How Can Psychoeducational Assessment Help Your Child?

 

Every child has a different learning curve than the rest and there is nothing wrong with that. However, at times, you might have felt that your child is struggling with reading or writing more than usual. Or your child’s educator might feel that your child is lagging in lessons. This could be reason enough for you to think about meeting with a psychologist near you to ascertain the issue causing problems with your child’s learning.

A psychoeducational assessment of your child can reveal the challenges in their path and give you a deeper understanding of the situation. Here, we will explain how a psychoeducational assessment of your child, conducted by a psychologist in Calgary, can help your child.

What Is A Psychoeducational Assessment?

A psychoeducational assessment is designed to test the academic as well as intellectual abilities of a child. The test results, together with the child’s academic records, clinical interviews, and other observations, help in understanding how the child learns and what are the challenges faced. It measures the aptitude of the child around the core skills such as math, reading, and writing. The method involved in a psychoeducational assessment utilizes several tools to form an analysis such as:

1.      Paper and pencil activities.

2.      Verbal responses in interviews.

3.      Evaluation of motor skills by drawing or playing with blocks activities.

The level or type of assessment set out will depend on the age of the child. The results will help decide the potential of the child (whether they are gifted or have disabilities) and the psychologist can then suggest strategies to support them accordingly.

Another benefit of letting your child take a psychoeducational assessment near you is that some other aspects of their behaviour are also revealed during the test. Issues such as ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), anxiety, or other learning disabilities can be identified in your child and suitable suggestions are made for improvement in these areas.

How Should I Know If My Child Needs It?

As a parent, you might notice your child struggling with reading or writing, or their teacher might approach you about your child not being able to cope with the level of assignments at school. Sometimes, your child’s school will suggest a psychoeducational assessment for your child if they feel there is a problem with their learning capabilities. Most of these learning differences manifest themselves around grades 1 & 2, but it could happen at any age.

The Process And Duration Of The Test

A psychoeducational assessment can be initiated by a public-funded school if you and your child’s educator feel that it might be the best way to help your child. The test is generally carried out at the school by a psychologist or a psychometrist assigned by the school authorities. The assessment is free of charge, but the wait time can be several months long. However, every school board functions differently and wait times can vary.

A faster way is to approach private clinics that offer psychoeducational assessments in Calgary. Usually, the cost is covered fully or partially by private insurance plans, but it is always better to check with your provider before enrolling for the assessment.

Next Steps After The Assessment

Once the results of the assessment are received by your child’s school from the clinic or the psychologist, they are used as recommendations to devise an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) for your child. This special program is designed to specifically meet your child’s learning needs and help them progress by overcoming their disabilities.

Finding out from the assessment that your child has a learning disability can be quite disheartening for you, as a parent. However, you must remember that it does not in any way mean that your child cannot prosper academically or be successful in life. It is only an indication of what else can be done to help your child thrive. Also, it helps discover if the real cause of their low performance is stress and anxiety instead of a learning disability. Either way, the assessment provides answers to questions about your child’s academic and intellectual prowess and helps them overcome any psychological barriers to success.