Psychoeducational and Developmental Evaluations

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Our evaluations are available in-person and online. Our online evaluations bring the full suite of psychological and academic testing to the comfort of home. Conducted in-person or online by a qualified psychologist and educator, this process includes a clinical interview followed by a tailored testing battery, ranging in time needed based on assessment type. Our virtual assessments are the same as in-person batteries and make the testing process faster and more convenient without diminished quality.

 

A psychoeducational evaluation is a comprehensive assessment designed to understand a child’s cognitive, academic, and behavioral functioning. Conducted by our certified school psychologist and licensed educator, this evaluation aims to identify strengths and weaknesses in areas such as learning, attention, memory, and social skills. Through psychoeducational testing, the evaluation provides a thorough understanding of a child’s learning style, academic abilities, and behavioral patterns. This information is crucial for informing educational planning, accommodations, and interventions tailored to the child’s unique needs.

 

A developmental evaluation of a child is a systematic assessment of a child's growth and development. It's used to identify developmental delays or disorders that affect brain functioning. Abilities assessed may include intelligence, academic assessment, current developmental functioning, social and communication behavior, and social emotional functioning. Parents contribute a great deal of important developmental information through structured interviews and completion of questionnaires. A developmental assessment typically includes two to three sessions, each lasting one to two hours. 

 

Benefits and Importance

An evaluation offers numerous benefits and is essential for several reasons:

 

1. Accurate Diagnosis: It helps in identifying specific learning disorders, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder, enabling targeted interventions and accommodations.

2. Informing Educational Planning: The evaluation provides valuable insights into a child’s learning style, strengths, and weaknesses, guiding effective educational planning and instruction.

3. Identifying Areas of Need: It highlights areas where a child may require additional support, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or counseling.

4. Enhancing Academic Achievement: By pinpointing strengths and weaknesses, the evaluation helps teachers and parents develop strategies to boost academic performance and promote learning.

5. Supporting Mental Health: The evaluation can also uncover potential mental health concerns, such as anxiety or depression, informing appropriate treatment and support.

 

What are the components of an evaluation?

 

Clinical Interview

• During the interview, you will share:

  • Your concerns

  • Current symptoms

  • Family history

  • Birth and developmental history

  • Medical and psychological history

  • Educational and occupational history

 

The goal of the clinical interview is to become comfortable with the examiners and for the examiners to get detailed information from you about the questions to be answered, your child’s current symptoms, and a broad view of your child’s history. The information obtained during the interview is then used to guide the selection of formal assessments to be administered. So, it is critical in the clinical interview that you and all involved parties are open and honest with the examiners. Doing so ensures the appropriate assessments are selected.

 

Formal Assessments

The assessment process involves the administration of formal assessments. These assessments have been scientifically validated through a peer-reviewed scientific process to examine the intended area of inquiry. The assessment experience is dependent on the selected measures. These are chosen based on your self-report during the interview and your identified question to be answered. Thus, the assessment process is individualized and tailored to your child and the assessment question.

 

Two broad types of assessments will be administered: 1) in-person or online active assessments and 2) paper/pencil or online at-home questionnaires. The in-person or online active administrations are the formal assessments that occur with the examiners. These assessments often include standardized tests, which involve the completion of observed tasks like matching pictures, reading out loud, completing math problems, manipulating blocks, and many other tasks. These assessments must occur with the examiners and often last between 2 and 6 hours. The length of time needed depends on the selected measures and the number of questions to be answered. These assessments may be broken up into multiple sessions depending on the age of the child and the assessments that will be administered.

 

Feedback Session

The feedback session is 45-60 minutes long. It is often conducted approximately 2 weeks after the completion of all assessments and at-home questionnaires. Between the assessment and feedback session, the examiners will prepare a detailed report, which includes the information obtained from the interview, your child’s performance on the assessments, and how your child compares to peers. The report will provide a summary of this information and the identified diagnoses. Based on the diagnoses, a list of recommendations is provided to assist in managing your child’s current symptoms. This may include recommendations for therapy, medications, sharing the report with others, and accommodations at home, school, and other important areas of functioning. The report can be used to share the assessment findings with important stakeholders such as physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, and teachers. Individuals often use the report to advocate for accommodations at school and other important areas of functioning.

 

Preparing for the Evaluation

Preparing for a psychoeducational evaluation involves several important steps:

1. Schedule Your Intake Appointment: Once you have reached out to us to schedule an evaluation we will send you a social developmental history form to complete.

2. Gather Relevant Documents: Collect report cards, standardized test scores, and medical records to provide to the evaluator.

3. Complete Rating Scales and Questionnaires: Parents and teachers may need to fill out rating scales and questionnaires to offer insights into the child’s behavior and academic performance.

4. Schedule the Evaluation: Choose a convenient time for the evaluation that suits both the parents and the child.

5. Prepare Your Child: Explain the evaluation process to your child, helping them understand what to expect and reducing any anxiety they may have.

 

After the Evaluation

Following a psychoeducational evaluation, parents can anticipate:

1. A Comprehensive Report: The evaluators will provide a detailed report summarizing the evaluation results, including the child’s strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations.

2. A Feedback Session: A session will be scheduled to discuss the evaluation results and address any questions.

3. Recommendations for Interventions and Accommodations: The evaluators will suggest interventions and accommodations to support the child’s academic and behavioral needs.

4. Follow-up Evaluations: Depending on the child’s progress and needs, follow-up evaluations may be recommended to monitor and adjust interventions and accommodations as necessary.