What's the point of psychological evaluation?
If you or a family member has been referred for psychological testing, you probably have some questions about what to expect. Or, you may have heard about psychological testing and wonder if you or a family member should be tested. Although psychological testing may sound intimidating, it's really designed to help you.
In a lot of ways, psychological testing and assessment are similar to other medical tests. For example, if you have physical symptoms, a primary care provider may order X-rays or blood tests to understand what's causing those symptoms. The results of the tests can be very useful in developing an effective treatment plan.
Psychological evaluations serve the same purpose. I use tests and other assessment tools to measure and observe behavior. This helps me arrive at a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
There are a number of reasons I might suggest an evaluation. Children who are experiencing difficulty in school, for example, may undergo aptitude testing or tests for learning disabilities. Tests for skills such as dexterity, reaction time and memory can help diagnose conditions such as brain injuries or dementia.
If you are having problems at work or school, or in personal relationships, tests can help me understand whether you might have issues with anger management or interpersonal skills, or certain personality traits that contribute to the problem. In addition, there are tests that help determine whether you are experiencing emotional disorders such as anxiety or depression.
The underlying cause of a person's problems isn't always clear. For example, if a child is having trouble in school, does he or she have a reading problem such as dyslexia? An attention problem such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Difficulty with impulse control? Psychological tests and assessments allow me to understand the nature of the problem, and to figure out the best way to go about addressing it.
In a lot of ways, psychological testing and assessment are similar to other medical tests. For example, if you have physical symptoms, a primary care provider may order X-rays or blood tests to understand what's causing those symptoms. The results of the tests can be very useful in developing an effective treatment plan.
Psychological evaluations serve the same purpose. I use tests and other assessment tools to measure and observe behavior. This helps me arrive at a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
There are a number of reasons I might suggest an evaluation. Children who are experiencing difficulty in school, for example, may undergo aptitude testing or tests for learning disabilities. Tests for skills such as dexterity, reaction time and memory can help diagnose conditions such as brain injuries or dementia.
If you are having problems at work or school, or in personal relationships, tests can help me understand whether you might have issues with anger management or interpersonal skills, or certain personality traits that contribute to the problem. In addition, there are tests that help determine whether you are experiencing emotional disorders such as anxiety or depression.
The underlying cause of a person's problems isn't always clear. For example, if a child is having trouble in school, does he or she have a reading problem such as dyslexia? An attention problem such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Difficulty with impulse control? Psychological tests and assessments allow me to understand the nature of the problem, and to figure out the best way to go about addressing it.
What to expect from a psychological evaluation.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember if you are being evaluated is to relax. There are no right or wrong answers. The evaluation is just one way of getting to the bottom of things and providing the right kind of help. Psychological testing isn't like taking a multiple-choice exam that you either pass or fail.
Sometimes people are tempted to peek at the tests ahead of time. If they suspect they may have a particular problem, they may look online for a practice test of that problem. That's not a good idea. In fact, practicing ahead of time usually backfires — when you try to take the test in a certain way, the answers may be inconsistent and make you appear to have more problems than you actually do. So, it's important to relax and respond to the questions honestly and naturally.
Remember, psychological testing and assessment is nothing to fear. It's not something you need to study for. Rather, it's an opportunity for me to determine the best way to help you.
Sometimes people are tempted to peek at the tests ahead of time. If they suspect they may have a particular problem, they may look online for a practice test of that problem. That's not a good idea. In fact, practicing ahead of time usually backfires — when you try to take the test in a certain way, the answers may be inconsistent and make you appear to have more problems than you actually do. So, it's important to relax and respond to the questions honestly and naturally.
Remember, psychological testing and assessment is nothing to fear. It's not something you need to study for. Rather, it's an opportunity for me to determine the best way to help you.