What Is a Clinical Assessment?

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Summary

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A clinical assessment is a way to understand a child’s mental, emotional, and behavioral health. It involves talking with the child and family, and sometimes doing tests to see how the child is doing and what help they might need.

Frequently Asked Question

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What is a Clinical Assessment?

A Clinical Assessment is a detailed check-up of your child’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health by a trained professional.

Why is a Clinical Assessment important for my child?

A Clinical Assessment helps identify your child’s unique way of thinking and learning, providing insights to support their growth and development.

What methods are used in a Clinical Assessment?

Clinical Assessment involves a parent interview, child observations, tests, and sometimes questionnaires for a comprehensive evaluation.

How can tools like Goally support the results of a Clinical Assessment?

Goally is a tablet with fun apps that reinforce learning, emotional regulation, and daily routines, complementing the insights from a Clinical Assessment.

Scientific Definition

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A clinical assessment is a systematic evaluation process used by healthcare professionals to diagnose and understand a child’s psychological, emotional, and behavioral conditions. This comprehensive assessment involves interviews, observations, and standardized tests to gather detailed information about the child’s functioning and needs.

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Real World Example of a Clinical Assessment

Meet Lily, a 10-year-old with ADHD, who undergoes a clinical assessment to better understand her needs at school and home.

  • Initial Interview: Lily and her parents meet with a psychologist to discuss her challenges and strengths.
  • Standardized Tests: Lily completes tests that measure attention, memory, and behavior.
  • Observation: The psychologist observes Lily in her classroom to see how she interacts with others.

With the information from the assessment, Lily’s team creates a personalized plan to support her learning and emotional well-being.

How Does a Clinical Assessment Work?

Clinical assessments are crucial for understanding and supporting kids with special needs. Here’s how they work:

  • Diagnosis: Identifies specific mental health or developmental issues.
  • Planning: Helps create personalized intervention plans.
  • Progress Monitoring: Tracks improvement and adjusts strategies as needed.
Application Benefit
Diagnosis Identifies specific needs and challenges
Planning Develops tailored intervention plans
Progress Monitoring Ensures effective support and adjustment

Clinical assessments ensure kids with special needs receive the right support and interventions to thrive.

This post was originally published on 08/04/2023. It was updated on 08/05/2024.Â