I provide psychoeducational assessments in my Burnaby offices for children, adolescents and adults. Psychoeducational testing is usually undergone where there is some question as to why a student might be struggling in the school setting. Adults often need a psychoeducational assessment for accommodations in college or university. Psychoeducational testing includes assessing several different skills and abilities, including:
Intelligence
Memory
Attention, Focus, and Concentration
Planning and related Executive Skills
Listening Comprehension
Reading Comprehension and Fluency
Learning
Writing
Behaviour
Emotional Status (i.e. depression, anxiety)
Parents, doctors, or schools request a psychoeducational assessment when there are problems with academics, possible learning disabilities or behavioural, or emotional problems. The assessment helps us determine the nature, extent and cause of these problems. What makes up a comprehensive assessment can vary from case to case, however, there is a basic core set of tests we use that include tests of intelligence, academic achievement, mental health, behaviour, and several areas of general cognition. In addition to addressing school-related issues, a psychoeducational assessment is often part of a comprehensive autism assessment and is used to reach a diagnosis of autism, Asperger's Disorder or other related problems.
After being completed the psychoeducational assessment is used as part of the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) process, and the results are used by the school system to determine "coding," that is, what possible special education category a child falls under, funding they may qualify for, or specialized and individualized services such as the availability of teacher aides and other classroom accommodations. Sometimes adults need a psychoeducational assessment to help them perform better in the in college or the workplace.
What is the process for obtaining a psychoeducational assessment?
A psychoeducational assessment usually takes three to four sessions. This includes an initial meeting to go over your situation, history and to help me understand what you would like to get out of the assessment. Two sessions of testing, usually about three hours each, and a final session to review the results and plans for implementing accommodations or modifications. Sometimes students take a long time to do the work, or become tired or distracted. We may schedule extra sessions so that our results are valid. There is no extra cost for these extra sessions.
Can I get a psychoeducational assessment done without taking my child out of school?
In some situations I am able to arrange psychoeducational testing on weekends. I suggest calling and speaking with me directly to make such arrangements. But be aware, weekend assessment times fill quickly, and after school students are often tired. We need student’s to be fresh and ready to engage so that the results are valid. A psychoeducational assessment involves testing of maximal ability and effort, not average ability or effort.
How long do I have to wait to schedule a psychoeducational assessment?
Once an opening is found in my schedule I usually am able to schedule a psychoeducational assessment between two to three weeks in advance. Results are usually available in about 3-4 weeks. If there is a deadline, please let me know at the start of the process. At certain points in the year we get multiple requests and the wait time may be extended a bit.
When is the right time to get a psychoeducational assessment done?
Don't wait until fall. And be aware, some of the materials you need to gather are difficult to obtain from the school during the summer months. Sometimes very simple educational interventions can make a big difference very quickly, sometimes they take a long time to have an affect. My best answer to that is, if you have concerns, don't wait. Schedule an appointment with your family doctor or a registered psychologist to start the process. The cost of an initial meeting is part of the overall cost of the assessment, and can help you understand what kinds of data, information and listening and observing you might want to do over the next few months, even if you are not going to move forward with the psychoeducational assessment immediately.
What is the cost of a psychoeducational assessment?
A psychoeducational assessment costs $3,360. (14 hours x $240) Addition time is billed at the normal hourly rate. The above rate includes our initial session to discuss your or your child's history, current symptoms, concerns, and the final meeting where the completed assessment is presented and explained. You will receive a written report to bring to your school. Parents often ask if this assessment covers issues of ADHD. Yes, ADHD is fully assessed and diagnosed during this process.
What specialized training do you have to provide psychoeducational assessments?
In addition to being a registered psychologist, I have also been a school psychologist (and hold a school psychology or educational psychology license in several jurisdictions), I have worked as a classroom teacher (and hold a teaching license in special education), a behaviour management specialist for several school districts, and have provided teacher training workshops in BC, California, and New York. I have worked as a provincial consultant for autism and behaviour management issues with several BC school districts.
I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology, a certificate of advanced graduate studies (CAGS) in school psychology, and have completed two post-doctoral years of training in school and neuropsychology.
My background, experience, and training help me develop plans that are grounded in the realities of the classroom experience. I know students not only from the point of view of testing, but also as a teacher, administrator, and parent.
After reading this material feel free to email me further questions.
NOTE: It is often difficult to get materials from schools in a timely manner. Two forms I require from the school are completed by the teachers, these include the CADDRA Teacher Report and the teacher completing the CADDRA SNAP IV-26. Once we agree that we are moving. forward with the assessment you can print out copies of these forms (below) and have this information ready when you see me. I always require these forms as I need to rule out ADHD, and they provide information useful when considering other issues. The CADDRA Teacher Report is an easy way to elicit information from teachers, but any other information/data/results they might feel is important is also welcome.
CADDRA SNAP IV -26
CADDRA Teacher Report
(These forms are provided for your convenience, can be used when discussing your child with other psychologists, and do not constitute a patient-doctor relationship.)