As the only professionals who receive extensive training in psychological and cognitive testing, psychologists are in a unique position to provide a proper and thorough evaluation and ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Psychological testing is useful for diagnosis of a psychiatric or mental condition, especially when there is a great deal of overlap of symptoms between disorders. Other mental health professionals may request psychological testing to aid in diagnosis or treatment planning. It is a shorter process than neuropsychological testing, but also relies upon paper-pencil and computerized tests. Psychological testing will examine the following:
- Intellectual functioning/IQ
- Academic achievement
- Attention and concentration
- Mood
- Behavior
- Social functioning
- Personality, or emerging personality, traits
Psychological testing may include evaluation of ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and other conditions, but also evaluation of depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and behavioral disorders.
Psychological testing may require between 2 to 6 hours of assessment as well as a feedback session to review your results. Dr. Daniel is able to provide psychological testing for adolescents and adults; results can be helpful in determining necessity for educational planning (i.e., IEP or 504 accommodations); assessing need for psychiatric medication; aiding in treatment planning for therapy and counseling services.
Autism spectrum disorder testing may include use of the ADOS-2, GARS-3, ADI-R, and CARS-2, most of which insurance companies require prior to approval of services such as ABA. Neurologists and pediatricians may be able to complete basic screening forms for ASD but are generally not trained or experienced with standardized tests such as the ADOS-2 or ADI-R.