Psychological and Educational Evaluations

Evaluations can help provide a clearer understanding of unique strengths, challenges, and individual needs. An evaluation may be recommended to clarify diagnostic questions, better understand learning or developmental concerns, identify appropriate supports and services, inform educational planning, or guide treatment recommendations.

Areas of Evaluation

Child and adolescent evaluations may assess a variety of areas, depending on the concerns and questions being addressed, including:

  • Learning & Academic Skills — including concerns related to reading, writing, and mathematics

  • Attention & Executive Functioning — including evaluation of ADHD-related concerns

  • Emotional & Behavioral Functioning — including concerns related to anxiety, mood, OCD, and other emotional or behavioral difficulties

  • Cognitive Functioning — including assessment of intellectual abilities and cognitive strengths and weaknesses using measures such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)

  • Adaptive Functioning — including assessment of everyday living, communication, and social skills using measures such as the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales

  • Differential Diagnosis — helping clarify whether symptoms or concerns may be better explained by one condition or another

  • Comprehensive Psychological Assessment — integrating information across multiple areas to develop a more complete understanding of an individual’s strengths and needs

  • Other Individualized Concerns — evaluations are tailored to the specific questions and needs of each child or adolescent

What to Expect

Initial Consultation
The evaluation process begins with a consultation to discuss your concerns, developmental and educational history, and the questions you hope the evaluation will answer.

Evaluation
Assessment procedures are individualized based on your child’s age, needs, and referral questions. Depending on the evaluation, this may include standardized testing, questionnaires, interviews, and review of relevant records.

Feedback
Following the evaluation, findings are reviewed with parents/caregivers during a detailed feedback session. This provides an opportunity to discuss results, ask questions, and review recommendations. A comprehensive report summarizes the evaluation findings and provides individualized recommendations for home, school, and treatment.