If you're wondering whether your child might benefit from a psychoeducational evaluation, you're not alone. Many families start exploring this option when their child is struggling at school, feeling frustrated with homework, or when teachers raise concerns about attention, reading, or social skills.

What does an evaluation measure?

A psychoeducational evaluation measures how your child thinks, learns, and processes information. It typically includes standardized tests of cognitive ability (reasoning, memory, problem-solving), academic achievement (reading, writing, math), and social-emotional functioning (anxiety, mood, behavior, social skills). The goal is to build a complete picture of your child's unique learning profile — their strengths, challenges, and where they may need support.

Who conducts evaluations?

In California, psychoeducational evaluations are typically conducted by Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEPs) or clinical psychologists. An LEP specializes in how children learn and has specific training in educational assessment, learning differences, and school-based intervention. At Clarity Educational Psychology, evaluations are conducted by Claire McCann, LEP #4820, with over 8 years of experience.

What can an evaluation identify?

A private evaluation can identify conditions including ADHD, dyslexia and reading disabilities, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, autism spectrum disorder, giftedness and twice-exceptional (2e) profiles, anxiety and social-emotional concerns that impact learning, and processing speed or working memory weaknesses.

How is a private evaluation different from a school evaluation?

School evaluations focus on whether a child qualifies for special education services. Private evaluations are typically more comprehensive — they cover a broader range of areas, can provide clinical diagnoses that schools generally do not, and produce a detailed report that's yours to share with schools, tutors, therapists, or any other provider.

What happens after the evaluation?

You'll receive a detailed written report with findings and individualized recommendations for home, school, and outside support. A feedback session walks you through everything so you understand the results and feel confident about next steps — whether that's pursuing an IEP or 504 plan, finding a tutor or therapist, or simply understanding your child better.

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, affecting roughly 1 in 5 children. Yet many kids go years without being identified — not because the signs aren't there, but because dyslexia looks different at different ages and is often mistaken for laziness or a lack of effort.

Early signs (ages 4–6)

Difficulty learning letter names and sounds, trouble rhyming, difficulty breaking words into sounds, delayed speech or mixing up sounds in words, and struggling to learn sequences like the days of the week.

School-age signs (ages 7–12)

Slow or labored reading aloud, guessing at words instead of decoding them, frequent spelling errors even on practiced words, avoidance of reading tasks, a noticeable gap between verbal ability and written output, and taking much longer than peers to complete reading assignments.

Older students and teens

Slow reading speed, difficulty with reading comprehension in content-heavy classes, trouble with foreign language learning, and low confidence around academic tasks. Some students develop strong coping strategies that mask the underlying difficulty.

When to seek a dyslexia evaluation

If your child is consistently struggling with reading despite good instruction, or if you see a pattern of frustration and avoidance around reading and writing, an evaluation can provide clarity. Early identification is key — the sooner dyslexia is identified, the sooner your child can receive evidence-based interventions like structured literacy instruction that are proven to help.

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in children, yet getting a clear, thorough evaluation can feel confusing — especially when you're not sure if your child's difficulties are "just a phase" or something more.

What does ADHD look like?

Some children are primarily inattentive — they have trouble focusing, lose track of instructions, and appear to be daydreaming. Others are hyperactive-impulsive — they fidget, talk excessively, and act without thinking. Many show a combination of both. In girls especially, ADHD is often the quiet, inattentive type, which can go unnoticed for years.

What does ADHD testing involve?

A comprehensive ADHD evaluation includes standardized measures of attention and concentration, behavioral rating scales from parents and teachers, assessment of executive functioning, cognitive testing for working memory and processing speed, evaluation of academic skills, and a thorough developmental and behavioral history.

How can a diagnosis help?

An ADHD diagnosis can open doors to school accommodations through a 504 plan or IEP, evidence-based interventions, a better understanding for parents and teachers, and — when appropriate — a conversation with your child's pediatrician about additional support. Perhaps most importantly, a diagnosis can be validating: understanding that their brain works differently can reduce shame and frustration.

When to consider ADHD testing

Consider an evaluation if your child's teacher has raised concerns about attention or behavior, homework takes significantly longer than expected, your child is bright but underperforming, they struggle with organization and multi-step directions, or you're seeing frequent meltdowns and frustration around school.