So Your Child Was Referred for a Neuropsychological Exam. Now What?

Psycho-Educational vs Psychological vs Neuropsychological Evaluations

What Families Really Need to Know

Many parents contact Portage Psychology asking for a “neuropsychological exam” for their child. This term is often used informally in schools to describe an evaluation meant to explain learning difficulties, attention challenges, or social and emotional concerns.

In most cases, what families are actually looking for is more accurately called a psycho-educational evaluation.

Understanding the difference matters, because choosing the right type of evaluation can save time, reduce stress, and get your child the support they need sooner.

Why “Neuropsych Eval” Is Often a Misleading Term

In school settings, “neuropsych eval” is frequently used as a catchall phrase. However, evaluations designed to identify the causes of learning and school related challenges are typically psycho-educational evaluations, not formal neuropsychological ones.

A comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation examines:

●        Attention and executive functioning

●        Memory and learning

●        Cognitive functioning

●        Academic achievement

●        Personality and behavior

●        Social and emotional functioning

These evaluations are performed by licensed psychologists with specialized training in learning, behavior, and development.

That is what we provide at Portage Psychology.

Comprehensive Psycho-Educational Evaluations at Portage Psychology

At Portage Psychology, our Comprehensive Evaluations are designed to fully understand the whole child, not just test scores.

What our comprehensive evaluations include:

●        A full day of direct testing

●        Measures of attention, executive functioning, memory, cognition, and academics

●        Assessment of emotional, behavioral, and personality functioning

●        Collateral information from parents, teachers, and therapists

●        A detailed, integrated report with individualized recommendations

What our psychologists are trained to diagnose:

●        Learning disorders such as dyslexia (reading difficulties), dysgraphia (spelling and writing difficulties), and dyscalculia (math difficulties)

●        ADHD, Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders

●        Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions

All evaluations are conducted entirely by licensed psychologists with advanced training in school psychology or school neuropsychology. This is very important because they can also help guide next steps with their deeper knowledge of schools and school systems.

Why Academic Achievement Testing Matters

When a child is underperforming in school, it is essential that academic skills are directly assessed.

Strong indicators for a comprehensive evaluation that includes academic achievement testing include:

●        Grades that do not match a child’s apparent abilities

●        Early concerns from teachers about reading, writing, or math

●        Persistent academic struggles despite effort or support

●        District screening results showing persistent high-risk scores

●        Interventions that haven’t helped

●        Difficulty holding information in mind long enough to complete tasks, such as applying spelling rules when writing.

●        Anxiety about and/or refusal to go to school

Unfortunately, many families come to us for re-evaluations only to discover that a prior evaluation never tested academic skills at all. When achievement testing is missing, learning disorders can be overlooked entirely.

Important note for parents

●        Not all psychologists are trained in academic achievement testing

●        Academic testing is more commonly taught in school psychology programs

●        It is appropriate and encouraged to ask what tests are included

A qualified professional should be happy to explain their testing battery.

When a Full Academic Battery May Not Be Necessary

If a child or teen:

●        Has consistently strong grades and standardized test scores

●        Had no early concerns raised in elementary school

●        Has no history of academic skill delays

Then it is unlikely that dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia will be diagnosed later on.

Learning disorders typically interfere with education from the very beginning.

In these cases:

●        Academic achievement testing may not be necessary

●        Evaluation may focus more on attention, behavior, or emotional functioning

Importantly, an unexpected gap between ability and performance does not automatically mean a learning disorder. It can also reflect:

●        ADHD

●        Anxiety or depression

●        Bullying or social stress

●        Disrupted schooling

●        Substance use

●        Other life or emotional factors

A psycho-educational evaluation can effectively sort through these possibilities.

Does your Child Actually Need a Neuropsychological Evaluation?

Portage Psychology does not offer formal neuropsychological evaluations even though we utilize many neuropsychological tools.

A true neuropsychological evaluation is conducted by a neuropsychologist. These evaluations are most appropriate when there is concern about:

●        Traumatic brain injury or concussion

●        Epilepsy or seizure disorders

●        Brain tumors

●        Stroke

●        Genetic syndromes affecting brain function

●        Dementia or progressive neurological illness

Neuropsychologists often work in hospitals or academic medical centers and may use multidisciplinary medical teams.

While neuropsychological evaluations are invaluable in the above situations, they are often not necessary for children with learning difficulties, ADHD, autism, or emotional concerns.

Why This Distinction Matters for Families

It is unfortunately common for families to spend months or even years on waitlists for hospital-based neuropsychological evaluations when what their child truly needs is a psycho-educational evaluation that could be completed much sooner.

This delay can be costly.

●        Children may continue to lose academic ground

●        Early intervention opportunities may be missed

●        Emotional frustration and school avoidance may increase

Early identification and support are among the strongest predictors of positive outcomes for children with learning disorders.

Choosing the Right Evaluation for Your Child

The best evaluation is the one that fits your child’s needs.

Consider a full comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation if

●        Your child is underperforming academically

●        Learning difficulties are suspected

●        School accommodations or interventions are needed

Consider a half-day psychological or psycho-educational evaluation without academic testing if

●        Attention and focus are the main concerns

●        There are no academic performance issues

●         The need to differentiate between ADHD and other mental health concerns or understand the co-existence of ADHD and mental health

Look for an evaluator who:

●        Personally conducts the intake, testing, and interpretation

●        Has experience working with schools and accommodations

●        Understands both academic and social emotional development

At Portage Psychology, all testing is conducted by the evaluating psychologist, as direct observation during testing provides valuable clinical insight.

The Goal of a Meaningful Evaluation

A useful evaluation should do more than provide diagnoses. It should tell the story of your child.

The right assessment pulls together cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral information into a clear, coherent narrative that helps families understand:

●        Their child’s strengths

●        Their child’s challenges

●        Why those challenges exist

●        What to do next and how to support your child from where they are

Portage Psychology, our goal is to provide clarity, confidence, and practical guidance so families can move forward with purpose and support.

If you’re still confused about the best path forward for your child, let’s talk. We’re happy to discuss our evaluations further with you.