What Parents Need to Know About Psychoeducational Assessments
As a parent, it can be anxiety-inducing to think about your child struggling in school. You may feel helpless and unsure of what to do to help them succeed. One option that can provide valuable insight is a psychoeducational assessment. This assessment can help diagnose learning difficulties, identify the best approach for instruction and intervention and create an effective individualized education plan. In this blog post, we will explain what a psychoeducational assessment is, what it entails, and the benefits it can offer for your child’s academic success.
What is a psychoeducational assessment?
A psychoeducational assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that can identify learning difficulties and developmental issues that impact a child’s academic performances. The tests, typically administered by qualified professionals such as educational psychologists or school psychologists, are used to diagnose learning disabilities, ADHD, and other cognitive/developmental disabilities. The assessment includes activities such as intelligence testing, reading assessments, mathematical ability assessments, and other cognitive or academic tests, in addition to observing how a child works in academic and social environments.
What are the benefits of a psychoeducational assessment?
The first and most significant value is the ability to understand the causes of academic issues. A psychoeducational assessment can bring awareness to the underlying reasons for academic struggles that are not always obvious. This awareness will help parents make necessary interventions, assist teachers and administrators in tailoring interventions, and shape individualized education programs. The assessment will also help parents with strategies to increase their child’s self-esteem and motivation by developing specific educational goals that often improve their academic performance.
When is the right time to schedule an assessment?
The best time to have a psychoeducational assessment is when a parent or a teacher suspects a child is having trouble with academic performance or when a child has been diagnosed with a learning disability. Parents can sometimes see red flags themselves, such as when a child struggles with reading or arithmetic, or shows signs of attention deficit disorder, or a nonverbal learning disorder. One additional benefit of having an evaluation is to reassure parents that their child’s academic level is appropriate and that they are going through typical changes.
How can parents prepare their child for a psychoeducational evaluation?
Firstly, parents should present the evaluation as a supportive approach that is targeted at improving a child’s academic success instead of presenting it as a punishment, a stigma, or something to be feared. Secondly, explaining to the child what to expect will help to ease their nerves as the evaluation could include several activities such as puzzles, memory games, and other intellectual/academic tests. Additionally, ensure that your child has had a good night's sleep, wears comfortable clothes and has a healthy breakfast to be fully prepared.
Conclusion
In summary, psychoeducational assessments can uncover the root cause of learning issues and help parents and teachers to make a more informed decision on how best to help a child achieve academic success. Taking the step to schedule a psychoeducational assessment may feel overwhelming, but it is a worthwhile tool that can provide lasting benefits for your child’s educational journey. While some parents might feel ashamed or stigmatized about their child undergoing an assessment, it is important to note that this is a normal process, and the information gathered will be used to develop a clear and useful education plan tailored to your child’s unique needs.
