A Parent’s Guide to Psychoeducational Evaluation
No parent would ever want to hear that something is wrong with their child. Some are in denial that their child is not developing as other kids do. But acceptance of the reality of the situation is very important. They are the only ones who can help their child. That is why parents should be observant of their child’s development. Learn more about psychoeducational assessment and why your child needs it.
Psychoeducational Evaluation: What is It?
Psychoeducational assessment is an important technique that parents and teachers are now using. This can help assess the child’s development in their academics. It evaluates a child’s cognitive, learning, emotional, and social development.
The assessment helps kids develop in these areas as they should despite their challenges. For these assessments to be successful, parental involvement is advised. With the psychoeducational assessment report, both parents and teachers can help these kids.
Psychological testing can only be done by a licensed school psychologist. If done outside the school, you will need to bring your child to a licensed clinical psychologist. If you suspect ADHD, it is best to seek expert evaluation and assessment from a neuropsychologist.
Different tests can be done during a psychoeducational evaluation. The more tests are done, the better it is for your child. This assessment should include the following:
- Intellectual assessment or IQ test to measure intelligence.
- Achievement tests for academic abilities.
- Questionnaires for social, behavioral, and emotional assessment.
- Executive functioning test to measure the executive functions of the brain.
- Memory tests measure the ability to take in visual and auditory information.
When is the Evaluation Needed?
The psychoeducational assessment is very important for a child. This can help assess and explain what affects their academic development. A psychoeducational evaluation uses testing, question-and-answer sessions, and close observations to fully understand the child’s potential.
A psychoeducational evaluation may be advised for these instances:
- To determine what kind of learner a child is.
- Struggling with just one subject but excelling in others.
- The child cries or starts to misbehave when you start talking about homework or school.
- Avoid doing tasks that require them to use mental effort.
- Grades are inconsistent or underachieving in school.
- Struggling to make friends or be socially active.
- Reported to be always misbehaving in class.
- Has trouble taking turns when conversing with others.
- Forgetful, lazy, and disorganized.
Isn’t My Child’s Doctors’ Report Enough?
Pediatricians, neurologists, and psychiatrists play a huge role in assessing your child for learning disorders, ADHD, intellectual disability, etc. However, they will not be able to screen if these difficulties are due to another problem. Their assessments and reports will not be enough to explain how the child’s condition affects their learning abilities.
A psychoeducational evaluation can explain the child’s challenges and how this impacts their ability to learn in the classroom. This assessment is crucial for a child. It can help find the right solution that will help the child develop. The psychoeducational assessment can help unlock a child’s true potential.
