Psychoeducational assessment
Psychoeducational Assessments
Timely assessment for ADHD, autism and learning challenges in children and teens: online across Ontario, or in clinic in Burlington, Kitchener and Wasaga.
On this page
What is a psychoeducational assessment?
A psychoeducational assessment is a multi-part evaluation of cognitive, academic and social-emotional functioning. It combines standardized testing (IQ, reading, writing, mathematics) with interviews and behavioural observation to show how a person learns, processes information, and copes at school or at work.
Undiagnosed learning differences keep many children from thriving. The sooner we understand how someone learns and adapt around it, the better the rest of their education tends to go.
It includes a series of standardized cognitive and educational measures, which are essential for diagnosing specific learning disorders and attention deficit disorders (ADHD or ADD).
If the question is emotional or behavioural rather than academic, a mental health assessment is the narrower evaluation. Where learning and mental-health questions overlap, a complex assessment covers both.
Assessing an adult? Adult assessments cover post-secondary and workplace questions, in person in Burlington or online.
We also offer autism, virtual and in-home assessments, or see all assessments.
Signs parents often notice
- Struggling with reading, spelling or writing
- Finding math hard
- Not performing at grade level
- Smart but not doing well in school
- Bright, but does not do well on tests
- Highly distracted, or has trouble concentrating
- Struggling with organization, or with following instructions
- Anxious and not enjoying school
- A teacher or doctor suggested testing
Online across Ontario, or in person
Assessments are available online anywhere in Ontario, or in person. Children and teens are assessed in person at our Burlington, Kitchener-Waterloo and Wasaga Beach offices; adults in Burlington.
In-home assessments serve Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Barrie and nearby, for ages 8 and over. Virtual assessments cover the rest of Ontario.
Our goal remains no wait list. Testing usually begins within 14 to 30 days, with the report following in 8 to 10 weeks.
Every assessment is reviewed and signed by a registered psychologist. Our child and youth psychologists include Dr. Dillon Browne (PhD, C.Psych.), Dr. Sharon Verniero (PhD, C.Psych.) and Karl Storbeck (MPsy, C.Psych.).
Who it's for
The same assessment answers different questions depending on where someone is.
Early learners, 6 to 10
Confirm dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD or autism before self-esteem starts to take the damage.
Middle and high-school students
Secure extra time, technology aids and quiet rooms for EQAO, OSSLT and SAT or ACT.
Gifted and twice-exceptional students
Evidence for enrichment, acceleration or IB placement.
College and university students
Documentation for note-taking services, reduced course load, longer testing time, private testing space and technological aids.
Adults and professionals
Workplace accommodations, or exam supports for policing, law, nursing and the trades.
What's assessed: the four pillars
Standardized testing across four areas, read together, which is what turns a set of scores into an explanation.
Cognitive processing
Verbal and fluid reasoning, visual-spatial skill, working memory and processing speed. Reveals innate intellectual strengths and the bottlenecks underneath everything else.
Academic achievement
Word reading, spelling, written expression, numeracy and math fluency, plus phonetic strengths and weaknesses in language. Confirms whether school marks reflect true potential.
Executive function and attention
Planning, inhibitory control and sustained focus. Differentiates ADHD from anxiety-driven inattention.
Social-emotional
Anxiety, mood, adaptive behaviour and self-concept. Clarifies whether emotions or environment are masking real ability.
What the process looks like
Clinical interview
We review the questionnaire you submitted and gather your child's developmental, medical, family, academic and social-emotional history. Report cards, Individual Education Plans and any previous assessments are read as part of this.
Testing
Our psychometrist administers standardized assessment batteries covering cognitive functioning, academic performance and socio-emotional development.
Analysis
Scoring and interpretation, report writing, summaries, recommendations and any warranted diagnoses by the psychologist.
Feedback session
We explain the report and any diagnoses in full, including how the results may affect your child's learning, worldview and social interactions. Recommendations are written for an effective Individual Education Plan, naming the accommodations and interventions to ask for.
Parent advocacy
A workshop and individual sessions with a parent advocate, included in the service: support for acting on a diagnosis rather than being left with a document.
What you walk away with
A report written to be used, not filed.
Inside your report
- 20 to 30 pages, written in plain English
- Accommodations you can act on
- IEP-ready wording
- Grant eligibility notes, such as OSAP or the CRA Disability Tax Credit
- Next-step resources
Good to know
- Where & how
- In person or Online.
- Fees & coverage
- Not covered by OHIP. Most extended health plans from work can be applied to the cost; every plan is different, so check with your plan or HR.
- Support that often follows
The people behind your report
Testing is administered by a psychometrist and supervised, reviewed and signed by a psychologist.
Dr. Sharon Verniero
Registered Psychologist
PhD, C.Psych.
Families, Individuals, Couples
View profile
Common questions
An educational assessment can be conducted by a school resource teacher or other professional to evaluate current academic skill development. A psycho-educational assessment is conducted by a Psychologist/Psychological Associate or someone under their supervision to investigate why academic skill development has occurred as it has, or to investigate other factors affecting school performance.
Yes. Assessments are available online anywhere in Ontario, or in person in Burlington, Kitchener-Waterloo and Wasaga Beach.
No, unfortunately psycho-educational assessments are not covered by OHIP.
In most situations extended health care providers from employment can be applied to the costs of the assessment. However, because every insurance policy is different, it is always advised to check with your HR department.
Your assessor chooses a battery of tests focused on your areas of concern, to answer: does the student have a learning disability, developmental disability or attentional problems, and what are the student's academic and cognitive abilities, strengths and weaknesses? A report usually covers cognitive ability and memory, academic functioning, attention and behaviour, executive functioning and adaptive functioning.
Yes. We provide a full, comprehensive report of your child's results, and we sit with you to walk you through each part of it so that it is clear and understandable.
Your child's psycho-educational assessment is owned by you, the parent. You are free to give the report to anyone you feel is within the circle of your child's education and care, including their doctor or teacher.
Psycho-educational assessments find cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes those weaknesses are so significant that they signal a Learning Disability and, if that is the case, that formal diagnosis will be made and will be useable for legal and educational purposes. ADHD can also be confirmed through a psycho-educational assessment.
We ask parents to bring all report cards going back to JK, the IEP if there is one, any previous assessment reports, and any letters from doctors. If you attend a publicly funded school or most private schools in Ontario, most of these documents are in the Ontario Student Record; ask the school for copies.
Not necessarily. In many circumstances, what the assessment finds can be addressed by working with the teacher and parents.
Ask about an assessment
Prefer to write first? Tell us who the assessment is for and an Intake Specialist will get back to you.
Ready when you are. We're here to listen.
Browse our registered therapists and reach out when you're ready. We'll usually reply within one business day.