

 

There are many different tools available to assess a child's development, but it can be difficult to determine which assessment tool is most appropriate for assessing a child's development or setting treatment goals.

As you know, because we set treatment goals for your child based on assessments, if we use tools that are not suitable for your child's development or learning patterns, you may feel that your child is not growing significantly over time, and you may feel that the treatment goals are not particularly helpful for your child's social life.

There are many excellent assessment tools out there, and each therapist has their own criteria for what they consider truly effective. I'll introduce each tool based on my personal experience as a therapist in Korea and Massachusetts.

1) VB-MAPP

VB-MAPP is widely used in Korea! It's intuitive to use and has many goals that can improve language and social skills. Since VB-MAPP is an assessment tool with so much to say about its benefits, I 'd like to talk about why it's not used .

The VB-MAPP is an assessment tool suitable for relatively young children (Level 1: 0-18 months, Level 2: 18-30 months, Level 3: 30-48 months). In Korea, it has been used for a wide range of children, and in the United States, it is recommended to be used only when the child is likely to develop well with peers through treatment.

Level 1 usually teaches the child the prerequisite skills for social life and learning (e.g., responding "little star" when you say "twinkle twinkle", putting a 4-piece puzzle together, etc.). If the child's development is very slow and they don't get much further than Level 1 even after a long time, it is necessary to set more important goals for the child's current socialization process.

In a similar vein, where I work , we recommend against using it for children over the age of seven, no matter how developmentally slow they may be . I think it's because we believe that after the age of seven, it's more helpful for children to set and pursue goals that are more relevant to their school and social lives.

While using VB-MAPP, your child may be showing significant growth and development on the ABA data program, but the VB-MAPP scorecard may only show a single bar. If the progress isn't significant, it might be a good idea to try a different assessment tool.

 

2) Essential for Living

This is the first assessment tool I was recommended while working in the United States.

Essential for Living is said to be an appropriate assessment tool for children with very slow language development, nonverbal children, or children with challenging behaviors .

Because it manages children's development by breaking down goals into smaller steps than VB-MAPP, it's better suited for monitoring the growth of children with developmental delays. One of the biggest challenges I faced while running early childhood education classes in Korea was assessing the development of nonverbal children or those with challenging behaviors. However, it seems that few people in Korea are using it yet, or it's not widely used.

The downside is that the assessment tool is only available in paper form , and the assessment process itself is complex, requiring a trained professional who has attended classes and received extensive training. However, because it's structured with goals optimized for children with developmental delays, I personally believe EFL is the best tool for students struggling with VB-MAPP.

 

3) ABLLS

ABLLS has a broader scope than VB-MAPP and has no age restrictions.

However, because the evaluation process takes a very long time, I couldn't devote all my time to it in Korea, so I used only the necessary items. It's better to have the evaluation items broken down into detailed sections.

While it's useful for children who have a lot of catching up to do in many areas and allows you to check on your child's development in great detail, it can be time-consuming for children who need immediate treatment, so it's best to conduct the evaluation with parental consent.

I haven't tried it in the US yet, but even in the US, the evaluation period is so long... it seems like not everyone is using it.

 

4) Socially Savvy

If your child has strong language skills but lacks social skills , we recommend Socially Savvy. Parents say their children are happier and more engaged! And watching them is incredibly rewarding and fun for them, too. There are plenty of activities to choose from, including board games, storytelling, NET, various art classes, and peer play.

The convenience is that it's available in digital format , so you can use it anytime, anywhere, and there's no age limit. If you're looking to focus on improving your child's social interactions, this tool is useful for children of all ages who need social development, so we recommend checking it out!

 

5) ESDM

The reason I debated whether to include ESDM was because it's closer to an early intervention program than a standalone assessment tool. While it's a treatment model, it includes elements for assessing a child's development and monitoring their growth.

This method is highly preferred by those who are against ABA itself or by parents who want to expose their infants to natural play situations, and I have seen many children's interaction and play skills grow significantly through ESDM.

I think it's more suited to a therapy room or home than a school setting. The fact that parents can easily follow along and practice at home is a huge advantage.

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Assessment tools are used to learn about your child's current developmental status, but a deeper understanding of the tools can help you better support your child's development.

Choosing the right tools can be a huge help in gaining valuable information about your child's development, which can then be used to set specific, achievable goals.

Today, I talked about the evaluation tools that I personally experienced. I hope it was helpful :) Then, I will come back with more good information next time~ Thank you!