Psycho-Educational Assessment

What Is a Psycho-Educational Assessment?

A psycho-educational assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that helps understand how a child learns, thinks, and processes information. It explores the connection between cognitive abilities, academic performance, and emotional or behavioural factors that may influence learning.

Purpose
The goal of a psycho-educational assessment is to identify a child’s strengths and challenges in areas such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and academic skills. It can help explain why a child may be struggling at school and guide strategies to support their learning and wellbeing.

What It Involves
The assessment typically includes:

• Parent and teacher interviews to gather background information and observations.
• Cognitive testing to measure intellectual abilities, reasoning, and processing skills.
• Academic testing to assess reading, writing, and math skills.
• Attention and executive functioning tasks to evaluate focus, organization, and self-regulation.
• Social-emotional and behavioural screening to understand how emotions and behaviour may affect learning.

What It Can Identify
A psycho-educational assessment can help identify:

• Learning disorders (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Giftedness or advanced learning needs
• Emotional or behavioural factors impacting school performance

Outcome
After the assessment, families receive a detailed report outlining results, insights, and practical recommendations for home and school. This may include classroom accommodations, individualized learning strategies, or referrals for additional support.

A psycho-educational assessment provides a clear picture of how a child learns best—empowering parents, teachers, and the child to work together toward academic success and emotional wellbeing.