Understanding Psychological Reports

Resource Type

Parent Handouts and Info - Parent

Description

Understanding Psychological Reports parent handout

Ages

All Ages

Age Groups

Preschool/Kindergarten (3-5), School Age (6-12), Adolescence (13-21)

Web Address

http://resources.childhealthcare.org/cocoon/dtw/parent-text/adhd/adhd_understanding_psych_testing.html

Languages

English

Understanding Psychological Reports

Understanding Psychological Reports

Psychologists are trained to do intelligence and achievement testing. This type of testing can help diagnose learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, and can also help diagnose or further understand ADHD, depression, or anxiety. Psychologists may also directly assess for psychological problems, like ADHD, depression or anxiety. Psychologists write up reports that summarize their findings. Sometimes these reports seem like they are written in another language! You may find yourself asking "what is a t-score," or "what does the 60th percentile mean?" Often the language in these reports is only understood by other professionals. If you are having a hard time understanding terms in the report, you can use the data dictionary below to help. Also, you can ask the psychologist who did the report to go through it with you. Ask questions until you feel you understand the report. Your child's doctor may also be able to help you further understand the report.

Psychological report dictionary:

WISC WISC stands for Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. It is the most commonly used intelligence test with children in the United States. The average score on the WISC is 100. Most children get a score between 85 and 115. The WISC is commonly used in assessments for learning disorders and intellectual disabilities. It is also frequently used in assessments for other disorders, like ADHD and anxiety.

WIAT WIAT stands for the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test. It is the most commonly used achievement test in the United States. Like the WISC, the average score on the WIAT is 100. Most children get a score between 85 and 115. It is commonly used in assessments for learning disorders and can also be used in assessments for other disorders.

IQ IQ stands for intelligence quotient. The term IQ is commonly used when describing how someone did on an intelligence test.

Mean Mean is another word for the mathematical average. For instance, the mean score on intelligence tests is 100.

Standard Deviation A standard deviation explains how far a certain score is from the average score. In intelligence testing, the standard deviation is 15 and the average score is 100. If someone scored a 115 then their score is 1 standard deviation above the mean (15 points higher).

Standard scored A standard score is when scores from the result of a test are changed so that there is a specified mean (average). For instance, how many right answers a child got on an intelligence test is added up. Then scores are converted so that the average score for all children of the same age that took the test is 100 and the standard deviation is 15.

t-score A t-score is a special kind of standard score. To make a t-score, numbers are changed so that the mean (average) of all the scores is 50 and the standard deviation is 10. If a child has a t-score of 60, this means he/she got 10 points higher than the mean. Most children get t-scores between 40 and 60.

Percentile Percentile is a term used to explain the score a child got compared to other scores. For instance, if a child scored in the 65th percentile on an intelligence test this means his score was higher than 65% of other people who took the test.

Scaled scores A scaled score is when the score on a test is converted to a predetermined scale so that there can be comparison with others. For instance, the average for a group is scores is set to zero so it is easy to see how close to average a specific score it.

Subtest A subtest is part of a larger test, like an intelligence test. The WISC is made up of 10 subtests. Each of these subtests have different tasks for children to do, different directions, and produce different scores.

Composite scores A composite score is the result of scores from subtests being combined. For instance, on the WISC there are several subtests that look at a child's verbal comprehension. Scores from the subtests are combined to make a composite score.

Age Equivalent An Age Equivalent is a score that indicates how a child did compared to age groups. For instance, an age equivalent of 12 means a child got about the average score for a 12 year old. Age equivalents are often given on achievement tests in addition to grade equivalent (see below).

Grade Equivalent A Grade Equivalent is a score that indicates how a child did compared to groups of children in different grades. For instance, a grade equivalent of 4 means a child got about the average score for a child in the 4th grade.

Clinical range If a score is in the "clinical range," it suggests the child is having a problem in that area. For instance, if a score for depression is in the "clinical range" this suggests a child is feeling more depressed than other children his/her age. A t-score 65 or above is often considered in the "clinical range."

Structured interview A structured interview is part of a psychological assessment. Psychologists ask questions from a pre-determined script. They do not vary the questions for each different assessment.

Unstructured interview An unstructured interview is also part of a psychological assessment. During this part the psychologist asks questions that are not from a script. The psychologist may come up with different questions for each assessment.

Clinical observations Clinical observations are impressions the person doing the assessment got based on observations (not questionnaires or tests). There may be a part in the report that describes clinical observations, like how your child behaved or was dressed.

