When Does My Child Need a Psychoeducational Evaluation?

When our children are struggling, endless questions go through our heads. Is it something I did, or didn’t do? Are they eating enough of the right food? Are they getting enough sleep? Is it time for therapy? Is it time for me to seek help, or is this something that will go away in a few weeks?

These questions are valid, normal, and understandably overwhelming! While I can’t give an answer for your specific situation (but you can schedule a complimentary consult with me!), let’s walk through some of the most common reasons I see families seek out an evaluation.

Developmental Milestones: If milestones are not being met as expected (CDC Milestones), or if there are concerns consistent with autism. These evaluations can be done as early as 18 months to 2 years old.

Speech & Language Delays: Challenges with communication, understanding, or expressing ideas. If this is the only concern, I would likely refer you to one of our incredible speech therapists in the community.

Learning Challenges: If your child is consistently struggling (~6 months) to understand academic concepts or performing below grade level in reading, writing, or math, this may be a good time to seek out an evaluation to investigate the root cause. For example, a child might guess a word based on it’s first letter when reading, or have trouble solving simple math problems despite regular practice. Oftentimes, public schools are ready and willing to provide intervention even before doing an evaluation (called RtI or MTSS - tiered support for general education students struggling with reading, writing, or math). Talking to your child’s teacher is a great place to start.

Attention & Focus: Trouble concentrating, difficulty staying on task, struggling to stay organized, or frequently becoming distracted can be symptoms of ADHD or other attention concerns.

Behavioral Concerns: While the occasional tantrum is part of normal development, persistent tantrums, defiance, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with a child’s functioning at home and/or school might indicate something else is going on.

Social Difficulties: Consistent struggles with making or keeping friends, understanding social cues, or frequent conflict with peers.

Emotional Concerns: Signs of anxiety (excessive worry, tenseness, difficulty sleeping), depression (irritability, not enjoying things they used to enjoy, lack of motivation, seeming ‘lazy’), or frequent and uncontrollable mood swings.

Gifted or cognitive evaluations: Is my child just bored in class? Gifted evaluations can help us better understand how your child’s brain works and learns.

School Placement or Accommodations: To provide information on what academic support could be beneficial. This is especially helpful for 504 plans or private schools.

At any one time, each of these concerns could be part of normal development. What becomes a concern is when these persist (more than 3-4 months), are consistent across settings, and are negatively impacting their functioning, or when there are sudden and unexpected changes in your child’s mood, behavior, academic performance, or relationships. An evaluation can be a powerful tool to better understand the root cause of the symptoms, build skills, and embrace the child’s identity.

Early identification and intervention can make a world of difference in helping your child thrive, both academically and emotionally. No matter what challenges your child is facing, there is support available to help them succeed.

I would love to be a part of your child’s team! If you are located near Houston, TX - click here to set up a complimentary consultation call.