PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS

What We Evaluate

Evaluations may include assessment of intellect, memory, attention, and concentration, executive functions (i.e., problem-solving and reasoning), divided attention, sustained attention, verbal and motor inhibition, visual planning, accessing verbal lexicon, higher verbal abstraction, fine-motor skills, academic achievement, visuomotor integration, psychological functioning, and adaptive behavior.

Achievement Testing

Achievement tests measure academic abilities, which may be based on academic grade level or chronological age. These tests can diagnose a specific learning disability in reading, writing, or mathematics.

Gifted Evaluation

Gifted evaluations involve assessing students to identify exceptional intellectual abilities, talents, or potential in various domains. These evaluations aim to determine eligibility for gifted education programs and tailor educational strategies to meet the unique needs of gifted learners. Intelligence tests are used to measure intellectual and cognitive abilities. These tests look at various intelligence domains, such as the ability to process information, memory, verbal abilities, and perceptual reasoning.

Psychological Evaluation

Psychological testing and evaluation consist of a series of tests that help determine the cause of mental health symptoms and disorders, determine the correct diagnosis, and follow up with the appropriate course of treatment. Often, the symptoms of a problem are apparent, such as when a child experiences academic and social problems at school or an adult struggles to maintain personal and professional relationships, but the cause of the problem is not always clear. Common diagnoses that may emerge from a psychological evaluation are outlined below under "Conditions We Evaluate."

Neuropsychological Evaluation

A neuropsychological evaluation, also called neuropsychological testing, is an in-depth assessment of skills and abilities linked to brain function. The evaluation measures such areas as attention, problem-solving, memory, language, I.Q., visual-spatial skills, academic skills, and social-emotional functioning. A neuropsychological evaluation differs from tests included in a neurological evaluation (e.g., EEG) or neuroimaging (e.g., CT or MRI scan).

Evaluations for Testing Accommodations

Recommendations are made to testing boards for accommodations for tests such as the SAT, ACT, MCAT, or LSAT based on clinical diagnosis and identifiable clinical need. They are also made to schools for services, such as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Note that these are simply recommendations for accommodations, and Ensight Psychological Services cannot guarantee they will be adhered to.

Conditions We Evaluate

Common diagnoses that may emerge from a psychological evaluation include:
Depressive Disorders: Including major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), and other mood disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest or pleasure in activities.
Learning Disabilities: Including dyslexia, dyscalculia, and specific learning disorders, characterized by difficulties in acquiring and using academic skills such as reading, writing, or mathematics.
Anxiety Disorders: Such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias, characterized by excessive worry, fear, and anxiety that significantly impact daily functioning.
Intellectual Disabilities: Characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, resulting in difficulties with conceptual, social, and practical skills necessary for everyday life.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with academic, occupational, or social functioning.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.