CBCL CBCL stands for the Child Behavior Checklist. It is commonly used by psychologists when doing assessments with children. It is a questionnaire completed by parents and teachers. It asks questions about behavior and emotional problems.

DISC DISC stands for Diagnostic Interview Scale for Children. It is a type of structured interview. It is used to assess for a range of different psychological problems like ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

DICA DICA stands for Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents. It is a type of structured interview. It is used to assess for a range of different psychological problems like ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

SCID SCID stands for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. It is a type of structured interview. It is used to assess for a range of different psychological problems like ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

WISC	WISC stands for Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. It is the most commonly used intelligence test with children in the United States. The average score on the WISC is 100. Most children get a score between 85 and 115. The WISC is commonly used in assessments for learning disorders and intellectual disabilities. It is also frequently used in assessments for other disorders, like ADHD and anxiety.
WIAT	WIAT stands for the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test. It is the most commonly used achievement test in the United States. Like the WISC, the average score on the WIAT is 100. Most children get a score between 85 and 115. It is commonly used in assessments for learning disorders and can also be used in assessments for other disorders.
IQ	IQ stands for intelligence quotient. The term IQ is commonly used when describing how someone did on an intelligence test.
Mean	Mean is another word for the mathematical average. For instance, the mean score on intelligence tests is 100.
Standard Deviation	A standard deviation explains how far a certain score is from the average score. In intelligence testing, the standard deviation is 15 and the average score is 100. If someone scored a 115 then their score is 1 standard deviation above the mean (15 points higher).
Standard scored	A standard score is when scores from the result of a test are changed so that there is a specified mean (average). For instance, how many right answers a child got on an intelligence test is added up. Then scores are converted so that the average score for all children of the same age that took the test is 100 and the standard deviation is 15.
t-score	A t-score is a special kind of standard score. To make a t-score, numbers are changed so that the mean (average) of all the scores is 50 and the standard deviation is 10. If a child has a t-score of 60, this means he/she got 10 points higher than the mean. Most children get t-scores between 40 and 60.
Percentile	Percentile is a term used to explain the score a child got compared to other scores. For instance, if a child scored in the 65th percentile on an intelligence test this means his score was higher than 65% of other people who took the test.
Scaled scores	A scaled score is when the score on a test is converted to a predetermined scale so that there can be comparison with others. For instance, the average for a group is scores is set to zero so it is easy to see how close to average a specific score it.
Subtest	A subtest is part of a larger test, like an intelligence test. The WISC is made up of 10 subtests. Each of these subtests have different tasks for children to do, different directions, and produce different scores.
Composite scores	A composite score is the result of scores from subtests being combined. For instance, on the WISC there are several subtests that look at a child's verbal comprehension. Scores from the subtests are combined to make a composite score.
Age Equivalent	An Age Equivalent is a score that indicates how a child did compared to age groups. For instance, an age equivalent of 12 means a child got about the average score for a 12 year old. Age equivalents are often given on achievement tests in addition to grade equivalent (see below).
Grade Equivalent	A Grade Equivalent is a score that indicates how a child did compared to groups of children in different grades. For instance, a grade equivalent of 4 means a child got about the average score for a child in the 4th grade.
Clinical range	If a score is in the "clinical range," it suggests the child is having a problem in that area. For instance, if a score for depression is in the "clinical range" this suggests a child is feeling more depressed than other children his/her age. A t-score 65 or above is often considered in the "clinical range."
Structured interview	A structured interview is part of a psychological assessment. Psychologists ask questions from a pre-determined script. They do not vary the questions for each different assessment.
Unstructured interview	An unstructured interview is also part of a psychological assessment. During this part the psychologist asks questions that are not from a script. The psychologist may come up with different questions for each assessment.
Clinical observations	Clinical observations are impressions the person doing the assessment got based on observations (not questionnaires or tests). There may be a part in the report that describes clinical observations, like how your child behaved or was dressed.
CBCL	CBCL stands for the Child Behavior Checklist. It is commonly used by psychologists when doing assessments with children. It is a questionnaire completed by parents and teachers. It asks questions about behavior and emotional problems.
DISC	DISC stands for Diagnostic Interview Scale for Children. It is a type of structured interview. It is used to assess for a range of different psychological problems like ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
DICA	DICA stands for Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents. It is a type of structured interview. It is used to assess for a range of different psychological problems like ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
SCID	SCID stands for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. It is a type of structured interview. It is used to assess for a range of different psychological problems like ADHD, depression, and anxiety.