Psychological Assessments
Approximately 20% of Canadians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Not all of these issues will require a psychological assessment, as there are situations where the presenting symptoms make the issue easily identifiable, and treatment can begin immediately. However, in some cases, presenting problems can be complicated, and it may be difficult to separate one psychological issue from another. In these situations, it is prudent to complete a Psychological (Mental Health) assessment to identify the problem(s) correctly and initiate the appropriate treatment protocol.
In the areas of learning, inattention and development, assessments are essential as it is difficult to accurately identify difficulties in these areas without the benefit of psychometric measures and the clinician observing the client's behaviour.
During the past ten years, difficulties with learning, inattention and development have increased notably, and the need for assessments has never been more critical. According to the Learning Disabilities Association Of Canada, more children have been identified with a learning disability than all other disabilities combined. At present, it is estimated that up to 10% of children meet the criteria for a learning disability, while approximately 500,000 adults have a learning disability but are unaware.
According to statistics from the DSM-V (the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders), approximately 3-7% of children experience difficulties with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Based on these numbers, one child in every classroom of 25-30 students will experience problems with this issue.
In the area of development (Autism), approximately 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). At present, Autism is the fastest growing and the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in Canada. Unfortunately, this issue can go undiagnosed, and according to the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 out of 42 boys and 1 out of 189 girls will go undiagnosed.
At Sullivan + Associates, we conduct several different psychological assessments to help children, adolescents and adults find the answer to essential questions.
Assessments are typically required when an important clinical question needs to be answered for one of the following purposes:
• Self-discovery
• To determine appropriate treatment planning for psychotherapy/
• Establish recommendations and accommodations for school
• Secure funding for support at school or in the community
• Provide diagnostic information for physicians so the correct medication can be prescribed when clients are interested in using medication to help treat their symptoms
• Provide diagnostic information for an insurance provider
Types of Psychological Assessments
At Sullivan + Associates, we typically complete 4 types of assessments: Psychological (Mental Health), Psychoeducational (Learning), ADHD (Attention), and Autism (Developmental) assessments.
The Psychological Assessment Process
With all assessments, the overall format is relatively similar, as we typically follow a 5-step process.
#1. Clinical Interview
A clinical interview typically lasts 1-2 hours and involves answering questions about the following:
• the presenting problem
• history of the issue
• psychological treatment history
• past medical history
• psychosocial history
#2. Psychometric Testing
This step involves completing self-report questionnaires or other psychological tests that are appropriate for the type of assessment being completed. Psychometric testing can vary between 1 hour for Psychological (Mental Health) assessments and upwards of 6 hours for Psychoeducational (Learning) assessments.
#3. Test Scoring Data Analysis and Clinical Interpretation
During this stage of the assessment process, test data is scored, analyzed and contrasted with the Psychologist's clinical impressions and interpretation. If the assessment question hasn't been answered at this stage, further testing is completed until the answer is discovered.
#4. Report Writing
A psychological report is written discussing the information obtained in the clinical interview, test results, diagnoses and treatment recommendations. We aim to keep our reports in the 6-8 page range to help avoid overwhelming the reader with information. We also strive to write in a plain, easily understandable writing style so the report can be understood and the recommendations can be utilized. With children and adolescents, in particular, we do our best to highlight their strengths in the report. Despite the significant work and complexity involved in completing psychological reports, we understand the importance of being timely. Psychological (Mental Health) assessments, reports are completed within 1-2 weeks. With more specialized assessment services such as Psychoeducational (Learning), ADHD (Attention) or Autism (Developmental) assessments, reports are completed within 6 weeks.
#5. Feedback
The last (and essential) step of a psychological assessment is communicating the findings and discussing treatment recommendations to utilize at home, or in some cases at school or work. During the feedback session, the Psychologist will explain the results of the psychometric tests, their diagnostic impressions and how to best utilize treatment recommendations and accommodations.