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Psychoeducational Evaluation FAQs

What is a psychoeducational evaluation?

A psychoeducational evaluation is the comprehensive assessment of an individual in three primary areas:

Cognitive Functioning – relates to a person’s reasoning ability, information processing systems, memory, language ability, attention, executive functioning, and ability to learn
Academic Skill Development – academic achievement, academic application skills, and academic fluency
Psychological Functioning – behavioral, emotional, and social functioning

What questions can a psychoeducational evaluation uncover?
  • Why is the individual struggling academically?
  • What are the individual’s cognitive and/or academic strengths and weaknesses?
  • Are there any significant cognitive and/or academic deficits?
  • Are there any specific information processing deficits?
  • Does the individual present with symptoms of anxiety, depression, conduct disorder or any other psychological condition that may be interfering with academic achievement or social functioning?
  • Is the individual delayed in social development or weak in social awareness?
  • Does the individual meet the criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability?
  • Does the individual present with symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder?
  • What academic interventions, modifications, and/or accommodations are most appropriate for the individual?
  • What are the most appropriate psychological interventions and recommendations?
  • What is the most appropriate academic setting for the individual?
  • Are referrals to other professionals warranted?
  • Does the individual qualify for accommodations for SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE testing?
  • Does the individual qualify for accommodations or special services in the college setting?
How long will the psychoeducational evaluation take?
Approximately six to eight hours of individually administered testing – given in two to three sessions.
What age range do you evaluate?
Ages four through adult.
What is the first step?
  • Initial Consultation – clinical interview with parent or client to obtain birth, developmental, medical, family, social, and educational history
  • School Observation – if needed or requested
What does a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation look like?
  • Review of school records and previous testing
  • Teacher report/interview
  • Global Intellectual Ability
  • Fluid Reasoning Ability
  • Comprehension-Knowledge Ability (language)
  • Quantitative Reasoning Ability
  • Cognitive Processing Speed
  • Auditory and Visual-Spatial Processing Ability
  • Visual-Motor Integration Ability/Visual Perception/Fine Motor Coordination
  • Cognitive Efficiency
  • Attention
  • Executive Functioning Skills – planning, organization, time management, working memory, metacognition, response inhibition, self-regulation (behavior & emotions), task initiation, flexibility, goal-directed persistence
  • Memory – short-term working memory and long-term retrieval
  • Phonological Processing Ability – phonemic awareness, phonological memory, rapid naming ability
  • Evaluation of Academic Achievement – word decoding skills; reading rate, accuracy, fluency, comprehension; spelling; written expression; math calculation, fluency, applied problems
  • Emotional Functioning
  • Behavioral Functioning
  • Social Functioning
  • Social Skills and Awareness
  • Adaptive Behavior
  • Sensory Processing History
What happens after testing is completed?
Our goal at Breakwater is to get the results and recommendations to the client as soon as possible so that any needed interventions may be put into place as soon as possible. Typically, two weeks after all rating materials are returned to Breakwater, parents or client will attend a ninety minute feedback session (summary session) and receive a summary report which includes:

    • Results
    • Interpretations
    • Comprehensive and individualized recommendations for:
      • academic interventions
      • social/emotional/behavioral interventions
      • classroom or testing accommodations/modifications
      • referrals to the following if warranted – medical doctor, counselor or therapist, academic tutor or coach, speech/language therapist, occupational therapist, audiologist
      • Six weeks after testing parents or client will receive a detailed and comprehensive written report
      • consultation with school/medical/other professionals if needed will be an additional charge
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions about testing.

*As a resident of Charleston County, your child (pre-school through grade 12) may be eligible for a psychoeducational evaluation at no expense to you. These are provided by the School Psychologist assigned to the public school your child attends or by the School Psychologist at Child Find (843.937.6532) if your child does not attend a public school.