WHAT IS A PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION?
The Child and Family Development model of a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation includes a psychologist and an educator, working together as a diagnostic team.
A typical battery of psychological tests assesses cognitive domains (e.g., attention, language, memory, visual processing, reasoning ability, speed, and fine-motor skills), and social/emotional functioning. The parents are given a selection of behavioral questionnaires at the time of intake which they and the primary teacher complete and return to the psychologist. These measures assess social and behavioral functioning and gather information about the child’s performance in multiple environments on a daily basis.
The Educational Specialist will assess academic achievement (e.g., reading, writing, math), as well as visual motor functioning (e.g., handwriting), phonological processing abilities, and organization skills necessary for performing academic tasks. Educational Specialists have received schooling and advanced training in administering educational evaluations, interpreting data diagnostically, and developing and implementing educational treatment plans. Educational Specialists have expertise in the treatment of learning disabilities and academic interventions. They are well connected with the educational resources of our community. Perhaps one of their most unique qualifications is that they are experienced in working collaboratively with schools and are knowledgeable about the rules and regulations that govern services, such as IEP, within the school system.
A comprehensive evaluation integrates this information at the Interpretive Parent Conference, and parents report that this is one of the most valuable components of this process. It provides a time to collaborate and talk about what we’ve learned about your child and gain your perspective in our observations and data analysis. This is invaluable in presenting a comprehensive understanding of the ‘whole’ child.
WHY IS THIS COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION BENEFICIAL AND NECESSARY?
Both psychological and educational data must be gathered in order to provide the following:
- diagnostic clarification for a variety of conditions (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia)
- targeted treatment interventions for specific areas of weakness
- providing documentation for the purpose of receiving accommodations in school settings or for standardized tests (e.g., SAT)
- meeting admissions criteria for private schools or specialized programs
Private evaluations are designed to provide high quality clinical services to ensure that children are able to reach their highest potential. This differs from the kinds of evaluations and services that are available through special education supports at local public schools. Public schools are able to provide high quality evaluations to students that meet formalized eligibility requirements, and these students typically must have a history learning deficits which are negatively impacting their ability to meet grade-level expectations. Children who are typically referred for a private evaluation may not meet those eligibility requirements (e.g., “flying under the radar”), but nonetheless are in need of support and intervention.
We offer TESTING in the following areas:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Psycho-Educational (ADHD, IQ, Learning Disabilities)
- Social-Emotional Behavioral Adjustment
- School Readiness
- College Accommodations
- Young Adult Developmental Disability
Our TWO OFFICES are conveniently located in:
- Midtown (across from Park Road Shopping Center) in Charlotte
- Pineville (near CMC-Pineville)
The TEAM of 7 psychologists and 3 educators is accepting new referrals. There is no waiting list for services. Generally, we are scheduling appointments within 1-4 weeks of the initial call.
We will file to many insurance plans for the psychological services, on an in-network or out-of-network basis.
Contact our office to get started (704-541-9080) or visit our website to get started. Learn more about psycho-educational evaluations here.
