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What is a psychological evaluation and what does it involve?
A psychological evaluation is a comprehensive approach to identifying the underlying causes of a child's learning and/or behavior problems. An evaluation typically involves administering a range of psychometric tests, obtaining a full developmental history, and consulting with teachers and others involved in the youngster's care. The assessment usually involves 3-5 hours of testing with the child and often can be completed within one scheduled session. A comprehensive assessment includes the following components, though the focus may vary depending on the presenting problem:
- assessment measures include the evaluation of intellectual strengths and weaknesses, academic achievement, language development, memory, attention/concentration, visual-motor coordination, and emotional and social functioning.
- a comprehensive written report detailing the results of the evaluation, including information regarding learning strengths and weaknesses, diagnosis of any learning or emotional disorders, and treatment recommendations and intervention strategies.
- feedback session within two weeks of testing to review results and specific recommendations that address the child's relative strengths and limitations.
- continued consultation with educators and/or health professionals involved in the child's care to ensure effective implementation of the needed interventions.
Who should receive a psychological evaluation?
There are many reasons for referring a child for a psychological evaluation. Some of the most common concerns include:
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What are the benefits of a psychological evaluation?
A thorough evaluation can quickly and accurately identify specific problem areas and help rule out other possible contributors to the youngster's problem. For example, many students present with similar and overlapping symptoms, such as poor concentration, distractibility, low motivation, and general frustration regarding school. These youngsters may be experiencing ADHD, a learning disability, or other emotional/behavioral problems (e.g. anxiety or depression) that can interfere with their motivation and persistence to engage in tasks. A psychological evaluation is uniquely suited to uncover such problems and to identify the most effective intervention for the identified concerns. Thus, the time and effort invested in this process can be beneficial for many years to come.
How is a psychological evaluation different from therapy?
Psychological counseling is often a helpful intervention for many problems that children experience, including the frustrations and emotional struggles related to learning problems. A psychological evaluation often helps start the process by identifying problem areas to be addressed and determining the most effective therapeutic approaches. Thus, psychological evaluations and therapy are considered complimentary endeavors that share the goal of improving a youngster's social, emotional, and intellectual well-being.
Who is qualified to conduct psychological testing?
Only a licensed doctoral-level psychologist is authorized to conduct psychological testing. It is important that the psychologist have specific training in pediatric and adolescent assessment, often including neuropsychological assessment and knowledge of the varied issues related to learning disorders.
Fees for psychological evaluations
Fees for psychological evaluations are occasionally covered under medical insurance plans, however increasingly such plans do not cover testing related to educational or academic problems. Our office can assist you in determining whether your insurance may help in covering assessment expenses.
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