What are psychological assessments?
What are the benefits?
There are a huge range of benefits to undertaking and understanding the outcome of a psychological assessment. People are able to find out the reason for the types of difficulties that they are experiencing. They are then able to access appropriate and effective ways to help them overcome difficulties. These can take a number of forms, whether in the workplace or a learning environment: specialist tuition, extra time, use of PC and reader in exams, specialist software, eye tests etc. Dr Howells will make recommendations, using up to date, evidence-based interventions, which reflect current best practice, and which are well supported by the research literature.
Equally importantly, many individuals report increased confidence and self- esteem. They feel able to move forward and are more at ease once they have an understanding of their condition.
Throughout the assessment process, you are treated with the utmost respect. You will be clearly and gently guided through the tests, will have everything explained to you, are encouraged to ask questions and are reassured that it’s quite normal to feel anxious before the assessment. Some people find it a daunting prospect but, once complete, agree that the benefits far outweigh the anxiety.
Many find the knowledge that they are not alone and that there are many others in a similar position very helpful.
What are psychological assessments?
Who needs an assessment?
There is no specific definition. It may be someone who has struggled with aspects of literacy throughout education; someone who has trouble with attention, focus, concentration, handwriting or maths; they may have difficulty with reading comprehension and retaining information, not completing exams in time allowed, falling behind with work, missing deadlines, being disorganised in general or experience problems with fine and gross motor skills.
Friends, parents, previous teachers, family members or employers may all suspect the person has an SpLD – and they are often correct.
Quite often, family members will also have an SpLD as there’s a strong genetic component and people often self-refer on this basis.
Some people may feel that they work very hard but that their results don’t reflect this. They may be feeling frustrated with many aspects of work or study – some want to ‘know what is happening’ to them and want an explanation. Many people tell us that they know what they want to say in their written work but find that they are not able to get it down on paper or a computer.
What are psychological assessments?
What do individuals get out of it?
Perhaps most important, you get the opportunity to reflect on and to talk through your difficulties with an expert practitioner Psychologist who will listen to you.
Following the assessment, you will have a profile of your strong and weak areas. You will be advised on what all these mean in terms of education or employment. You receive a detailed set of recommendations to remedy any weaknesses and/or significant under-achievements so that you can improve your skills.
The assessment report also includes a set of well- researched websites offering further resources and information, plus appropriate reading suggestions. You will get a detailed, user-friendly report which will enable you to access help and support whether in the workplace or in a learning environment.
Some of the report is technical (by its nature) but the practitioner Psychologist will take time and care to explain anything you may not understand. Often a discussion will centre around what the results may mean for your future studies or career path.
Those completing an assessment very often describe a strong sense of relief at knowing they are intellectually capable and that the problems they’ve been experiencing are not due to them being ‘thick’ but to SpLD. The knowledge that they can improve and learn to manage their SpLD can be extremely liberating for people.
What are psychological assessments?
Why is an assessment useful?
An assessment can be useful in all sorts of ways. For students, it can secure support (specialist tuition, extra time in exams, use of a pc or a reader in exams, a lap top with specialist software, etc.). Some may also be referred on for associated issues e.g. visual stress test or to other health professionals.
Students about to start university can be assessed and apply for the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) which funds the types of things listed above. Many appreciate being able to get ahead of things and apply in advance of their course starting so that they are familiar with the software etc.
Some people want to know what their strengths are, which can be helpful in choosing courses or careers.
Others want to know what their strengths/weaknesses are and to find ways to overcome difficulties. They may want to improve their skills in certain areas such as memory, revision etc.
In employment, assessments help secure reasonable workplace adjustments. This supports both the employee and the employer and enables the person to work more effectively. The outcome ensures the employee is better supported and it’s possible that some roles could be adapted to make them more manageable or accessible.
What are psychological assessments?
Who might need an assessment?
Assessments can be extremely useful for all sorts of people.
Anyone who has a prior (childhood) diagnosis of a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) and applies for College or University will be told that an updatedassessment is required by a recognised assessor like our Psychologists. This is needed to enable the student to access help, support, tuition, extra time in exams and specialist software in their studies.
Other students who have never been assessed before may speak to friends at College or University who have a diagnosis of SpLD and realise the symptoms/difficulties refer to them also.
