Psychological Testing and Assessment 

The purpose of psychological testing and assessment includes measuring one's level of functioning in various cognitive domains, evaluating one's cognitive potential or deficits, identifying one's strengths and weaknesses, and finding solutions or accommodations to the challenges one may experience at home, school, work, or in society.

Psychological assessment typically integrates psychological and cognitive test results with the client's developmental, psychiatric, medical, educational, and occupational history, as well as their family history, social environment, and behavioral observations.

Dr. Kan offers the following evaluations:  

• Cognitive Ability and Learning Disability

• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Evaluation

• Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluation 

• Immigration Psychological Evaluation

• Psychological and emotional functioning 

• Neuropsychological functioning

* Dr. Kan does not offer forensic psychological evaluations or assessments for legal purposes, including child custody.  

Dr. Kan's assessment approach

Dr. Kan's approach to conducting psychological assessments is largely collaborative, strength-based, therapeutic, and culturally informed. She works closely with parents, teachers, and providers to obtain a more accurate picture of her client's history, signs, and symptoms. In addition to diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, Dr. Kan's goals in psychological assessments are to bring new insight into the client's problems and to foster positive changes in clients. She also focuses on the client's strengths to increase their self-esteem and to use their strengths to overcome their limitations. 

Additionally, Dr. Kan is mindful of her patient's socio-cultural background and is sensitive to diversity consideration. Being bilingual in English and Chinese, she also conducts assessments in Cantonese and Mandarin. Dr. Kan utilizes standardized and norm-based tests as well as non-standardized tests when appropriate. Her treatment recommendations are typically realistic and practical, with relevant resources in the community or in the school systems in mind.

What does a typical psychological assessment involve? 

The assessment process generally involves: 

1) a detailed clinical interview

2) records review (if any)

3) behavioral observations

4) test administrations 

5) self-report or informant-report questionnaires or rating scales

6) scoring and interpretation of test results and rating scales

7) report-writing 

8) a feedback session with the client

Depending on the referral question(s) and the nature of the psychological assessment, collateral interviews and classroom observations may also be conducted. 

Test administrations for a comprehensive evaluation may require several sessions to complete. After administrating and scoring the tests and questionnaires, the testing psychologist has to interpret the results while integrating them with history and behavioral observation. The psychologist will then generate a hypothesis to answer the referral question(s) or explain specific challenges. In the assessment report, the testing psychologist will provide recommendations and/or accommodations at school or work. 

What are some common referral questions?