We often receive inquiries about cognitive assessments for children. We tried to answer some of the main questions that parents have about these assessments.

The point of cognitive assessments is to determine the relative strengths and weaknesses of students while determining their problem-solving skills, time-management skills, verbal abilities, memory, among other cognitive abilities.

Who might benefit from a cognitive assessment?

  • Learning difficulty or disability:Students who have difficulty performing on their grade level (reading, writing, math), have difficulty remembering, paying attention or staying organized, and have poor coordination will benefit from cognitive assessments to examine a possibility of having a learning difficulty or disability.
  • Intellectual Giftedness:Students who perform above their grade’s average (math, reading), exhibit superior judgement and reasoning skills, and advanced abstract and critical thinking can be tested for intellectual giftedness.
  • Intellectual difficulty or disability:Children who demonstrate slow mastery of tasks such as potty training, dressing and feeding themselves, difficulty remembering things and connecting actions with consequences will benefit from having a cognitive assessment to determine an intellectual difficulty or disability.

What is the benefit of a cognitive assessment?

  • Cognitive assessments help identifying the most effective learning methods for students. Teachers can modify the curriculum to meet the needs of every student, regardless of the student’s weaknesses, limitations, and strengths. Theresults of these tests can also help developing the Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for students.
  • Cognitive assessments are also used to determine whether a student can skip a grade or can start kindergarten earlier.
  • Bilingual and trilingual children and immigrant children, whose first language is not English or French, might face difficulty in school. Cognitive assessments for these children can help rule out learning disabilities, identify strengths, and provide recommendations for teachers as how to help the students perform their best.

What is the procedure?

  • Cognitive assessments require the administration of standardized psychometric tools by accredited psychologists.
  • Cognitive assessments often take between 3 to 4 hours, which can be done in more than one day.
  • The psychologist administers a series of tests to assess various areas of cognitive capacity, such as verbal comprehension, visual spatial, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.
  • A final report that includes the diagnosis [if needed] and recommendations for school, college/university, or workplace will be provided.

Is it covered by insurance?

You will be provided with a receipt for psychology, which most insurance companies accept. It is up to you to verify with your insurance to ensure the percentage and/or amount of coverage.

Assessment Tools at Montreal Art Therapy Centre

There are various cognitive assessment tools that are used for various purposes and age groups. Currently, we are using the following assessment tool:

Weschsler Intelligence Scales for Children- Fifth Ediction (WISC-V, Canadian Standard) for children aged 6- 16 years.

 

You can contact us via info@montrealarttherapy.comor by phone at 514-999-3414 for an initial consultation with our school psychologist.

 

By: Reyhane Namdari