Psychological Evaluations and Testing

Psychological evaluation involves the use of observation, interviews, rating scales and questionnaires, and informal and standardized tests to investigate a person’s emotional, cognitive, academic, or vocational functioning. The data generated from such assessments can be used to diagnose a condition; to aid in intervention, training, and placement decisions; to inform those working with the individual how best to do so; or to help the person and those around him or her to better understand the person’s strengths and weaknesses, thought processes, and behaviors. Every person’s developmental, educational, and cultural and linguistic background affects the types of tests that are appropriate to be used with that individual and how the tests should be interpreted. These factors are particularly relevant for deaf individuals regardless of whether they are members of the dominant culture or consider themselves to be members of Deaf culture. What impact these factors have and the most appropriate means of addressing them will vary depending on the unique history of the individual being tested. Psychologists are ethically bound to practice within their area of competence; thus, those working with deaf individuals should be able to communicate clearly with the deaf person and have an understanding of the factors that affect that individual’s attitudes, behavior, and performance on psychological tests.

Because very few psychological measures have been developed or normed for use with deaf individuals, clinicians typically use instruments developed for use with hearing people and modify the administration in order to meet the needs of the deaf person being tested. However, the impacts of linguistic mediation, modification of instructions, and other factors cause this practice to alter the task demands and outcomes on many measures.