What to observe, and how to record it

This guide doesn't draw conclusions. It organizes what you see, so you can describe it clearly. What matters is the patterns that repeat, not an isolated episode.

What to observe over two weeks

• Attention and organization: do they have ongoing trouble concentrating, getting organized or finishing what they start?
• Sensitivity: are there noises, lights, textures, changes or situations that affect them much more, or much less, than other people?
• An uneven profile: are there things they do very well and others they find very hard?
• With other people: do they have trouble reading gestures, sarcasm or unspoken rules, or managing in a group?
• At school: has the school pointed out difficulties with learning, attention or behavior that aren't explained by a lack of effort?
• How they experience it: do they suffer because they feel different, or because they can't do things the way they're expected to?

How to record it

1. 1Write down the situations that keep repeating.
2. 2Note what happened before, during and after.
3. 3Look at how they were doing on sleep, hunger, stimulation, changes in routine and demands.
4. 4Write down what helps them recover.
5. 5Also write down what they do well and what they enjoy. Not just the problems.

What to avoid while you observe

• Comparing them with their siblings, their classmates or what they "should be able to do by now."
• Turning observation into a constant evaluation.
• Coming up with a diagnosis on your own, or from what you've read.