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Conclusions, Recommendations, and Reflection

Katherine Alexandre

SNHU

August 11, 2024

Conclusions, Recommendations, and Reflection

Conclusions

Based on the seen test behaviors of Arthur, I am somewhat optimistic towards the outcome. His inconsistent participation and overall annoyance during testing, which can be attributed to sleep deprivation and lack of motivation, hints at the possibility that his learning and cognitive potential may not be accurately represented by his scores (Khan & Al-Jahdali, 2023). The research also shows that sleep loss affects attention and memory, resulting in distorting test results (Khan & Al-Jahdali, 2023). Thus, although the data offers essential information, it is not sufficient to explain Arthur’s capabilities. For the purpose of improving the assessment results, I suggest repetition of the assessments in more standardized circumstances to achieve a better picture of him.

Common themes that have been observed in Arthur's tests include inattention and signs of sleep disorders. From the data, it becomes evident that his academic deterioration and inattention in the classroom correlate with his claimed sleep disturbances and abnormal conduct. The referral question concerns Arthur's academic and behavioral problems, and the tests point to these as the main issues. This concerns his performance in academic activities, where he is said to struggle, and his decreased participation in class, and these are due to his sleeping difficulties and attention deficit. This evidence directly responds to the referral question because it identifies areas of concern in his academic achievement.

Some of the shortcomings of the testing include biases caused by Arthur's lack of sleep and variability in the classroom environment, which reduces the reliability and validity of the outcomes. A lack of sleep has been known to impair cognitive functions and attention, which could influence his test results (Khan & Al-Jahdali, 2023). To overcome these limitations, assessments should be done in a more controlled environment, and a sleep study should also be conducted to assess the role of sleep in his performance. Moreover, daily observation of the child's behavior, as well as feedback from several settings of the child’s life, would give a more accurate picture of Arthur’s strengths and areas of difficulty, making the final assessment and recommendations more accurate.

I have observed that Arthur's poor academic performance and behavioral issues correlate with significant sleep disturbances and inconsistent classroom engagement. The evidence includes his frequent inattention, low motivation during tests, and reported sleep deprivation, all of which align with research linking these factors to decreased cognitive and academic functioning (Khan & Al-Jahdali, 2023). This information suggests that Arthur's difficulties may be exacerbated by inadequate sleep and not solely by cognitive deficits. Reporting these observations can help the psychologist consider sleep-related issues as a critical factor in his diagnosis, potentially leading to interventions addressing both his academic and sleep-related concerns.

Recommendations

Based on the conclusions, I have enough information to make first recommendations on the treatment and interventions. Arthur is clearly shown to have sleep problems and attention problems, which must be addressed in specific ways. Consequently, I suggest performing a comprehensive investigation into sleep deprivation to see how it hinders learning and overall academic success (Khan & Al-Jahdali, 2023). Also, I recommend observing him in a stable classroom setting for a detailed behavioral analysis to evaluate his interactions and level of focus. Such recommendations are based on research findings showing that sleep disorders, as well as classroom environment, significantly impact learner outcomes (Medic et al., 2017). These factors could be approached through specific assessments to forecast a more precise basis for intervention strategies for Arthur.

My recommendations are also evidence-based practice because they focus on the indices that affect his academic and behavioral outcomes. Studies indicate that lack of sleep leads to reduced ability to focus and memory loss; therefore, sleep is a critical aspect of learning (Eugene & Masiak, 2015). To address this vital factor, I want to recommend a comprehensive sleep study. Furthermore, research has shown that to determine attention and engagement, the behavior should be monitored in consistent settings (Short et al., 2018). These recommendations are based on the existing literature, thereby increasing the likelihood that the proposed interventions are evidence-based practices for improving academic and behavioral success. This approach helps to provide specific and comprehensive care to Arthur based on best practices and standards.

Reflection

Looking back on the process, the most beneficial evidence was from Arthur's sleep patterns and his behavior in the classroom. The relationship between sleep and cognition offered helpful explanations about his learning challenges and attention deficits (Cheng et al., 2021). Furthermore, watching his behavior at school enabled me to explain how certain aspects of the environment might influence his learning. These elements were critical for defining the primary problems and developing specific solutions. The findings of quantitative research and actual observations helped me gain a balanced view of Arthur's difficulties. This approach meant that my recommendations were informed by the theory and actual practice, resulting in more productive and efficient interventions.

Additional client information that would have been useful includes a detailed sleep log and more comprehensive reports from both parents and teachers on Arthur's behavior and academic performance over time. I would have urged Arthur's parents to keep a sleep diary for him to help identify patterns and disruptions in his sleep schedule. This would help in trying to figure out how sleep could be impacting his daytime performance. I would also request continued behavioral and academic feedback from the teachers so as to monitor any progress, deterioration or shift in his behavior and performance. Gathering this longitudinal information would give a more comprehensive view of Arthur's difficulties and enable the provision of better identification and intervention recommendations for him.

In this process, I have realized the importance of combining behavioral assessment with evidence to come up with the best approach, strategy, and management of a client's difficulties. The effects on learning and cognitive abilities have emerged as particularly sensitive to sleep, thus requiring more comprehensive evaluations in both domains. I would like to have more information on the interventions to use in the management of sleep disorders in children and actions to take to enhance performance among children with attention difficulties. Moreover, it would be helpful to investigate further how these factors and classroom context actually impact students' behavior and their learning processes to gain further insights into designing more specific and effective interventions. This knowledge would help in the overall treatment of such issues in the future and be more efficient in future assessments and interventions.

References

Cheng, W., Rolls, E., Gong, W., Du, J., Zhang, J., Zhang, X. Y., ... & Feng, J. (2021). Sleep duration, brain structure, and psychiatric and cognitive problems in children. Molecular psychiatry, 26(8), 3992-4003.

Eugene, A. R., & Masiak, J. (2015). The neuroprotective aspects of sleep. MEDtube science, 3(1), 35.

Khan, M. A., & Al-Jahdali, H. (2023). The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Neurosciences Journal, 28(2), 91-99.

Medic, G., Wille, M., & Hemels, M. E. (2017). Short-and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nature and science of sleep, 151-161.

Short, C. E., DeSmet, A., Woods, C., Williams, S. L., Maher, C., Middelweerd, A., ... & Crutzen, R. (2018). Measuring engagement in eHealth and mHealth behavior change interventions: viewpoint of methodologies. Journal of medical Internet research, 20(11), e292.