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Understanding a child’s learning, behavioural, and cognitive profile is essential for supporting their growth and development. At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS) in Calgary, children, teens, and their families receive expert assessment services that help identify strengths, challenges, and areas where intervention can make a real difference. RMPS specializes in three key assessments: WIAT, BASC‑3 / ABAS‑3, and WISC‑V. Together, these assessments provide a holistic view of each child, guiding educational planning, therapy, and life skills development.

WIAT: Measuring Academic Achievement Accurately

The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) is designed to assess a child’s academic performance in areas such as reading, writing, mathematics, and oral language skills. Administered by trained psychologists at RMPS, the WIAT helps clarify a child’s academic profile, highlighting both strengths and areas needing support.

Some of the key benefits of WIAT testing include:

• Identifying Learning Challenges: Children who struggle academically may have learning disorders such as dyslexia or dyscalculia. The WIAT helps pinpoint these difficulties.

• Guiding Educational Planning: Results help teachers and parents develop individualized strategies and accommodations.

• Tracking Progress: Repeated WIAT assessments can show improvements over time, ensuring interventions are effective.

At RMPS, the WIAT is delivered in a supportive environment, ensuring that children feel comfortable and engaged during the testing process. This personalized approach helps ensure accurate results while reducing stress.

BASC‑3 and ABAS‑3: Understanding Behaviour and Adaptive Skills

While academic testing is important, assessing emotional and behavioural health is equally vital. RMPS offers BASC‑3 and ABAS‑3 assessments to provide a full picture of a child’s behavioural and adaptive functioning.

• BASC‑3 (Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition) gathers information from multiple sources — parents, teachers, and sometimes the child — to evaluate behaviour in different settings. This includes assessing internalizing issues like anxiety or depression, externalizing behaviours like aggression, and social skills.

• ABAS‑3 (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition) evaluates everyday life skills, including communication, self-care, and social interaction. Understanding these skills helps psychologists identify areas where a child may need extra support to function independently and confidently.

RMPS integrates BASC‑3 and ABAS‑3 results with academic and cognitive assessments to form a comprehensive understanding of each child. This approach ensures that interventions are targeted and practical, not just theoretical.

WISC‑V: Assessing Cognitive Strengths and Weaknesses

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC‑V) is a key tool for understanding a child’s cognitive abilities. The WISC‑V measures multiple domains of intelligence, including:

1. Verbal Comprehension

2. Visual Spatial Skills

3. Fluid Reasoning

4. Working Memory

5. Processing Speed

By breaking down a child’s cognitive abilities into these specific areas, the WISC‑V provides insights into their learning style, problem-solving abilities, and potential areas of difficulty. For example, a child may have high verbal comprehension but slower processing speed, which can help explain why schoolwork may be challenging despite strong verbal skills.

At RMPS, WISC‑V results are interpreted alongside WIAT and BASC‑3 / ABAS‑3 data to create a full profile that informs educational and therapeutic recommendations. This integrated approach ensures that interventions are comprehensive and tailored to the individual child.

How RMPS Integrates These Assessments

The strength of RMPS lies not just in administering assessments but in integrating multiple data sources to provide meaningful, actionable recommendations:

1. Initial Consultation: Parents or educators refer a child for assessment due to concerns about academic performance, behaviour, or social-emotional development.

2. Assessment Selection: Psychologists determine which tests are most appropriate based on the referral concerns.

3. Testing Sessions: Assessments are administered in a child-friendly, supportive environment.

4. Data Analysis: Results are reviewed in detail, looking for patterns, discrepancies, and areas requiring intervention.

5. Feedback & Recommendations: Families receive a comprehensive report and consultation explaining results and suggested strategies for school, therapy, or daily life.

6. Follow-up Support: RMPS provides guidance on implementing recommendations, monitoring progress, and accessing additional resources if needed.

This structured, integrated process ensures that families leave with clarity, actionable guidance, and confidence in supporting their child’s development.

Benefits of Comprehensive Assessment

Using WIAT, BASC‑3 / ABAS‑3, and WISC‑V together provides several key benefits:

• Clear understanding of strengths and challenges

• Evidence-based recommendations for learning and behavioural interventions

• Support for individualized education plans (IEPs)

• Enhanced communication between parents, teachers, and clinicians

• Long-term tracking of progress and growth

These benefits empower families to make informed decisions and help children reach their full potential.

Why Choose RMPS

RMPS stands out for its commitment to client-centered, evidence-based assessment services. Their trained psychologists bring expertise in child development, play therapy, and psychoeducational assessment, ensuring that each child is evaluated with care and accuracy.

By combining cognitive, academic, and behavioural assessments, RMPS provides a holistic view that goes beyond simple labels, supporting children in reaching their potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

Conclusion

Comprehensive assessment is the foundation for understanding, supporting, and empowering children and adolescents. At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, WIAT, BASC‑3 / ABAS‑3, and WISC‑V assessments provide the tools needed to uncover a child’s strengths and challenges. By translating these insights into actionable recommendations, RMPS helps families, educators, and clinicians create meaningful interventions that foster academic success, emotional resilience, and lifelong growth.