A Psychoeducational Evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of cognitive, academic, and/or social-emotional functioning that helps answer a number of clinical questions about a child or adult. Answering these questions helps provide a better understanding of strengths and weaknesses and a “road map” that identifies crucial recommendations. These recommendations can include types of treatment needed to help with presenting issues, remedial interventions, specific strategies, and necessary accommodations or modifications (e.g., extended time).
A psychoeducational evaluation is performed by a clinical psychologist with experience in psychological testing.
Evaluations may be conducted to explore the following areas or underlying issues:
- Learning Disabilities, learning differences, and academic difficulties
- Dyslexia and other reading problems
- Mathematics disorders
- Written language difficulty
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Executive functioning deficits
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Emotional, behavioral, or social difficulties
- Giftedness
- Nonverbal learning weaknesses (e.g., visual processing, problem-solving)
Common reasons to seek an evaluation include:
- Educational planning – to help make decisions about schools and services that will be a good fit for your child; determine if a child may be eligible for services at their school
- Inform the development of an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan
- To guide therapeutic services, which could include psychotherapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, tutoring, etc.
- To determine if one may qualify for accommodations and modifications for standardized tests (e.g., SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT) or in the classroom
- To assess if someone meets criteria for a particular diagnosis (e.g., AD/HD, dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder)
- To provide documentation for accommodations at colleges and universities and/or gain access to support programs.
- To provide documentation for eligibility for supports and services through the department of developmental services