Formal assessments can help to identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide a clearer path forward for your mental health care. Insight’s trained therapists provide assessments that assist individuals of all ages to improve their lives. Assessments are helpful in identifying your levels of symptoms objectively. While assessments can vary from individual to individual, most times they include testing, interviews, observation, and consultation with one of Insight’s trained professionals. Many of these assessments can be done as part of therapy but some may require a higher level of formality depending on the level of need and purpose of the assessment.
What is a learning disorder assessment?
Assessments for learning disorders are usually tests involving very specific issues with learning – for example:
- Reading
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Non-verbal communication
We conduct specific tests to confirm and identify a suspected learning disorder and the severity of the disorder.
Why is the assessment used?
These tests, in addition to a thorough initial interview and background history, help gather the necessary information to fully understand and diagnose learning disorders which may help individuals to access funding for disabilities both within the school system and out. As well, special accommodations may be made to support you or your child’s learning and to lessen the impact of the disorder, equalizing the ability to learn along with other classmates or colleagues.
For any of those issues that are out of Insight’s scope, we have developed a good relationship with medical specialists in the area to help support and/or identify those diagnoses that may be necessary for adequate treatment or funding/care.
Although not funded publicly or by government services, psychological services are usually available through extended health care benefits packages well as some government-sponsored agencies, including Children’s Services and Veterans Affairs.
The assessment process
Currently, Insight Psychological has access to over 350 tests used to identify specific disorders or issues. More comprehensive tests include the up-to-date versions of the Wechsler intelligence scales (WAIS), Wechsler memory tests (WMS) and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Tests (WIAT) as well as the K-TEA, the K- ABC, ADOS-2, the BASC, Connors scales, CBCL and the ABAS-2 and ABS-2 to name only a few. We also use neuropsychological tests such as the Halstead-Reitan neuropsychological battery.
Psychological tests get updated annually and Insight is committed to ensuring we have the most up-to-date materials and training for our therapists to make sure we can cover any areas of need – both now and in the future.
Although some assessments tend to be standardized, many times we need to customize our assessments as many disorders or issues are not as clear-cut as we would like them to be. We are able to customize these assessments in order to expertly analyze and identify issues.
To learn more about booking a learning disorder assessment, please call 587-402-3640. We recognize that each individual has different needs and our intake and admin specialists will be able to provide you with an estimated quote and timeline for your assessment.
