DSSMED: Differential Scales of Social Maladjustment and Emotional Disturbance

Ages: 6-0 to 17-1
Testing Time: 5 - 10 minutes
Administration: individual

The DSSMED is used primarily to differentiate between students with social maladjustment and those with emotional disturbance. It is also effective in identifying cases of Co-Morbidity (i.e. students exhibiting characteristics of social maladjustment and emotional disturbance who might otherwise go unidentified and unserved through special education).

Normed on a national sample of 1,337 students and has proven reliability and validity. Teachers, school psychologists, or other knowledgeable professionals rate the items on a 5-point Likert-like scale. Ideally, the examiner should be someone who has had regular, daily contact with the student in a school setting for at least four weeks. It takes approximately 10 minutes to rate a student’s observed emotional behavior. Results of the DSSMED can be used as part of a pre-referral/referral tool to identify “at risk” students and to assist with education programming decisions.

Complete Kit includes: Examiner’s Manual, 25 Summary/Rating Forms, and 25 Scoring Overlays, all in a sturdy storage box.