Psychoeducational Assessments
Cognitive assessment
A cognitive assessment is usually conducted in order to determine a person’s strengths and weaknesses across a range of cognitive areas.
Academic assessment
An academic assessment is used to determine a person’s performance in various academic areas such as reading, writing and mathematics. An academic assessment is usually conducted together with a cognitive assessment to determine a person’s particular learning profile and/or to identify a learning difficulty.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD) assessment
A Specific Learning Disability (e.g., dyslexia) assessment is a very involved process. In addition to determining a person’s cognitive profile and academic ability, an assessment of the specific cognitive abilities and processes most relevant to the academic area of concern is also necessary. Based on the referral concern, the assessment of a suspected Specific Learning Disability is tailored through a selection of subtests from a battery of tests.
Social-emotional and behavioural assessment
A social-emotional and behavioural assessment is essential in the initial stages of therapy but may also be required as part of a psychoeducational assessment. This may involve the use of projective tests or drawings, which provides insight into an individual’s emotions, conflicts and self-perceptions.
Behavioural assessment on specific behaviours such as attention/concentration, impulsivity, executive functioning, adaptive functioning, social competencies, oppositional behaviours, anxiety and depression can be in the form of checklists and questionnaires. These forms can be administered separately to the individual themselves (depending on age), parents and teachers in order to gather the different perspectives of the person in the home and educational environment.
The assessment process
An assessment process typically consists of the following (additional sessions may be required depending on the individual’s working speed and concentration/ attention):
An initial consultation to obtain a detailed developmental history and background information (60 minutes)
Cognitive assessment (120 minutes)
Academic assessment (120 minutes)
Extended assessment for SLD assessment (60-120 minutes)
Behavioural checklists
Results are provided in a concise, practical report with tailored recommendations
A final feedback session to discuss the results (50 minutes)
Keren provides cognitive, academic, social-emotional and behavioural assessments for children, adolescents and adults. An assessment is helpful to learn about an individual’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses, preferred learning style and to identify the presence of a learning difficulty or disability. Understanding a person’s particular learning profile also has implications for educational recommendations.
