Psychoeducational Assessments

A psychoeducational assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of the mental processes that govern academic, social, and personal achievement. Specifically, psychoeducational assessments analyze reasoning and problem-solving skills, attention span, working memory, language and spatial abilities, memory, visual-motor integration and a broad range of executive functions, including planning, organization, and impulse control. A psychoeducational assessment will also gauge performance in individual subjects, such as reading, writing, and mathematics. This detailed assessment is equally valuable for identifying high-achieving students and those who struggle with learning or behavioral impairments.

 

Why Have A Psychoeducational Assessment?

A psychoeducational assessment is usually requested if a learning disability or attention problem is suspected as this would help determine if the individual qualifies for accommodations and resources within the school. Psychoeducational assessments are a key diagnostic tool for identifying children with neurodevelopmental issues (e.g., ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disability, Intellectual Disability) and those with psychological or conduct disorders (anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, etc.).

 

Why Use  A Neuropsychologist?

A neuropsychologist not only uses a wider-range of specialized assessment tools, their training will allow them to have a more in-depth look at the interplay between brain-behavior relationships, social skills and personality functioning. Having a neuropsychologist complete the evaluation is particularly important for complex cases such as adolescent or young adults or those with comorbid disorders (e.g. learning disability plus ADHD, brain injury, or psychological disorder). The comprehensive nature of the evaluation and process of interpretation may lead to (a) an accurate diagnosis, (b) a representative profile of strength and weakness, and (c) detailed and practical recommendations for academic, psychological and neurological interventions.