Psychoeducational Assessment
Why does someone get a psychoeducational assessment for their child?
Parents may choose to get an assessment completed for their child for a variety of reasons. Sometimes educators may suggest to a parent that it might be helpful to have an assessment done on their child. Sometimes parents may want to have an assessment because they notice that their child might be feeling frustrated at school, or that the school does not seem to understand their child. Getting a psychoeducational assessment completed with your child provides you with a detailed profile of your child’s learning style as well as recommendations on how to best support his/her learning.
Why does someone get a psychoeducational assessment as an adult?
Adults may choose to get an assessment completed for a variety of reasons. Sometimes when people start post-secondary education, they need an updated psychoeducational assessment to maintain accommodations that they might have had in high school. Sometimes educators may suggest an assessment if the student seems to be struggling to manage the demands of a post-secondary program. Another reason adults seek an assessment is when they have questions about learning profile, either because of experiences in their past, or in their current job situation. Getting a psychoeducational assessment completed provides you with a detailed profile of your learning style as well as recommendations on how to best support your learning.
General:
A psychoeducational assessment is helpful for every student, but some common reasons that people seek a psychoeducational assessment are:
- Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia)
- Giftedness
- Developmental concerns
- Behavioural concerns
- Social Difficulties
- Hyperactivity – Inattention – Impulsivity
- Anxiety
What is included in a psychoeducational assessment?
- A full psychoeducational assessment looks at:
- Developmental history
- Previous assessments
- Cognitive profile (IQ)
- Academic Achievement
- Social Emotional Functioning
- Visual Motor Integration
- May include other areas of assessment based on the individual’s profile
How long does it take?
- Two 3-hour sessions are scheduled at the time of booking.
- These sessions are typically booked from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm.
- However, few people finish in the six hours.
- Additional sessions are scheduled until testing is complete.
- After testing is complete, it typically takes six to eight weeks to score, analyze the results and write up the report. When the report is ready, the client is contacted to schedule the debriefing session.
What do I get?
- A detailed report of the client’s learning profile.
- Complete diagnostic profile as relevant for both DSM diagnostic criteria and Ministry of Education criteria.
- Comprehensive recommendations to support the client’s learning.
- A debriefing session with the assessment clinician to review the results.
Additional Assessment (specialized areas):
Sometimes during an assessment it becomes evident that further exploration into special areas of development is needed for better understanding of the student’s learning profile. Should additional assessment be recommended, the Assessment Clinician will work in collaboration with the parents in developing the assessment plan.
These areas may include, but are not limited to:
- Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders
- Memory
- Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Adaptive Behaviour
- School Observation
In British Columbia, fees for psychological services are not covered by the government Medical Services Plan. Many employee extended health benefits plans (e.g. Pacific Blue Cross) cover a portion of psychological services. Because the amount of coverage varies widely from plan to plan, it is recommended that you check your coverage documents under “psychological services”, “paramedical” or “other medical” expenses. Psychological fees also qualify to be deducted as a medical expense on your personal income tax return.