The process of evaluation includes multiple types of data collection, including clinical interviewing with the client, interviewing of parents/caregivers and teachers, administration of online behavior rating scales, and direct administration of standardized tests. The standard administration of these tests involves in-person, face-to-face methods. The impact of applying non-standard administration methods has been evaluated only in part by scientific research.
Test administration methods - Standard test administration will be modified, and this may affect results in ways that are so far unknown. This has the potential to reduce confidence in the diagnostic conclusions and recommendations for treatment.
Involvement of a third-party in the tele-evaluation session (caregiver, guardian, parent, facilitator) may add additional concerns about the impact of observation on performance.
Error may be compounded when tele-evaluation procedures are used with peoplewho come from culturally and linguistically diverse populations, require an interpreter during the tele evaluation, or have limited experience/comfort with the technology being employed.
There will be a loss of some qualitative data usually obtained during an in-person exam, and this loss may reduce the richness of the clinical data and further limit conclusions and recommendations.
Tele-evaluation may pose additional risks to privacy and confidentiality.
Ensuring test security is a critical role of psychologists. Tele-evaluation may require the use of paper-and-pencil protocols that will be mailed to the client’s home in advance of their testing sessions. The client and their parents will be instructed to keep the mailed envelope sealed until a specific time during the video conference session to help ensure test security. Within the envelope, there will be a number of smaller envelopes to be opened at prescribed times in front of the camera for the evaluator to observe. Finally, there will be an empty envelope that completed material will go into throughout the session which will be sealed in front of the camera for the evaluator to observe.
The telepsychology sessions shall not be recorded in any way unless agreed to in writing by mutual consent. We will maintain a record of our session in the same way we maintain records of in-person sessions in accordance with our policies.