Types of Psychological Testing
A better understanding of behavior and present functioning can help your treatment team identify your strengths and build a plan that works for you.
Psychological testing is not a single test. There are many research-backed tests and procedures used to assess specific aspects of a person’s psychological makeup.
Prairie View utilizes psychological testing most commonly under the following circumstances:
- Concern about dementia. This testing includes a comprehensive assessment of immediate and delayed memory, language, attention, concentration, visuospatial skills, mental processing speed and executive functioning.
- Concern about a head injury or stroke. Cognitive and psychological evaluation for traumatic brain injury/stroke includes thorough evaluation of executive functioning, immediate and delayed memory, sensorimotor deficits, visuospatial skills, language, attention, concentration and psychological profile.
- Concerns about a loved one’s safety behind the wheel. Driving capacity evaluations including determination of driving capacity through an assessment of vision, divided attention, processing speed and reaction time.
Other types of psychological testing include driving capacity evaluations and academic testing.
Driving Capacity Evaluation
Physical disabilities, mental illness, medications, loss of vision or frailty can end anyone’s driving career prematurely. Not being able to drive is a hassle, but remember that safety is the most important issue — not just your safety, but the safety of others on the road. Prairie View’s Driving Capacity Evaluation is a brief outpatient screening evaluation that can be helpful in identifying the potential of a serious driving problem. The interview and Useful Field of View test measures attention/concentration and visual processing speed, determines the ability to react to information in a timely manner, and assesses the risk of having an accident due to impairment in these areas.
Academic Testing
An academic assessment is designed to clarify problem areas and strengths for students to determine if a different teaching approach may be more helpful in their learning. These assessments are most helpful when there are specific problems with attention, reading, writing, or math that are not explained by a lack of educational opportunity or intelligence.