UPEI researcher wants to help Atlantic Canadian children with challenges learn better

Parents in Atlantic provinces whose school-aged children have gone through psychological learning assessments are being invited to share their experiences.

A researcher at the University of Prince Edward Island is interviewing parents about the psychoeducational assessment process, hoping to figure out how it can be improved for the whole family.

This type of psychological assessment is designed to determine what a child's learning needs are, said Caroline Duffie Chamandy, a clinical psychology student at UPEI. She is conducting this study as part of her doctoral research. 

The assessment process is usually made up of interviews with a psychologist, observation and a variety of tests for the child, Chamandy said. The psychologist will usually also gather information about the child from their parents and in some cases teachers. 

This assessment can be used to diagnose a possible learning disorder. The findings can also help children better understand themselves and their mental health. 

"We learn about how a child learns, how they process information, and the ways in which they think, so we can support their learning needs," she said. 

Once the assessment is complete, the psychologist usually writes a report with recommendations and sends it to the child's school with parental permission, said Stephen Butler, a psychologist and professor of psychology at UPEI. He's acting as Chamandy's supervisor on the research project.

That stage might be followed by meetings involving the psychologist, teachers and parents to figure out how to make the child's school life better, he said.

While there is likely consistency in how these assessments are conducted, Butler said there may be less understanding, — especially for parents brand-new to the experience — about what makes for a successful psychoeducational assessment. 

That is where Chamandy's research comes in.

She is hoping to ask parents who have gone through this process what it was like for them, from the time they scheduled the assessment to the time they got the report to take to school. 

As part of the information she is hoping to collect, Chamandy wants to know if parents felt comfortable telling their child about what was in the final report, if the language the psychologist used was easy to understand, and if there were any follow-ups. 

"Our goal is to discern if there is a gap to be bridged and then to put forth recommendations to help bridge that gap, so that we can ensure that Island families and Atlantic families are getting the best quality of care that they can," she said. 

This study will be the first of its kind on the Island, Butler said. The results will be shared with universities, the Canadian Psychological Association, psychologists, and individuals creating educational resources.