Psychoeducational Evaluations

Psychoeducational evaluations are typically completed in order to assess a person’s IQ and academic achievement. These evaluations may include an assessment of psychological and other cognitive functions that may be impeding the person’s academic success. Psychoeducational evaluations are typically conducted from an educational point of view to understand a person’s learning style, provide recommendations for classroom support and adjustments, or suggest accommodations for standardized testing.

When to Seek a Psychoeducational Evaluation:

Psychoeducational testing may be recommended by a parent, teacher, health provider, or through self-referral. A specific referral question is typically proposed at the outset of testing for our clinicians to answer. Examples of referral questions that warrant psychoeducational testing include, but are not limited to:

  • My child seems to be working harder than most and is still not achieving in school. What is causing my child to struggle with their academic performance?
  • My child is performing below their grade level or is struggling in school. Does my child have a learning disorder or intellectual disability?
  • I or my adolescent needs testing to determine eligibility for accommodations on standardized testing (e.g., SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE) or for college/graduate school accommodations.
  • I (or my adolescent) is struggling in college or at work and feel something may be wrong.
  • My child seems to find school boring and is exceeding past the standards for their grade level. Is my child intellectually or academically gifted?
  • I believe my child is ready for kindergarten but does not meet the cutoff date and needs an IQ test.
  • I’m not sure if my child is ready for kindergarten academically or socially.
  • My child struggles with learning a foreign language and needs testing to help them determine if they require academic modifications or are eligible for a foreign language exemption/waiver.

If you are having any thoughts related to the concerns listed above, you or your child may benefit from our psychoeducational testing services. We can provide diagnostic clarification, and make recommendations to improve home life, develop more effective treatment and school services, and to help you and your child gain insight into their psychoeducational functioning. Our clinicians will identify strengths and weaknesses of patients to help you or your child achieve academic or career success.

We make recommendations regarding the potential need for an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plans and will detail the specific services or accommodations that may benefit your child. Our clinicians will consult with school professionals and can attend meetings upon request.

What the Process Entails:

Initial Session:

  • A clinician will first hold parent and child/adolescent intakes to conduct clinical interviews. These are held on separate days. For adults, only one appointment may be necessary. These appointments will give you, your child, and your clinician a chance to discuss your concerns in person and explore why you are seeking an evaluation.
  • These sessions will also allow your clinician to gather information about you or your child’s personal and medical history to incorporate into their evaluation. We may also use parent, teacher, and self report measures as screening tools. All together, this information will help the clinician make the most appropriate recommendations for you or your child’s testing plan.
  • Upon completion of these sessions, the intake clinician will work with your family to determine the length and content of the testing sessions moving forward.

Testing Sessions:

  • Psychoeducational evaluations range in the length of time needed for testing. At the first testing session, you will receive a written estimate regarding the evaluation. Testing is individualized for each patient but often will be completed over the course of a few visits. Testing is typically completed in the mornings/early afternoons so that our patients are refreshed and can perform to the best of their ability.
  • Evaluations can include a school observation.

Obtaining Report & Feedback Session:

  • After completion of all standardized testing, the report will generally become available around 4-8 weeks after you or your child’s last testing session (faster turnaround times may be available upon request).
  • Once the report is completed, your clinician will schedule feedback sessions with you (and your child) to discuss the results and recommendations.
  • After the feedback session, you will receive a copy of your final report which will describe test results and recommendations for you or your child. We will also make any necessary referrals, attend school meetings, and consult with other professionals upon your request.

Confidentiality:

  • Lastly, your assessment results will remain strictly confidential. They will not be shared with anyone else without your written consent.
  • Parents may sometimes want to share a portion of the report with school personnel or a treatment provider. In this case, we will provide you with an edited version of the report for the recipient’s review.