What is the Process of Psychological Testing?
Have you ever wondered about the benefits of psychological and neuropsychological testing?
Maybe you've recently suffered from a traumatic brain injury, or you're noticing symptoms of memory loss or confusion in your life or that of a loved one.
Perhaps you've been diagnosed with a learning disorder or disability and want to understand your condition more extensively.
Or, you might be sensing that you're struggling with your cognitive functioning and don’t know why.
If any of these scenarios resonate with you, you may be ready to seek the support of psychological testing. If you aren’t sure yet what that means or if it is the right path for you, we are here to help guide you in the right direction.
Psychological testing is not a one-size-fits-all process. There are various types of psychological testing, each designed to measure different aspects of your mental health and cognitive abilities. These can range from achievement and ability tests to aptitude testing and intelligence tests. Each test serves a unique purpose in the assessment process, providing a comprehensive understanding of your mental health and cognitive abilities.
The testing process is a journey of self-discovery. It involves a series of steps, starting with the administration of the tests by a trained test administrator. These professionals are skilled in ensuring that the testing process is conducted accurately and ethically. They administer a variety of tests, each designed to measure specific aspects of your mental health and cognitive abilities.
At Insight Northwest Counseling, we have an incredible and highly experienced team of mental healthcare providers who are eager to help you in your journey to mental health and wellness.
We offer psychological testing for conditions such as:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADHD
Bipolar Disorder
Brain Injuries
Memory Disorders like Alzheimer’s
Anxiety and Depression
Intellectual Disabilities
Schizophrenia
Addiction or Substance Abuse Issues
Personality Disorders
Neurocognitive Disorders
Our team, including licensed clinical psychologists, continues to expand to provide full-spectrum care, no matter your circumstances or mental health needs.
Why You Might Want to Seek Psychological Testing
While many individuals seeking neuropsychological testing are referred by a doctor or other health care provider as a result of an event or traumatic brain injury, there are other circumstances or conditions that could benefit from these extensive assessments as well. Neuropsychological testing gives you the opportunity to not only understand the capacity in which you are functioning in your life, but the reason behind it as well. This type of testing can be particularly beneficial for those dealing with mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder or a personality disorder.
The Purpose of Testing
Neuropsychological testing serves many purposes.
Some of the most common are to:
extensively evaluate an individual’s strengths and weaknesses in their daily life and experience
get a better understanding of the capacity at which the individual is functioning
assess how much change incurred as a result of an event or brain injury
identify what could be inhibiting their cognitive ability
obtain a more comprehensive diagnosis
These test results can be a critical part of the assessment process, helping to guide the treatment plan. Psychological assessments like these are a key part of the work done by organizations like ours here at Insight Northwest Counseling.
Who Can Benefit from Testing
Neuropsychological testing is used for the assessment of children, adolescents, and adults. As the needs for the assessment vary greatly, there is no age requirement or specific age group that benefits most from testing. For young children and adolescents who are receiving the assessment, it is common that their parent or guardian has noticed behaviors or challenges that are inhibiting their ability to thrive and seem to be unexplained. It is also common that teachers, coaches, mentors, or other school administrators have referred them for testing, to pinpoint a learning disability or neurodivergence that could be the cause of any challenges they are experiencing in the classroom setting.
The Process of Neuropsychological Testing
If you're considering neuropsychological testing, it's important to know that it's not a single test, but rather a series of multiple tests, each structured differently and serving different purposes. The testing process is unique for each person and is strategically built by your psychologist to optimize the process and best suit your needs.
Before the testing itself, you will meet with the psychologist for an intake interview. This interview allows your psychologist to evaluate your specific needs and determine the best process moving forward. Following that initial appointment, you would then schedule your testing for whatever day(s) work best for your schedule.
There are several common methods used to perform a neuropsychological evaluation:
Interviews
These can be Structured Clinical Interviews (SCID) or Clinical Diagnostic Interviews (CDI). SCID involves standardized, predetermined questions to ensure consistency with each patient being interviewed. CDI, on the other hand, involves a conversation between you and the psychologist, allowing for more detail and a deeper understanding from the dialogue and answers you provide.
Norm-referenced tests
These are standardized tests where your results are compared to that of the “standard” in the demographic or general population that you specifically fit into.
Behavioral Assessment
During this part of the evaluation, the psychologist observes your behavior, demeanor, language, etc. inside of the interviewing space and evaluates it as a component in their final report and conclusion.
Informal Assessment Procedures
These offer additional information to support formal test procedures and can include things such as school records, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), medical records, informal background questionnaires, portfolios, and personal documents.
In the testing process, you will likely be evaluated in core areas like intelligence, language processing, visual processing, attention/concentration, memory, executive functioning, and speed of mental processing. The psychologist will use a compilation of several testing methods to evaluate these core areas, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) for intelligence, the Boston Naming Test for language processing, and the Conners Continuous Performance Test, Third Edition (CPT 3) for attention/executive functioning, among others.
The testing process is tailored to your needs and can involve a variety of settings, from a formal psychological office to online therapy sessions. These psychological evaluations are a crucial psychological measure in understanding your mental health.
The Benefits of Testing
Whether you are seeking testing for a mental health condition, neurodivergence or to proceed with the necessary care after a brain injury or medical event, we want you to feel supported and comfortable. It is crucial to know that while the process can feel intimidating, the benefits of receiving the testing and report far outweigh the negative aspects and difficulty. With the help of neuropsychological assessments and evaluations, you can gain a deeper understanding of your cognitive functioning, learn about your personality strengths and weaknesses, and receive guidance on how to manage any learning disabilities or disorders you may have.
Get in Touch
As with anything related to mental health, seeking the support of a psychologist and neuropsychological assessment can feel intimidating, overwhelming, daunting, and even embarrassing. While it is all becoming far less stigmatized and misunderstood, there is still a long way to go in breaking down barriers and continuing the discussion openly.
With that said, we want to make the process of neuropsychological testing simple, accessible, and as stress-free as possible.
We encourage you to reach out to us for a consultation, and we look forward to supporting you in your journey towards mental health and wellness.