Assessments

How can an assessment help me better understand my child/adolescent and inform my parenting?

When parenting is feeling difficult, it might be due to the fact that your child is neurodiverse in some way. Maybe you have heard the term “neurodiverse” or “neurodivergent”, or maybe this is a completely new term to you. The term “neurodivergent” was first coined by sociologist Judy Singer in 1998 to describe the wide spectrum that occurs in brains that have developed differently from average brains (Singer, 2017).

Neurodiversity applies to anyone whose brain may be slightly different from “typical”, including people who have: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning Disorders/challenges, intellectual giftedness, and intellectual disabilities, among others. Children who are neurodivergent may struggle with such things as: social skills, academics, learning, completing functional tasks at home, and more.

They can also succeed in various life areas! An assessment can help you better understand your child and learn how to best support them at home and at school.

What assessments are offered?

Psycho-educational assessments (age 6-18):

  • Psycho-educational assessments may look at a child or adolescent’s cognitive/intellectual abilities, learning strengths and vulnerabilities, academic achievement, possible attention or focus concerns, and may look at social, emotional, or adaptive functioning.

  • Depending on the results, the psychologist will help you understand your child’s learning strengths and vulnerabilities, may assign a diagnosis if applicable (such as ADHD or a Learning Disorder) and will provide a written report (that can be provided to the child’s school if the parent would like).

Cognitive Assessment (age 6-18):

  • A cognitive assessment will look at a child or adolescent’s cognitive/intellectual abilities, possible attention or focus concerns, and may look at social, emotional, or adaptive functioning.

  • Depending on the results, the psychologist will help you understand your child’s cognitive or intellectual abilities, may assign a diagnosis if applicable (such as ADHD) and will provide a written report (that can be provided to the child’s school if the parent would like).

  • Future: Autism Assessments and Adult Assessments

What is the cost of a formal assessment?

All assessments are completed by a Registered Psychologist. Rates are in line with the Psychologist’s Association of Alberta’s recommended rate of $220 per hour. All assessments involve: an information gathering-session with parents, testing sessions, data interpretation, report-writing, and an information-sharing session to discuss results.

Generally, cognitive assessments take approximately 10 hours to complete, and psycho-educational assessments take 12 hours to complete. Parents will be provided with a written report at the end of the process, which they can then share with the child or adolescent’s school if they would like.

If you feel like you and your child would benefit from an assessment, feel free to email intake@encircledtherapy.ca or click below to book a free 15-minute phone consultation with a registered psychologist to discuss this more!