|
Evaluations
Back to Basics offers psycho-educational evaluations for children and adults performed by licensed,
clinical psychologists on staff in Wilmington, Delaware.
Tests include:
- I.Q.
- Academic Achievement Level Testing (grade level and age level)
- Visual-Motor
- Learning Disability and Giftedness Screening
- Attention Deficit Disorder Screening
- Verbal and Visual Memory
- Visual Perception
The resulting formal report can be used to:
- Document the need for special services to be provided by the schools
- Take untimed SATs and High School Entrance Exams
- Be considered for a gifted program
Using the most sophisticated measures available, Back to Basics can help maximize a student's success by analyzing the style
in which he/she learns, his/her strengths and non-strengths, and any learning differences.
Recommendations will be made to parents and educators regarding the best teaching methods and educational environment for the
student to reach his/her full potential.
View a CN8 Television interview with Beverly Stewart, M.Ed. about Learning Disabilities.
What is Psychoeducational Testing, and When is it Helpful?
Lauren S. Lineback, M.H.A., Psy.D.
Delaware/Pennsylvania Licensed Psychologist
Pennsylvania Certified School Psychologist
Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, Inc.
Psychoeducational testing is appropriate for individuals who want to have a more sophisticated understanding of their cognitive
functioning (what is my "ability?"), their math, reading and/or writing skills, their memory skills, and whether emotional factors
may be contributing to or affecting learning in school. While I assess individuals from six years old up to middle-aged adults,
other psychologists specialize in developmental issues, and evaluate children between infancy and five years old. Some
psychologists assess individuals in the later stages of middle-age including the geriatric population. This article will
address assessment of school-aged children and college-aged young adults.
A typical referral question might be, "My second grade son is struggling with math, and despite extra help from the teacher,
he continues to obtain poor grades in this subject. Is it possible that he has a learning disability?" Psychoeducational
testing could help determine if the individual has a learning disability in math or any other area, and the psychologist
will provide recommendations to the parents and the teacher as to how to improve the student's ability to learn math. Another
referral question might come from a college student who recently completed their freshman year, and despite feeling that they
"studied hard," they obtained poor grades. Perhaps this individual found it difficult to concentrate during class, and is
wondering if she has Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Type. Some high school students
who have already been identified as having a reading disability may feel they will benefit from extended time on the SAT.
A psychoeducational evaluation would be appropriate for this student in order to document the need for extended time.
While a "battery" of measures within a psychoeducational evaluation may differ from psychologist to psychologist, a typical
battery will often consist of a measure to assess intellectual functioning and a measure to assess achievement levels
(often math, reading, and spelling and/or writing). In addition, many psychologists also include a measure to assess
visual-motor functioning and a measure to assess memory skills.
In order to ensure that the evaluation is addressing the referral question, the psychologist will typically gather a
great deal of background information. This information could include, but would not be limited to, the following: when
developmental milestones were met, medical history, school history, and whether there is any family history of mental
health issues or learning difficulties. If the parents or student perceive there to be any emotional difficulties that
could be affecting learning in school, additional measures may be included. For example, behavior rating scales to be
completed by the parent, the student and sometimes the teachers are often included, and at times additional assessments
may also be included to learn more about the individual's emotional functioning. At times, the psychologist may also
gather information from the examinee's teachers, and will often wish to review recent report cards and any previous evaluations.
A typical assessment session takes between four and six hours, depending on the individual. While some students prefer
to complete the evaluation in one sitting, other students, particularly young children, may benefit from completing the
assessment over the course of two or even three sessions.
After the assessment is complete, the psychologist writes a report which includes the scores from each measure, as well
as a description of the measure and what the scores mean. The report will also answer the referral question, and many
recommendations are provided. The psychologist then reviews the results of the evaluation with the family, and can answer
questions about the report, as well as how to proceed.
Wilmington, Delaware psychoeducational & intellectual testing.
|
