Prevention is better than cure
THE FOCUS ASSESSMENT HELPS PARENTS AND TEACHERS
UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES AND BEHAVIOURS THE INDIVIDUAL IS PRESENTING WITH
A TRUE AHA MOMENT
FOCUS measures several aspects (called constructs) that influence Attentional Control. These constructs are Consistency, Performance, Impulsivity, and Distractions (audio and visual).
PARENTS
Understand Behaviour
when helping with homework
Communication
Communication with teachers can significantly improve by explaining what you see at home.
TEACHERS
Understand Behaviour
Understand the behaviours they see in the classroom
Accomodation
the underlying cause of behaviours in the classroom
Consistency
Consistent behaviour results in achieving a level of performance which does not vary greatly in quality over time.
Inconsistent individuals will have trouble maintaining their focus and delivering the same quality of work, especially when the task is boring or repetitive. ADD/ADHD individuals are highly inconsistent.
It is a struggle to get John to start with his homework.
How long can the individual Pay Attention
Performance
Performance (processing speed) is being attentive to completing a task accurately and on time. These individuals are more inclined to make mistakes, are often careless and struggle to be attentive to the task at hand.
" It takes a very long time for July to finish her homework,
and she struggles to follow multiple-step directions.
ADD/ADHD individuals have a slower response time
Impulsivity
Impulsivity (or being impulsive) involves a tendency to act suddenly and without careful thought, reflection or consideration of the consequences.
" Dave has a tendency to read questions incorrectly
because he is in a hurry to finish."
Does the individual make careless mistakes
Distractions
Distractions are the processes whereby desired information is blocked or diminished by certain factors. Thoughts, Visual and Auditory distractions are very common in individuals with attention problems.
" Rosey says she struggles to listen to the teacher
because the classroom is very noisy."