Psychoeducational (Learning) Assessments
What Is an Educational, Psych-Ed or Learning Assessment?
A learning (or “psychoeducational”) assessment is designed to help parents and teachers understand your child’s ways of learning, their abilities, and school performance.
Psych-Ed Assessments
Why Do We Do Learning Assessments?
We do psychoeducational assessments to determine your child’s intellectual and academic strengths and weaknesses. Once we’ve discovered what your child is struggling with and what strengths we can build on, we recommend next steps, such as an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Your child may get classroom supports (extra time in testing, special software, teacher training), or assistance with schoolwork. Sometimes your child will need other services like occupational therapy or speech therapy.
Testing can also help teens and adults. They might need extra help at college or university, at work, or in their daily lives. A learning disorder or difference in learning style may be limiting their opportunities for advancement. Testing will help them understand their learning needs and how to manage their social skills, attention, and any other needs.
When To Get Your Child Tested:
You can get a psychoeducational assessment if your child is struggling in school, if you think they could be doing better, or if they are having trouble with:
- academics, including reading, writing, math, and oral language
- attention,
- memory,
- being still,
- managing their feelings, etc.
Often, teachers recommend testing if they notice a student has problems with class work, focus, organization, or classroom behaviour.
Conversely, some parents or teachers may believe that a child is gifted and would benefit from enriched programming. A psychoeducational assessment can inform this as well.
What To Expect When You Book An Educational Assessment:
The psychoeducational assessment process is designed to get accurate results about your child’s learning profile. The test generally involves:
Background Research
An interview with parents or guardians, completed over Zoom or by phone, to collect developmental, medical, educational, and family background information.
Questionnaires and Forms
Information forms and standardized questionnaires completed by parents/caregivers and teachers to help us understand your child’s day-to-day abilities, learning habits, and behaviour.
A Day of Tests
A day of cognitive and academic testing with the child, completed one-on-one with Niki or one of her team of psychometrists using standardized tools.
What Does Testing Day Look Like?
Your child will be asked to do things that measure their problem-solving, memory, attention, language, visual-spatial abilities, processing speed, and academic skills (reading, writing, language, and math). The test is usually done over one day, but if the child gets tired or upset, the process can be spread out. Your child will get breaks; the test day is usually shorter than a normal school day.
Parents are expected to stay during the assessment, or to be within 30 minutes of the office. You can bring lunch and snacks for your child or take them out for lunch if you prefer. The goal is for your child to be comfortable and focused.
What Happens After My Child Is Assessed?
Once we finish testing your child, we send questionnaires out to parents, caregivers, and teachers. Once everyone fills the forms out, we put all the information together and prepare our report. This usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. The final report includes any diagnoses that will help you understand your child’s needs, as well as recommendations for any necessary referrals. Then, you’ll get practical ideas for home and school to help your child learn and improve their well-being.
We will meet with you to tell you our findings, explain the results, and answer your questions. You’ll get a final copy of the report after this meeting. You’ll understand your child’s learning profile and will be shown what you can do to help your child succeed at school and at home.