What Can I Expect When I get a Psycho-educational Assessment?

What can I expect from a psychoeducational assessment?

A psych ed assessment is a process that generally takes between 6 to 8 weeks. Although the process may vary, an assessment typically involves the following stages:

  1. Initial meeting with a psychologist – during this initial meeting, consent and other paperwork are reviewed, and you discuss concerns, your general history, education experience, and other relevant strengths and challenges.
  2. Testing – these in-person sessions can range significantly depending on the questions asked and the assessment plan. Typically, 4 to 6 hours of testing is conducted over several sessions. These tests involve multiple assessment methods such as pencil/paper activities, verbal response items and the use of manipulatives (blocks).
  3. Often the psychologist will have questionnaires and additional forms for you to complete as a different way of understanding strengths and needs.
  4. Report development – The psychologist summarizes the results, makes interpretations, and provides recommendations in a comprehensive report. You get a copy of this report at the end of the assessment process.
  5. Feedback – Once the testing and report writing is completed, you meet with the psychologist to discuss results. It is important to use this opportunity to ask questions and make sure that you have a good understanding of the results and recommendations. If you’re not sure – ask!

What is the cost of a psychoeducational assessment?

In Alberta, the cost of a psychoeducational assessment can vary depending on the agency/professional providing the service. Alberta psychologists typically work within a $200-$250 per hour rate. The number of hours per assessment again depends on the questions being asked. In general, assessments can take between 10-15 hours. Several agencies work on a sliding scale or can provide subsidies for assessment services. In addition, third-party insurance companies will often cover part or all of the assessment. Check with your third-party insurance provider for details.
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AGM and Volunteer Award 2021

Join CanLearn for our AGM and Volunteer Award.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

via Zoom Online Meeting

AGM Agenda 6:00 – 6:40 PM

  • Agenda and 2020 Minutes
  • Board Chair and CEO Reports
  • Treasurer’s Report and approval of audited financial statements for 2020 – 2021
  • Appointment of the auditor for 2021-22
  • Nomination of the Slate of Board Candidates
  • Ratifying Acts of the Directors and Officers of the Society
  • Thank you to Retiring Board Members

 

Volunteer Award 6:40 – 7:00 PM

  • Presentation of CanLearn’s Carolyn Meier Helping Hand Award Winner for 2021

 

Please RSVP your attendance to:

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How to Help Your Loved One with ADHD

FREE Live and Interactive Webinar: How to Help Your Loved One with ADHD

Are you in a relationship with someone with ADHD or have a family member with ADHD? In this webinar, you will learn about what ADHD is and how to support someone who has it. The more you know about ADHD, the easier it will be to see how it affects their lives and relationships and how best to help and support them.

In this live and interactive webinar, participants can expect to receive information in the first half of the session. The second half is devoted to discussion, collaboration amongst participants, and an opportunity to continue discussions and support following the webinar.

The information portion of the webinar is recorded and available on our website.

Date: Tuesday, Nov 30

Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm

Cost: FREE

Speaker: Catherine Masou, MSc., Registered Psychologist

 

Support Groups

Are you an adult or a family who is experiencing challenges with ADHD? We invite you to join our bi-weekly support groups!

Every other week we will be available for you to drop in and receive support on all things ADHD and your emotional well-being.

Be a part of a supportive community of other adults with ADHD. There is no commitment. Come when you want. It’s free, and it’s for a limited time.

Date: Every other Thursday, until mid-January 2022

Time: 5:00 to 6:30 PM

Cost: Free

Facilitator: Laura Godfrey, AAC, ACC, CACP

Why a Psycho-educational Assessment?

Why would my child or I need a psychoeducational assessment?

Psych ed assessments are done to answer specific questions such as, “does my child have a learning disability?” or “do I have an attention disorder” or “does my child’s anxiety come from an underlying difficulty with reading?”.

Typically, an area of difficulty is noticed by you, a caregiver, or a teacher. Challenges academically may also become apparent when a caregiver receives report cards for their child. A psych ed assessment may also be helpful when a teacher or caregiver notices a child has significant anxiety regarding academics, has difficulty paying attention in class, is acting out, or has difficulty connecting with others or the teacher in class.
 

Interested in getting started?

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What is a Psycho-educational Assessment?

Is your child falling behind in reading, writing or math? Maybe your child’s teacher has mentioned that they are not meeting grade-level expectations in their class. Academic difficulties can happen for many reasons and can lead to a child feeling anxious, frustrated, or different from their classmates.

The good news is that some strategies and supports can be put in place no matter your child’s age. In fact, many adults discover learning challenges in university and the workplace. For strategies and intervention services to be most useful, it’s important to understand an individual’s strengths and where they may need more support.
 

What is a psychoeducational assessment?
 
One way of figuring out your or your child’s strengths and areas of need is through a psycho-educational assessment (or psych ed). A psych ed assessment is a standardized assessment of a person’s intellectual abilities and academic skills.

Standardized means that a person’s results are compared to others their age to determine if they are below, at, or above the expected or average range. A typical psych ed assessment involves measuring how a person reasons for different information, how quickly they process information, and their reading, writing, and math skills.

A psych ed also assesses a person’s oral language, executive functioning, social-emotional functioning, and memory abilities. Depending on the area(s) of concern, the psychologist will create a plan for the assessment. An assessment may involve testing just a few areas listed above (academics and intellect) or may involve a more comprehensive assessment (memory, executive functioning, social-emotion, intellect, and academics).
 

Interested in getting started?

Find out more here.