About the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)

When the BASC Is Used

• The BASC system is generally used by professional psychologists, and may also be used by school psychologists, psychiatrists and other medical practitioners. It was originally designed to help health practitioners differentiate, diagnose and treat problems that young people experience.

What the BASC Assessment Involves

• The BASC involves a series of questions that seek to evaluate a child or teenager̵7;s self-perception and how this may correlate with behavior. It typically involves participation from teachers and parents, who will be asked to provide background information regarding a child̵7;s development and their perception of the child̵7;s performance and adjustment. If a child is asked to take part in a BASC; she will be asked questions about her relationships with friends, teachers, school and parents. The psychologist will seek to gain a holistic view of the child̵7;s adjustment by interviewing parents and teachers, as well as the child herself.

  Different tests are applied to children of different age groups, and the child̵7;s behavior will be rated according to scales of adaptive functioning in the areas of self-reliance, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and relationships with parents.

How Helpful Is It?

• The BASC can be useful in determining whether a child has a healthy self-perception and has adjusted well in school and social situations. BASC publisher Pearson Education claims that its system can also be used to diagnose symptoms of hyperactivity and attention problems. However, one limitation of the BASC reported by psychologists Cecil R. Reynolds and Randy W. Kamphaus in "The Clinicians Guide to the Behavior Assessment System for Children" is that it cannot highlight whether a child or teenager is at risk of engaging in drug or alcohol misuse.

Help at Home

• Help organizations such as the The Challenging Behaviour Foundation in the United Kingdom also offer an outline of functional behavior assessments parents can use at home if they are concerned about their children's behavior, rather than resorting to a child psychologist. The organization offers some insightful and down-to-earth explanations of why some children act up. It advises parents to look at the situations that may trigger challenging behavior, as well as examining what the child may get as a result of his actions. What seems like "bad behavior" can be a child's or teenager̵7;s way of attaining certain objectives, such as getting attention or escaping from a situation, according to the Foundation. Some symptoms such as impulsivity and not being able to sit still, when combined with other symptoms, may suggest underlying problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- ADHD -- which can be easily managed and treated through behavioral therapy or medication.