Confessions of a Worrier

I come from a long line of worriers who don’t worry about their worrying. I worry that something is wrong with me if I don’t worry. So go ahead and worry about your child’s learning, if worrying is your thing.

Read ahead to see if a comprehensive evaluation could help to settle your worries.

What is a psychoeducational assessment?

A psychoeducational assessment is an evaluation of thinking and learning skills. It is most commonly used to identify learning disabilities; it can also reveal processing and academic weaknesses in students with behavior or attention problems. A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation is administered by an examiner with a license or certification in psychology. While teachers, tutors, and other professionals can conduct reading assessments, only a psychological examiner or psychologist can assess all relevant thinking, learning, and academic areas. These assessments typically take several hours over two or more sessions.

How much does it cost?

Most private psychoeducational evaluations cost at least $1000; some examiners and agencies charge $3000 or more. Insurance may not cover any of the cost if the evaluation is considered educational rather than medical. You can check with your child’s school of zone about getting a free evaluation through your public school system.

A conscientious examiner will consider whether other factors should be addressed before having a comprehensive learning assessment. For instance, your child might gain more benefit from a sleep study or counseling.

How do I know if my child needs an individual assessment?

Probably yes, if…

Your child’s teacher recommends testing.

Most teachers try informal strategies and take advantage of regular education resources such as RTI before recommending an individual assessment. Preschool teachers are often attuned to early signs of dyslexia. Identifying very young students who are at risk for dyslexia is important because of the impact of early intervention.

Your child hates school and has been called lazy or unmotivated.

Students who seem lazy or unmotivated often have undiagnosed learning or attention problems. If you do not get a handle on these problems early, your child is at risk for falling behind. She may be told she just needs to work harder when in fact there is an underlying learning issue.

Your child makes good grades but has to work much harder than his classmates.

If your child takes much longer than expected to complete his homework, doesn’t like to read or reads slowly, or studies hard but does poorly on tests he may have a “hidden” learning disability.  

Your child’s school performance has gotten dramatically worse for no apparent reason.

If your child hasn’t experienced illness or dramatic life changes, an evaluation can help you figure out why she is struggling. For example, sometimes a student can compensate for problems such as slow processing in lower grades. As demands increase, the problem “suddenly” becomes evident.

Your child has been diagnosed with ADHD but still has academic problems.

Many students with ADHD have processing difficulties. They might struggle with executive functioning – planning, organizing, reviewing, and self-correcting. Some students with ADHD have good basic skills, but have trouble “putting it all together,” for example, when writing a story or essay.

Your child shows signs of autism.

 A psychoeducational evaluation is only part of the process of diagnosing autism. Consult with a clinic that specializes in autism and ask for a team evaluation that includes tests that specifically assess for autism.

Your preschooler has been diagnosed with a language delay or other developmental disability.

A comprehensive assessment can help guide decisions about kindergarten placement and services. Be aware that evaluations of very young children are a snapshot, not a statue. Results may tell you whether your child’s skills are below age expectations at the time of the test. However, the results are not reliable predictors of future performance.

Probably not if…

Your kindergarten through second grade child is doing well in school, according to his grades and benchmark test scores.

Letter reversals, phonetic spelling, problems copying from the board, and difficulty paying attention for long periods of time are typical for your child’s age. Discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher and follow up with an assessment if these skills don’t improve over time.

Your child has recently experienced a significant change, such as death of a family member, parents’ divorce, or a move.

If you had no concerns before a disruptive life event, your child’s school problems may be reactions to her situation. If she is extremely stressed or anxious, she might benefit from the support of a counselor or therapist.

Your child is anxious or depressed and you don’t know why.

First, consult with his pediatrician to rule out physical problems such as a sleep deficit, sleep disorder, or metabolic condition. Your next step should be consultation with a therapist or counselor. His therapist might recommend a psychological evaluation or may have enough information to begin a treatment plan. A psychological evaluation, unlike a psychoeducational evaluation, is focused on mood and behavior.

Not yet if…

Your child has not passed hearing or vision screenings.

These problems must be addressed before a psychoeducational evaluation can provide accurate information.

Your child has an illness that makes it hard for her to sleep or concentrate.

Weaknesses in thinking skills, processing, or attention may be caused by a physical problem. See if treating the underlying condition results in improvement.

Resources

Find out more from the International Dyslexia Association.

What do you want to know?

Is there a topic you’d like to read about? Email your suggestions to contact@sjunedye.org