For Families
What MICAA-A is, and why your teen’s clinician uses it.
A set of questionnaires for your teen, for you, and for teachers. Together they help the clinician gain a clear picture of your teen, from the people who know them best.
What to expect
Your teen’s clinician will send each of you a link to your own questionnaire. It works on a phone, tablet or computer, and no account or download is needed.
Most questions ask about the past month, and you answer each one True, Partly True, False or DK. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes and answer on your own. If you are not sure about an answer, say so. That is more useful than a guess.
Why a clinician uses it
MICAA-A covers a lot of ground in one organized questionnaire, so nothing important gets missed. It also lets the clinician compare your teen’s answers with those of other teens the same age.
There are three kinds of questionnaire: one for the teen, one for parents and caregivers, and a short one for teachers. More than one parent or teacher can take part. Each of you sees a different part of your teen’s life, and the clinician puts them together.
What the questions cover
The questionnaires ask about:
- Mood and worry
- Behavior
- School and attention
- Friends
- Family life
- Social media and gaming
- Adverse experiences in the past
- Strengths, like feeling supported and feeling sure of themselves
Everyone is asked the same questions, so being asked about something does not mean the clinician suspects it. Whoever is answering can skip a question that feels too sensitive or does not apply.
Who sees the answers
Your teen’s clinician receives the results and keeps them confidential. If you have concerns, ask them directly.
Northwest Psychometric does not discuss any person’s results. Only your clinician can do that.
Unlike quizzes you might find online
Unlike quizzes you can find online, MICAA-A:
- Is only available through a clinician
- Compares scores with a national group of real teens the same age
- Checks whether your teen answered carefully
- Never gives a diagnosis on its own
What a result means
A higher score in an area means more concerns were reported there than is usual for teens that age. It tells the clinician where to look more closely.
A score is not a diagnosis.
A teen who is having a hard time often scores high in several areas at once. That does not mean they have several conditions. Only a clinician can diagnose, and they use much more than a questionnaire to do it: they talk with your teen, talk with you, and look at history.
What happens next
Your teen’s clinician reviews the scored questionnaires and uses them to guide the conversation with you: what stood out, where perspectives differed, what strengths were identified, and what they recommend.
If you are worried about someone’s safety right now
Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Both are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.