Psychological Testing
Psychological testing provides you with a way of defining and measuring a specific clinical concept such as intelligence, ADHD or depression. It tells the clinician what it is they are giving a clinical label
to based on the way an individual responds to a specific set of questions or tasks at their age at the time they are tested. Performance on tasks that gradually increase in difficulty from one item to the next tells us the individual can solve capable they are of doing similar tasks. The tasks may be verbal, visual, require a motor response or may be timed to assess processing speed. Some tests require one to report on how they feel or behave, or their preferences. Psychological evaluations can shed light on learning and memory problems, personality functioning and behavior disorders. We can identify strengths and weaknesses to recommend remedial techniques to promote change and encourage growth. We can use psychological evaluations to diagnose an emotional or behavioral disorder in order to make recommendations for treatment and/or environmental accommodations, such as extended time for standardized testing or entrance into a private school.
Psychological evaluation or assessment can reveal whether someone is prepared and competent to defend themselves in court or to make decisions to undergo surgery, such as bariatric surgery. We can determine if someone has intellectual challenges or social skill deficits as seen in Autism. Psychological testing can help to identify an individual’s level of self-esteem, anxiety, depression, compulsiveness and perfectionistic tendencies. We can identify whether an adult is fit for duty as an employee or as a parent. We can identify one’s executive functions (i.e. the ability to plan, organize, shift attention, regulate mood, and remember). An individual’s level of motivation, impulsiveness, attention deficits and loss of control over emotions, such as in mood disorders (e.g., bi-polar disorder) can be revealed through psychological testing.
Psychological assessment can reveal how well someone perceives reality. It can reveal whether their thinking is logical or disordered, confused, grandiose or paranoid. Psychological testing can diagnose eating disorders, substance abuse, addiction, phobias and fears. We can identify personality disorders in which an individual’s personality development has become arrested.
Sometimes psychological testing is requested by a family member. Other times, testing is required by the courts. Still other times, testing is required by an individual’s physician and/or insurance company for medical clearance or to assist in diagnosis for medical treatment.problems at that level or below. That, in turn, tells us how
TYPES OF ASSESSMENT
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Psycho-Educational Testing for Learning Disabilities
- Assessment of Under-achievement
- Motivational Problems
- Memory and Cognition
- Private School Entry
- Gifted and Talented
- Executive Function Disorders
- Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
- Forensic Evaluations for Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- Psychological Evaluation for Juvenile Court
- Fitness for Duty
- Differential Diagnosis
- Parental Stress
- Parental Competence
- Personality
- Cognitive Strengths and Weaknesses
Your referral questions will be answered using techniques, tests and instruments with proven validity and reliability.
Recommendations will be offered to assist you or your child\student in your or their treatment, remediation, and accommodations. Dr. Kovner’s recommendations have helped many others to achieve their academic and career goals. Reports are generally ready in two weeks after the last day of testing.
Testing appointments can be made on weekends and during holidays so that you or your child will not miss school or you won’t miss work.
Call for an appointment for an initial interview at (770) 312-2319.