PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN ADULTS
As a professor with over a decade of experience in the classroom and through work with high-calibre professionals in Chicago, I understand only too well how learning challenges, trauma, psychiatric disabilities (depression, bipolar, and so forth) can affect our performance. If you have concerns about changes in your feelings, thoughts and behaviors that are impacting your performance around learning, reading, writing, or interacting in your professional realm, it may be helpful to schedule an assessment or a consultation. Some functional limitations affecting performance range from the following:
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Sustaining concentration: difficulty understanding tasks, a shortened attention span, distractability, difficulty remembering verbal directions
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Struggles with fatigue and sustaining energy: to spend a whole day on campus attending classes or spend a whole day at work
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Challenges in correctly interpreting criticism or receiving feedback
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Difficulty with time-sensitive tasks and juggling multiple tasks: difficulty managing assignments, meeting deadlines and/or following-through with deadlines
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Challenges in getting along, fitting in, and reading social cues of others
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Side-effects of medications may affect performance: they range from drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth and thirst, blurred vision, slowed response time, and difficulty initiating interpersonal contact (such as keeping up meetings with peers, mentors, teaching assistants, or performances)
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Responding to change: difficulty coping with unexpected changes in coursework, such as changes in the assignments, or deadlines.
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Severe test anxiety which is overwhelming and renders you incapable of being able to sit for the exam.
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Inability to screen out or tolerate environmental stimuli: when loud sounds may create more distress than usual and affect your ability to concentrate
For College Students, Attention-Deficit Counseling in Chicago: An assessment for accommodations or learning difficulties usually starts with an interview and then includes a series of carefully selected tests that measure a full range of mental skills, mood, coping, and personality styles. It is useful to proceed with care and thoroughness to allow yourself opportunities to compete in the high-stakes College environment. I have worked with students from Universities like The University of Chicago, Northwestern, The School of the Arts Institute, Depaul and Loyola, amongst others. Some students with learning challenges may require accommodations that will allow them equal access to the coursework and classes. You may qualify for accommodations if you have a disability that interferes with your ability to perform a "major life task" (such as learning, reading, speaking, working). The law that guides who gets accommodations under what circumstances is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504. This section of the law protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination. A student with a documented disability has the right to reasonable accommodations.