Psychological / Diagnostic Assessment

A psychological or diagnostic assessment involves examining the specific characteristics of the disorder as well as alternative or concurrent symptoms. Mental health history and current behaviours/concerns are reviewed, and a variety of measures are administered to determine a diagnosis. Possible components of the assessment include:

• Mental Health: assessment of anxiety and depression relative to age- and gender-matched peers, other mental health concerns, and emotional status;
• Sensory Screen: to gather information around sensory seeking and avoiding behaviours and specific sensory concerns (and may result in referral for an OT consultation);
• Disorder-specific: assessing characteristics of the disorder
• Intellectual/Cognitive: assesses intellectual abilities; specifically, verbal and perceptual processing abilities;
• Academic: provides information about individual academic level overall, and grade equivalents in reading math, spelling and comprehension;
• Memory and attention: examines ability to remember or recognize information in short- and long-term memory, as well as working memory, and determines an individual’s ability to attend;
• Functional: assessment of functional abilities or daily living skills, with suggestions for areas in need of development;
• Executive Functioning: examines ability to plan, initiate, organize activities and tasks, initiate and self-monitor, and regulate behaviour and emotion;