Clinical Psychoeducational Evaluations

Podcast with Dr. Baldwin: Adolescents struggling in school

Please click the play button below to hear a Podcast from The Mary Waldon Show where Dr. Baldwin discusses the importance of a thorough Neuropsychological assessment for Adolescents who may be struggling in school:

What is a Psychoeducational Evaluation?

A private Psychoeducational evaluation usually occurs after parents have witnessed their child struggling in many aspects of life, including academic achievement. Perhaps parents have sought services through the school district and are seeking additional information, guidance or support. A thorough Psychoeducational evaluation report details their child’s strengths, weaknesses, and neurological development. Aside from determining if their child has been “diagnosed” with a learning issue, test findings often detail important information about a child’s natural learning style, detailed by specific strengths and weaknesses. Neurobehavioral Sciences can offer assessments to explain that “the testing showed us that you are very smart. You just have a problem with your attention.” After so much frustration, or self-loathing, it is very powerful for a child to hear a Neuropsychologist reinforce that they are smart and capable, and back it up with objective evidence. There may actually be a neurological basis for challenges that are mistakenly construed as “lack of motivation” or “just lazy.” This can impact self-esteem, coping behaviors, and their relationships with friends and family. Many of these issues can be resolved if an assessment is conducted and an appropriate course of action is identified.

A comprehensive Neuropsychological assessment can help evaluate an individual’s current level of overall functioning, and then isolate certain problem areas that are likely to be interfering with their ability to be more successful. Once these problems are identified, a list of modifications and/or accommodations can be recommended in an effort to tailor specific plans for the individual and for parents, spouses, family members, teachers, and other professionals who live/work with them. This plan will help the individual to function more effectively in their academic, work or social environment.

How does a Neuropsychological evaluation differ from a learning disability assessment done at school?

Learning disability assessments conducted at school usually focus upon measuring IQ-academic achievement discrepancies. School evaluations usually do not provide an overview of all cognitive abilities. A Neuropsychological evaluation within the context of a Psychoeducational context is an interactive assessment that uses standardized procedures to understand the process of how and why an individual behaves, struggles, or fails. The focus is upon understanding the reasons for the problem. The results should be linked to interventions, which may or may not be school based.

School assessments tend to successfully identify students with learning problems when the students are older and the academic failure is more pronounced. By design however, a school-based evaluation may miss subtle learning problems, particularly in bright children or younger children.

Time can also be a key concern when opting school-based evaluations. Despite the best of intentions, most often the school process takes longer than an independent specialist.

Neurobehavioral Sciences can provide consultative services for the school or participate in a telephone conference with the child’s parents, teachers and appropriate school administrators in an effort to discuss assessment findings and to coordinate follow-up plans for optimal success in school. Additional fees will be charged for school or phone conferences.

When is a Psychoeducational Evaluation Needed?

Early speech and language delays
Poor performance in one specific area or subject
Poor reading comprehension
Difficulty remembering basic math facts
Difficulty putting their thoughts into writing
Poor spelling
Difficulty remembering what he or she has studied
Poor performance on tests despite the fact that they have studied
Difficulty finishing work or tests in the allotted time
Difficulty identifying what information is important when they read or study material
Difficulty with long-term projects or follow-through
Poor organization
Poor attention in class/excessive daydreaming
Emotional/Behavioral Problems

What are the Benefits in Obtaining a Psychoeducational Evaluation?

Obtain an accurate diagnosis from a thorough Neuropsychological Psychoeducational assessment, which will directly impact medication decisions and intervention/treatment planning.
Accommodations for testing (e.g. GRE, LSATs, MCATs, etc.)
Identification of career and vocational interests prior to college placement
Identifying if the clinical needs of the child and adolescent are better addressed in an alternative placement (i.e. outside the traditional school setting). Such placements may include an initial placement in an intensive observation and assessment center, wilderness intervention, residential treatment center or therapeutic boarding school.
Provide additional clinical information outside of the school system for comprehensive 504 or Individual Educational Planning.

Special Education Categories

Autism
Speech or language impairment
Deaf-blindness
Emotional disturbance
Hearing impairment including deafness
Intellectual disability
Multiple disabilities
Orthopedic impairment
Other health impairment
Specific learning disability
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment including blindness
A student ages 3-7 experiencing developmental delays whose disability affects their educational performance and who, by reason thereof, meeds special education and related services.