We all want the best for our children – that they are happy, make friends, and do their best at school. As your child progresses through school it may become apparent that they are having difficulty with learning or making progress in one learning area. When this happens, an assessment may be beneficial in pinpointing where your child’s difficulties lie.
Why do a psychological assessment?
An assessment will show your child’s strengths and weaknesses and can identify any areas that they need extra help with. It can reveal how they learn and process information and will provide an understanding of their learning needs. With this understanding, informed decisions can be made about your child and an appropriate plan for their learning can be developed. The aim is not to ‘label’ your child but to identify ways to improve their learning and enable them to access appropriate support.
What is psychological assessment?
Psychological assessment involves a series of tests that may include evaluation of a child’s intelligence and academic achievement. Intelligence/cognitive assessments test for skills including verbal reasoning, non-verbal problem solving, planning, working memory, and speed of processing information. They can be used to look for developmental delays, intellectual strengths, and learning difficulties. Academic achievement tests can assess reading, writing, maths, spelling, and phonological skills. It is a way to determine how your child is performing compared to other children the same age. When viewed together academic and cognitive assessment results can identify if a specific learning disorder, such as dyslexia, is present.
What to expect?
An assessment will be completed by a psychologist trained in assessment and working with children. A thorough assessment may take 2-4 hours. Testing is completed in a quiet and comfortable environment and begins once the child appears at ease. Cues are taken from the child about when breaks are needed and how long the session will go for. The psychologist will also seek information from your child’s teacher to ensure a comprehensive understanding of your child.
There is strength in knowledge and if you have concerns that your child is struggling academically or may have a specific learning disorder, a thorough psychological assessment may be beneficial to your child.
At Lifeworks Psychology we can diagnose intellectual disability, learning disorders such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, and ADHD. We can also provide support and advice for parents as they process their child’s diagnosis and make plans to meet the needs of their child.
We have appointments available immediately.
Call or email Lifeworks psychology today – (08) 9382 3645 admin@lifeworkspsych.com.au