Assessment

Psychological Assessment

Psychological evaluations/assessments are conducted by licensed clinical psychologists. A person may be referred for a psychological evaluation when there is a need to understand symptoms or behaviors. A psychologist uses interviews, tests, and observations to help arrive at a diagnosis and to guide appropriate treatment.

Because everyone is different, the psychologist will choose the most appropriate tests for each individual. The psychologist may also request, with the patient’s permission, to speak to others who may be able to help the psychologist understand the patient’s psychological and emotional functioning, such as family members, other healthcare providers, or teachers.

After the psychologist gathers enough information to understand a person’s history and current symptoms and behaviors, they may arrive at a psychological diagnosis. This diagnosis, as well as recommendations for treatment, will be discussed with the patient during a feedback session.

Neuropsychological Assessment

Neuropsychological assessment involves use of valid and reliable standardized tests designed to understand how different areas of the brain are working. These tests include “paper and pencil” or hands-on type tests, in addition to computerized tests. Because a person’s history and circumstances are important to understanding their functioning, it may be important to interview a patient’s family members or teachers and to observe the patient in other settings, such as school. Review of relevant medical, testing, or school records is also useful to gain additional information.