What is a Psychoeducational and Giftedness Child Assessment and who is it for?
Trying to research and find the “right” type of Psychological assessment can feel overwhelming. There are different types of assessments that Psychologists offer, and it can be hard to know what will be helpful.
Two of the most known assessments for children, teens and young adults are called:
- Psychoeducational Assessment
- Giftedness Assessment
A proper Psychoeducational assessment test is designed to answer a specific question about or shed light on an individual’s learning profile. That individual can be a child, a teenager, a young adult or even an adult.
A Psychoeducational assessment will either identify a relative weakness like a Learning Disability or a relative strength like a strong visual-spatial skills for example. In addition to evaluating someone’s strengths and weakness, the end goal of a Psychoeducational assessment is to provide individually tailored recommendations based on the profile results, which can sometimes include setting up formal academic accommodations in the school setting.
What are the differences between Psychoeducational Tests?
Now, there are a lot of different Psychoeducational tests and measures out there that can be used in a Psychoeducational assessment which means Psychologists sometimes disagree on which tools must be used, which ones are optional, and what makes up the “gold standard” battery.
That said, you almost always find an IQ test and standardized academic testing as part of a Psychoeducational assessment. The IQ profile is taken to be an indication of an individual’s cognitive abilities, and the standardized academic scores give the Psychologist a sense of whether learning is “on track” for that individual’s age/grade.
A comprehensive Psychoeducational assessment will also evaluate the learner’s memory, executive functioning (including attention), fine motor, and phonological processing abilities to understand what might explain the identified weaknesses in academic learning.
For example, if an individual is showing delays in their reading skills, seeing what their attention, memory and phonological processing look like will help determine which one of these sets of skills may be contributing to the reading challenges.
An even more comprehensive Psychoeducational assessment will examine an individual’s social and emotional functioning to consider whether mental health symptoms like low mood or anxiety are in the picture as well.
What is a Giftedness Assessment?
Strictly speaking, a Giftedness assessment only needs to have an IQ test because the criteria for child Giftedness in Ontario school boards is typically defined as someone whose IQ > 98th percentile. However, most gifted child assessments will also examine a learner’s academic skills to ensure they can keep up with an enriched academic curriculum and schools will sometimes screen for Giftedness solely based on academic skill development or achievement.
Is there a best age for Psychoeducational or Gifted Assessment?
Parents will usually bring any obvious developmental concerns to their pediatrician or family doctor within the first 4-6 years of development. However, examining whether a child, teen, young adult or adult met their developmental milestones within expected age ranges is always a good idea in a Psychoeducational assessment, just in case something was missed early on.
Some of the most frequently asked questions we get at our clinic are:
Do I need one?
If you have always had challenges demonstrating your knowledge and meeting your potential, it can be an eye-opening and helpful experience. Sometimes the results confirm what was already known, but everyone gains from a more comprehensive understanding of how their brain works.
Increasingly, post-secondary educational institutes are requesting to see Psychoeducational assessment results when students apply for academic accommodations and they require the testing to have been done relatively recently (within 3-5 years), but this varies based on educational institute.
Under certain circumstances like writing the MCATs, LSATs, or other standardized exams, adults will be told they need a comprehensive Psychoeducational assessment if they are applying for exam accommodations like extra time, a smaller writing space, etc.
Does my child need one?
If you have questions about your child’s learning progress or are getting feedback from their teachers related to behaviours in the classroom that are interfering with their learning or academic motivation – it’s a good idea to get a comprehensive Psychoeducational assessment done. You will be able to see what your child’s learning profile looks like in detail and identify any strengths or areas in need of support.
What is the best age for Psychoeducational Assessment?
There is no best age for a Psychoeducational assessment. While early intervention is ALWAYS better than waiting until later, you really should wait until your child has started receiving and participating in formal education – approximately around grade 2 or 3 is ideal in some ways, but if there are clear concerns before then, earlier is better.
It seems like a lot of time and money, is it worth it in the end?
It is a lot of time and money to have a Psychoeducational assessment completed at a private clinic and it should be taken seriously to get the most out of the process and the results. The information learned about how your or your child’s brain works can be validating and open the door to helpful daily strategies, so yes, it is worth it in the end.
How do I know where to get a Psychoeducational assessment or Giftedness assessment done?
When deciding where to get a Psychoeducational assessment or Gifted assessment, the options can be overwhelming and prices can vary. It is best to go to a reputable clinician or larger clinic with longstanding experience delivering assessments to clients of all ages. It is helpful to meet with professionals who know what lies ahead for you or your child in the next 5, 10 or 15 years.
In addition, it is helpful to work with a clinic that has been around long enough to understand any changes in educational or disability legislation so they can provide accurate information to you based on the results from the assessment.
Some clinics seem to be offering Psychoeducational assessment testing and Giftedness assessments virtually – why would I bring my child or myself to a clinic in-person when virtual is so much more convenient?
The standardized tests and tools involved in a Psychoeducational assessment, including the IQ measure, were not standardized on a virtual delivery. While it was innovative of the field of Psychology to modify the way these assessments are done to accommodate Covid-19 restrictions, some educational institutes (e.g., University of Toronto) do not accept a Psychoeducational assessment or Giftedness assessment done virtually.
It is also MUCH more difficult for the assessor to observe the child, teen, or adult when they are completing these different tasks and these observations are absolutely KEY to seeing how an individual goes about completing tasks or answering questions from the assessor – For example, can the child separate from parents in the waiting room, what makes them nervous, what do they notice in their own environment, do they get fidgety, can they focus their eyes on the test materials, do they avoid doing certain tasks more than others, is there anything in their physical environment that is impacting their performance, do they get frustrated, etc.
If you’re going to invest time and money, your results should be valid, accepted by your school, and as accurate as possible. The jury is out on this one – in-person Psychoeducational assessment testing and Giftedness testing trumps the results of a virtual assessment every time!
If you’re considering a Psychoeducational assessment for you or your child and are looking for more information, Springboard is here to help. You can book a free call with somebody from our team and they can help answer your questions and navigate next steps. Book your free 15-minute call here.
About Dr. Anne Bailey
Dr. Anne Bailey, Ph.D., C.Psych , is a Clinical Psychologist who obtained her Ph.D. from Concordia University in Montreal conducting research on neuroplasticity and the effects of early experience on the brain and behaviour. She has spent the last 13 years providing assessments and treatment to the ADHD community working with clients of all ages individually and in groups, offering parent and couples support, as well as collaborating with teachers. She is currently the Executive Director of Clinical Services at Springboard Clinic, where she oversees all facets of assessment, coaching and therapy services. She is a co-author on Springboard Clinic’s adult ADHD workbook called “May We Have Your Attention Please?” and is passionate about designing mental health services that are both ADHD-friendly and effective.
