What is a psycho-educational assessment?
A psycho-educational assessment is a comprehensive evaluation completed by a registered clinical psychologist to better understand your child’s thinking, learning, and emotional profile. It includes diagnostic testing for ADHD, learning disabilities, giftedness, and mood-related concerns.
The results highlight your child’s strengths, areas of difficulty, and any diagnoses, providing insight you can use to support growth at home, at school, and beyond. Each report includes clear, practical recommendations for both school and home, and may also help guide therapy goals and inform educators in tailoring support.
When should I consider a psycho-educational assessment for my child?
A psycho-educational assessment can be helpful if your child is experiencing ongoing learning, attention and/or social-emotional difficulties, which could include school difficulties related to academic performance or classroom behaviour.
Psycho-educational assessments at Red Oak
Our psycho-educational assessments are comprehensive and tailored to your child’s needs, often including in-depth testing of executive function.
The goal is to clarify diagnoses when present, highlight strengths and challenges, and provide actionable recommendations to support growth at home, at school, and in daily life. All aspects of our assessments are conducted in-person by our psychologists and neuropsychologists, who combine clinical expertise with a thoughtful and compassionate approach.
We use assessment frameworks that are strengths-based, developmentally informed, evidence-based, and culturally responsive.
What you will take away from a psycho-educational assessment
- Tailored recommendations to support your child at home and school
- A comprehensive understanding of your child’s learning, emotional and social profile helping you, your child, and their school gain insight into their areas of strength and need
- An understanding of the underlying causes of learning, emotional, and social challenges
- If your child meets criteria, a diagnosis for certain conditions (e.g., ADHD, giftedness, learning disability, intellectual developmental disorder (IDD), depression and anxiety disorders)
- Essential information to inform treatment plans and target intervention
Our psycho-educational assessment process
1. Parent Intake Session
We start with a clinical interview with you to learn about presenting concerns and relevant family and developmental history. You will be asked to complete questionnaires about your child’s cognitive skills, socio-emotional functioning, and behaviour.
2. Assessment Sessions
The clinical psychologist will administer a variety of standardized tests of cognition (e.g., attention, memory) over the course of one or more days of testing. We want the assessment experience to be a positive one for your child and will take short breaks or break for the day as needed.
3. Report and Feedback Sessions
After the assessment, tests are scored, integrated into a coherent and meaningful profile, and summarized in a report, which includes recommendations individualized to your child’s strengths and needs. Results and recommendations are also discussed verbally with you and your child (depending on their age) in a feedback session.
A psycho-educational assessment can provide clarity, knowledge and helpful recommendations.
Book a psycho-educational assessment:
Our Assessment Team
Meet Red Oak’s clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists who conduct assessments
Common questions about psycho-educational assessments
Are psycho-educational assessments covered by insurance?
In Ontario, OHIP does not cover the cost of psycho-educational assessments; however, private insurance plans may cover all or part of the expense. We recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm coverage for this service.
College or university students who are receiving OSAP may qualify for a bursary that covers the assessment cost.
What are the benefits of doing a psycho-educational assessment?
A psycho-educational assessment can offer valuable insight into your child’s learning, social, and emotional profile. If your child has been struggling at school or at home and targeted interventions (i.e., supports) haven’t fully addressed the challenges, they may benefit from an assessment to gain an understanding of where and why they are struggling.
The assessment provides clear, personalized recommendations for both home and school, along with helpful education for you and your child to better understand their profile, behaviour, and any diagnoses.
The assessment report is a practical tool you can share with your child’s school to support their learning and, if needed, guide the development of a learning plan or other supports.
Do I have to share the results of a psycho-educational assessment with our school?
No, you are not required to share the results or report with your child’s school. However, we typically encourage families to do so. The report includes helpful, individualized information that can support your child’s academic, social, and emotional needs at school and can be an important tool in making sure your child receives the right supports and accommodations.
Red Oak offers a range of Psychological Assessments
ADHD Assessments
With our deep understanding of ADHD, our psychologists conduct evaluations to determine if and how your child meets the criteria for ADHD.
Learn More
Gifted Assessments
Our gifted assessments help you determine whether your child meets the criteria for identification as a gifted student.
Learn More
Neuropsychological Assessments
Our comprehensive neuropsychological assessments offer deeper insight into complex learning, developmental, or medical concerns.
Learn More
Overview of Psychological Assessments
We offer a range of assessments to help you understand your child’s unique social, emotional, and cognitive profile.
Learn MoreWhich assessment is right for my child?
Answer a few questions and we’ll help you choose the best assessment option for your child.
