Psychoeducational Assessment
What is a psychoeducational assessment?
A psychoeducational assessment comprehensively evaluates the mental processes that govern academic, social, and personal achievement. It is valuable for identifying those who struggle with learning or behavioral impairments. Psychoeducational assessments are a key diagnostic tool for identifying children, adolescents, and adults with neurodevelopmental issues (ADHD, Learning Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, and cognitive and academic challenges) and those with psychological or conduct disorders (anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, etc.).
The purpose of psychoeducational assessments is to provide an age-referenced profile of an individual’s cognitive, learning, and behavioral functioning as well as explain the sources of their struggles. Assessment tools include interviews, observations, questionnaires, and structured standardized tests that are administered under the care of a psychologist in controlled conditions to maximize accuracy.
Psychoeducational assessments specifically analyze an individual’s reasoning and problem-solving skills, attention span, working memory, language and spatial abilities, and a broad range of executive functions, including planning, organization, and impulse control. It can also gauge performance in individual subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
Once testing and consultation is complete, the psychologist analyzes the results to identify the individual’s unique abilities and challenges, and to facilitate the diagnosis of a variety of challenges in the domains of learning and cognitive function, development, attention-deficits and hyperactivity, and other psychological issues (e.g., anxiety, depression). This information is then used to form recommendations to enhance the child’s education and life by identifying or modifying supports and accommodations at school or at home, supporting applications for academic or government-funded subsidies, and identifying opportunities or strategies for enrichment. Please note: age minimum for psych-ed/ADHD assessments ages 6 years old and up.
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Assessments
Assessment for children and adolescents begins with an extensive interview with the parent(s) to obtain background information regarding the child’s areas of difficulty. Depending on the age of the child, he or she may also participate in this discussion. Parents and/or teachers may be asked to complete questionnaires to obtain a full understanding of the child’s academic, behavioral, social, and emotional functioning.
Adult assessments will also begin with an extensive structured interview and collateral information from other informants may be requested where appropriate.