MedNet Medical Services

The Most Common

Some Areas of Focus On for Assessments and Testing

• Mood Disorders

  Mood disorders are a category of illnesses that describe a serious change in mood. Mood disorders consist of depression, bipolar disorder, cyclothymia, dysthymia, SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Approximately 20.9 million American adult or about 9.5% of USD population age 18 and older in a given year has a mood disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry June 2005. Our clinic offers various assessment and evaluations with clinical interview and intake screening to help clearly identify the mood disorder.

• Intellectual Functioning

  Intelligence tests are measures of general intellectual functioning. The tests are usually administered by clinical psychologist. IQ testing measure what is generally considered intelligence. Most IQ tests consist of subtests measuring various qualities, such as factual knowledge, short-term memory, abstract reasoning, visual-spatial abilities, and common sense. Intelligence is always measured relative to a particular culture; "culture free" tests of intelligence do not exist. The Wechsler tests are the most common individually administered IQ tests.

• Memory Abilities

  Memory is the process in which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. Encoding is receiving, processing and combining of received information. Storage: creation of a permanent record of the encoded information in short term or long term memory and Retrieval when information’s are recall or recollection.
  
  Memory assessments look for ability to recall immediate and delayed auditory and visual memory abilities. Memory difficulties and deficits can be recognized using assessment tools for memory, such as the Wechsler Memory Scale. WMS is the most widely used scale of adult memory abilities, for adolescents and adults .It measures the individual’s ability to learn and remember information presented both verbally and visually.

• ADHD

  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity that occurs in academic, occupational, or social settings which affects 3-7% of all school age children in the United States. If left untreated, the symptoms can negatively impact the child’s school performance, social and peer interactions, and have a lasting impact on the child’s self-esteem. Adults with ADHD may have trouble managing time, being organized, setting goals, and holding down a job. They may also have problems with relationships, self-esteem, and addiction. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities often occur at the same time, but the two disorders are not the same. There are a variety of tests that are used to help identify if a client has difficulty with sustained attention and concentration that may impair academic, social, or occupational functioning.

• Learning and Academic Disorders

  Learning disability are neurologically-based processing problems that results from a difference in the way a person's brain is "wired." Children with learning disabilities are as smart as or smarter than their peers. But they may have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and/or organizing information. Difficulty with basic reading and language skills are the most common learning disabilities. Studies show as many as 80% of students with learning disabilities have reading problems. Learning disability can also interfere with higher level skills such as organization, time planning, abstract reasoning, long or short term memory and attention.
  
  It is important to realize that learning disabilities can affect an individual’s life beyond academics and can impact relationships with family, friends and in the workplace. With the right support and intervention, however, adult and children with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to successful, often distinguished careers later in life. Fifteen percent of the U.S. population, or one in seven Americans, has some type of learning disability, according to the National Institutes of Health. Psychological Testing can help overcome these difficulties. Our center provides comprehensive evaluation and testing services by Board certified psychologist. Each test is carefully selected to evaluate these problem areas; the information gained through testing can help the client to make the best choices for their future.

• Personal Injury Evaluations

  Personal injury evaluation is a comprehensive assessment as a result of traumatic events such as motor vehicle collisions, slip and fall, dog bites, gunshots, assault victims, and medical malpractice among others. Traumatic events depending on the severity can result in physical injury, loss of time from work, social withdrawal, cognitive impairment and disability; as well as emotional consequences such as; anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among others. Psychological evaluation helps to determine whether mental injury exists as a result of experiencing significant trauma and to what extent.
  
  The evaluation involves a clinical interview, psychological testing, and review of medical and psychiatric records. In addition, an objective assessment of personality characteristics can also be of value in examining personality and psychopathology. A traumatic injury may also lead to a period of prolonged disability and lengthy litigation which can result in emotional complications, such as anger, exacerbation of health problems (e.g. chronic pain) as well as financial difficulties, marital stress, and employment difficulties. Since such injuries are "invisible," it is particularly important to document them with a Psychological Evaluation.