Assessments
The first step to treating a problem is understanding it. Assessments are the way that we do just that. An assessment is a tool used to evaluate the issues an individual is experiencing, potentially leading to a diagnosis, recommendations for improvement, or to inform treatment.
Assessments may consist of many parts, such as:
Taking the clinical history
Reviewing medical and/or school records
Consulting with family members, teachers, physicians, or healthcare providers
Administering questionnaires
Conducting clinical interviews
Administering psychometric testing
Writing reports
Below is a list of some of the more common types of assessments we provide.
Psychological Assessment
A psychological assessment evaluates an individual’s emotional, social, and personality functioning. An assessment may lead to a diagnosis of a psychological disorder and can help explain behaviour and day-to-day functioning. This type of assessment is useful for individuals who are experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, behaviour changes, pain management needs, difficulty coping, and/or adapting to change. Each psychological assessment will look different based on what questions an individual may have. Sometimes, we are asked to document how a person’s life has changed after a serious accident or workplace injury. Other times, we are asked to help our client better understand symptoms they are experiencing and develop a treatment program. All psychological assessments at Brainworks are completed by psychologists who are regulated and practice under the jurisdiction of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO).
Neurocognitive Assessment
A neurocognitive assessment is focused on cognitive (mental) functioning such as attention, memory, language, visuospatial ability, reasoning, and executive functions. Cognitive strengths and needs are identified, and recommendations are made which can help meet goals at school, work, or for rehabilitation purposes. This type of assessment can be beneficial for individuals experiencing a change in thinking skills after an injury or trauma. This assessment is chosen when a general assessment of cognitive functioning is required to help guide treatment. This assessment is made up of various tasks designed to measure different thinking skills. This might include working with puzzles or blocks, remembering numbers or words, copying pictures, or putting stories in order. Cognitive strengths and needs are identified, and treatment recommendations are made to help optimize mental functioning. All neurocognitive assessments at Brainworks are completed by neuropsychologists who are regulated and practice under the jurisdiction of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO).
Neuropsychological Assessment
A neuropsychological assessment is an in-depth assessment of skills and abilities related to brain functioning. This evaluation provides information regarding the intellectual, neurocognitive, and psychological functioning of an individual. This type of assessment is useful for individuals experiencing concerns with their thinking skills, often following serious injury, other trauma, or aging. In its most general form, this assessment comprises the neurocognitive and psychological assessments (as described above) along with a few additional considerations. Neuropsychological assessments may lead to a diagnosis of a psychological and/or neurocognitive disorder, they may point to a probable brain injury, and can also help identify the cause of cognitive difficulties. Neuropsychological assessments can range from general to comprehensive, depending on client need. The comprehensive assessment delves further into neuropsychological functioning to ensure that more nuanced aspects are assessed. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessments also address concepts typically required in medical legal evaluations, including causality, future care needs, threshold, etc. All neuropsychological assessments at Brainworks are completed by neuropsychologists who are regulated and practice under the jurisdiction of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO).
Psychoeducational Assessment
A psychoeducational assessment focuses on the identification of learning challenges in students of all ages. These assessments may result in a diagnosis of a learning disability and are an important step to unlocking funding support and gaining access to school accommodations and modifications, such as an Individual Education Plan (IEP). A psychoeducational assessment is useful for students struggling with performance and/or behaviour at school. Our psychoeducational assessment involves multiple visits to our office for a clinical interview, face-to-face testing sessions, and a report share meeting with parents and the student, when appropriate. The assessment identifies areas of strength and weakness in a student’s learning profile and provides a deeper understanding of their educational abilities. It can also identify learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and other mental health issues that can interfere with learning. A psychoeducational assessment diagnoses the root cause of a student’s academic or behavioural issues and identifies a plan for solving the problem. All psychoeducational assessments at Brainworks are completed or overseen by psychologists who are regulated and practice under the jurisdiction of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO).
Assessment of Attention-Related Difficulties
An assessment of attention-related difficulties evaluates attentional skills, concentration, self-regulation, organization, and impulse control with the goal of formally establishing or ruling out the presence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This assessment is useful for individuals experiencing restlessness, impulsiveness, and trouble focusing. Our assessment for attention-related difficulties measures whether an individual can sustain their attention over a period of time. We use continuous performance tests that include repetitive tasks. Attention difficulties can be caused by many factors such as stress, depression, or lifestyle factors, and an assessment for attention-related difficulties, including ADHD, can help tease out the cause of the concern. This assessment can be completed in conjunction with a psychoeducational assessment (typically for children) or be accessed as a standalone assessment (typically for adults). All assessments of attention-related difficulties at Brainworks are completed or overseen by psychologists who are regulated and practice under the jurisdiction of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO).
Giftedness Assessment
A giftedness assessment focuses on determining whether a child is functioning above the expectations of their age group and is used to determine if the child may benefit from enrichment, modified curriculum expectations, and a more rigorous academic pace. A giftedness assessment is useful for children who may need a greater challenge in their schooling. Some typical signs that a child may be gifted include reaching developmental milestones early, boredom, attention problems, unusual interests, and unusual social behaviours. Giftedness Assessments at Brainworks consist of IQ testing, achievement testing, a clinical interview, and a report. Although not a diagnosis, giftedness can be identified through intellectual testing (typically defined as an overall IQ score above the 98th percentile); some school boards require academic achievement scores as part of the assessment process as well. All giftedness assessments at Brainworks are completed or overseen by psychologists who are regulated and practice under the jurisdiction of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO).
Eligibility Assessment for Developmental Services
An eligibility assessment is used to determine whether an individual qualifies for disability benefits through Developmental Services of Ontario (DSO). This assessment is useful for adults who have difficulties living independently and issues in areas such as language, learning, and personal care. An eligibility assessment includes a file review, IQ testing, an adaptive functioning assessment, a clinical interview, feedback to the client, and provision of a written assessment report. All eligibility assessments at Brainworks are completed or overseen by psychologists who are regulated and practice under the jurisdiction of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO).
We’re Here to Help
If you need any clarification on any of our services, our intake team is happy to review options with you and get you any answers you may need to help you make your decision. Completing our intake form will help us help you pick the right place to start. Please feel free to phone our intake team at 1-877-421-7575 ext. 0 or email us at intake@brainworksrehab.com.