For some, they find that once at University, they ‘hit a cliff’ in terms of the demands on their reading and writing (etc) skills and for the first time, may start falling behind.
They might hear about dyslexia from talks by the College/University and when the symptoms or typical difficulties are described, they think ‘that’s me’ and start to wonder if they might be affected.
Some students who have sailed through school with relatively few problems find some aspects of studying at University or College more challenging or difficult. They may find it hard to keep up with note taking in lectures, to stay on top of reading, to remember or take in information. Or, they may struggle with completing exams in the time allowed.
Some individuals have focus, concentration and attention problems. Some find maths difficult. Some find it just takes them a lot longer to complete work compared to their peers. These students often ‘self-refer’ themselves for an assessment and are immensely relived to receive a diagnosis which can set them on the path to addressing their specific needs.
Some ‘mature’ students – often in their 20’s, 30s and 40s and beyond – may have struggled at school, being labelled ‘lazy’ or ‘thick’ by teachers. They consequently suffer lack of confidence and self-esteem. They may have had to re- take exams and work extra hard in comparison to their peers. They may have experienced failures in their previous education and may have trouble passing assignments or exams and have to re-submit work. Academic staff from College or University often refer them to us, where assessment reveals they are very often SpLD, not ‘thick’ or ‘lazy’ at all.
For some, parents and teachers may have pushed for the student to be assessed when they were at school but lack of funding support means it just didn’t happen. Universities and Colleges are obliged to identify and make provision for students with SpLD.
For those in employment, there are different scenarios. They may experience difficulty in the workplace – perhaps with aspects of literacy, time management or organisational skills – and seek assessment so that appropriate workplace adjustments can be made. They may have an earlier diagnosis but want an updated assessment or their employer might request one.
Some employers may suspect an employee has SpLD and will refer them to be assessed so that they can support them more effectively at work. Funding is available via the government to pay for workplace adjustments.
For those about to take professional exams/qualifications, (e.g. police, armed forces or nursing) some might struggle with reading questions or completing exams within the time allowed. They may be told they need a full assessment by Registered Psychologist and will enquire with us. Very often they will meet the criteria, allowing extra time to be put in place and, for some, the use of a PC too.
Under the Equality Act (2010) it is against the law for an employer to discriminate against you because of a disability. Specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia are included as disabilities in the workplace and the law protects you in many areas of employment from recruitment procedures to promotion.
All employers have a duty to make ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ to prevent you from being disadvantaged at work.
Psychology4education assessment reports fully comply with the requirements of the law and up to date guidelines.
What are psychological assessments?
What does an assessment involve?
Psychological assessments involve Standardised tests which relate an individual’s performance on a given test to other people of the same age. The purpose of it is to establish how a person’s performance (on tests) compares to what would be expected (or predicted) for a person of their age and intellectual ability. P4E uses a combination of standardised assessments, psychometric assessment tools, parent questionnaires, teacher and school questionnaires, parent / teacher ratings and self-report measures. These enable Dr Howells to gather a wide range of information, in cognition and learning, sensory & physical skills, social, emotional & mental health, and communication & interaction.
The tests are widely recognised, well researched and approved by the Specific Learning Difficulty Working Party Guidelines.
A typical assessment includes a mixture of discussion plus diagnostic and attainment assessments.
Dr Howells will ask about your/your child’s educational history, work history (if relevant), medical conditions, family history of specific learning difficulties, reasons for the assessment and current difficulties.
If it’s a workplace assessment, Dr Howells will ask questions about the person’s role and go into detail over this.
You will be asked, in advance of the assessment, to fill out a detailed questionnaire covering your/your child’s background history. Dr Howells will go through this with you. This helps Dr Howells to understand your/your child’s difficulties.
Dr Howells will answer any questions you have before starting the assessment and work hard to establish a good relationship so that you feel relaxed.
Typical tests involve different activities for solving problems and puzzles – some use words, others use pictures and patterns. All the tests are introduced with practice items. Testing will start at easy levels so that people experience success. The tests are not like an exam, although some include paper and pencil exercises.
Dr Howells does not mind at all if the person/child wants to have a drink with them during the assessment (non-alcoholic!) and some people like to eat sweets to help keep their blood sugar levels up. Toilet breaks are allowed during the assessment but Dr Howells does ask that mobiles are switched off.