Pratiques et Perceptions des Psychologues Scolaires Face à l’Évaluation des Élèves en Difficulté d’Apprentissage au Québec

Abstract

This article explores the assessment practices of Quebec school psychologists in the evaluation of elementary school students referred for suspected learning disabilities as well as their perceptions of these practices. The purpose of this study is to identify the ratio of learning disabled students within the school psychologist’s clientele, the time spent assessing these students, the learning disabilities definition used by psychologists, the most frequently used assessment tools, and the psychologist’s role in the diagnosis of learning disabilities. Seventy-six school psychologists participate in this research. The majority of participants estimates that learning-disabled students represent more than 50% of their clientele. Seventy-two percent of the time they devote to these students is spent doing assessments. Results show that all participants use the Wechsler Scales. However, their assessment practices vary greatly, as they use a variety of other tests. They deplore the lack of consensus over assessment and identification procedures.