Assessment SERVICES
Psychological assessments fall into TWO broad categories: Those that measure an Individual’s Intellectual and Academic Functioning, AND those that address Personality and Social-Emotional Functioning (Mental Health Assessment).
In the case of youth, particularly those with learning difficulties, both types of tests are often used called a Comprehensive Psychoeducational Assessment.
Child & Adult
Psychoeducational Assessment
A Psychoeducational Assessment can provide detailed information about a youngster’s difficulties and functioning in a number of different areas. Psychoeducational Assessments are offered to:
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Clarify or make diagnoses about mental health, learning or neurodevelopmental problems.
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Evaluate the indivdual's developmental progress.
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Obtain relevant information that will help to identify appropriate educational strategies and to create treatment plans.
A Psychoeducational Assessment process involves some combination of:
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Interviews,
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Consultation with teachers or others (with informed consent),
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Completion of questionnaires,
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Standardized assessment procedures,
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Review of available health, developmental and/or academic records.
The length of sessions and number of visits will vary somewhat depending on the age of the child, their needs, and the complexity of the assessment questions. A typical assessment will involve between four to eight hours of testing time. Once the assessment has been completed an in-person feedback and report is provided.
Mental Health/Diagnostic Assessment
A Mental Health Assessment collects information gained from diagnostic interviews and observations by using psychological tests, such as Social-Emotional and Personality tests, thus, providing comprehensive and in depth understanding of the issues being addressed.
Mental Health Assessments are offered to:
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Clarify or make diagnoses about mental health,
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Assesses for temperament,
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Attachment between parent and child/youth,
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Social-emotional concerns such as anxiety, depression and troubling behaviours, etc.,
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Diagnostic clarification to guide treatment plan.
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Mental Health Assessments involve some combination of:
​
-
Interviews,
-
Diagnostic interview,
-
Consultation with others (with informed consent),
-
Completion of social and emotional questionnaires,
-
Personality questionnaires,
-
Standardized assessment procedures,
-
Review of available health, developmental and/or academic records.
The length of sessions and number of visits will vary somewhat depending on client’s attention, concentration and stamina, and the complexity of the assessment questions. A typical assessment will involve between four to eight hours of testing time. Once the assessment has been completed a feedback and report is provided.
Gifted Assessments
A giftedness testing is used to determine whether or not a child or youth’s intellectual ability (IQ) is in the range that would allow them to qualify for access to educational programs dedicated to students who are considered gifted.
Giftedness testing is not as involved as a psychoeducational assessment, as it only considers intellectual ability, and thus cannot determine the presence of a learning disability.
Parents should know that each school board in Ontario has specific cut-off scores based on test data that must be met to obtain the official Gifted designation and gain access to enhanced programming or specialized class placement.
