What are Speech Pathology and Psychological Assessment Tests and why do we need them?

The thought of Speech Pathology Psychological Assessment tests can instill anxiety in some people. Parents or carers can worry that a psychological appraisal will reveal serious mental issues.

For most, however, they are a useful and constructive tool. Tests like these go a long way towards painting an accurate picture of the subject’s overall development.

Assessment tests are generally carried out to:

• Measure different aspects of the subject’s current capabilities. These should cross a range of intelligence, learning or capability issues.
• Establish benchmarks for exploring learning, referral, treatment, or psychological strategies.

Universal Standards
Assessments and tests come in a variety of formats. They’re based on universal standards, some of which have been used and refined over many years. They’re applied to different situations and personalities, depending on the issue.

All begin with gathering a detailed history. The history provides a backdrop to the more clinical tests our psychologists conduct. It gives a measured indication of the subject’s developmental progress or needs.

Lewis & Lewis conducts assessments and tests in these fields:

• Education. Educational ability assessments are one of the most frequent tests we conduct. We use them to answer parents’ and schools’ concerns for children with potential learning difficulties.
• Giftedness. Much attention is rightly given to children with delayed or impaired learning ability. At the opposite end of the scale are children whose cognitive function has accelerated beyond the norm.
• Learning difficulties and dyslexia. These are also common tests for children with reading and comprehension issues.
• Speech and language. Our speech pathologists and psychologists apply these tests to isolate speech problems from intelligence issues.
• Autism. Psychological assessments can also help around a diagnosis of autism.
• Employment solutions. Our tests provide employers and employees with valuable career information and options.

What kinds of tests do we use?
We use only assessment tests and tools that respected, international psychology authorities endorse.

Broadly, these involve tests based on psychometrics, the science behind psychological testing and evaluation. Psychometrics involves observing and measuring individual performance against a normative or control group.

The primary tests we use are based on internationally recognised standards. Noted US psychologist and researcher, David Wechsler, developed his famous intelligence scales over 40 years.

The four main tests we use are:

• Wechsler adult intelligence scale – 4^th edition (WAIS-IV)
• Wechsler intelligence scale for children – 4^th edition (WISC-IV)
• Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence – 3^rd edition (WPPSI- III)
• Wechsler individual achievement test – 2^nd edition (WIAT-II)

These tests are designed to measure cognitive function. It’s often known as‘intelligence quota’ or IQ.

Why carry out Psychological Assessments?
Everyone develops in different ways and at a unique pace. But most people expand their cognitive function (the ability to gather and retain knowledge) within standard norms.

Testing or assessing for cognitive function helps measure delayed or uneven cognitive development. Far from finding fault, psychological assessments are scientific and non-judgmental.

Assessments don’t rely on observations or the word of the subject. Instead they measure characteristics that can’t be readily seen. Psychologists and statisticians call them latent variables.

They help specialists, parents and subjects compare actual capabilities against potential, using defined tasks or problem solving models. This way psychological development can be accurately gauged. Once measured, strategies for change or improvement can emerge.

What is an IQ test?
People often ask ‘what is an IQ test?’ IQ is an abbreviation for intelligence quota.

IQ tests used to measure children’s ability to learn and retain information. They identified the intellectual levels of school-aged children. The purpose was to ‘stream’ them towards preferred educational resources.

Today, IQ tests apply more to adults. They measure their mental potential against other adults like themselves taking the same test. They also remove or allow for cultural bias.

IQ tests are particularly useful for identifying a person’s vocational or further educational possibilities.

Emotional intelligence
Another frequently asked question is ‘what is emotional intelligence? Although some controversy surrounds the issue, current thinking supports the Salovey and Mayer model.

This model proposes four elements of emotional intelligence. They are:

• Perception—identifying feelings in the self and others
• Use—harnessing emotions to activities to achieve desired outcomes
• Comprehension—understanding the difference between types of emotions and how they change
• Management—regulating and controlling emotions in the self and others

What to do now
Psychological assessment is a complex area. It can cause distress unless handled carefully by experienced professionals.

Call Lewis & Lewis on (03) 9380 5742 to find out the facts on Assessment Tests.