Imagine you are shopping in the chips aisle at the grocery store. You suddenly feel overwhelmed as there are dozens of options. Do you grab the low-fat one? The one that is your favorite flavor? It just feels so confusing!

Deciding between these different options can feel a lot like deciding between a psychoeducational and psychological evaluation for your child. You may feel frustrated or confused as none are clearly explained and all seem to be the same—but they aren’t. It is imperative to know the difference between the two so your child receives the support they need to thrive in school and life.

Here is the difference between psychological and psychoeducational evaluations:

What is Psychoeducational Evaluation?

This type of evaluation is your go-to if you’re concerned about your child’s learning, school performance, or how they process information. Imagine it as the academic detective of evaluations—it focuses on how your child learns and how they navigate the academic world.

Here’s what’s typically covered in a psychoeducational evaluation:

IQ And Cognitive Skills

This part of the test identifies how your child processes information and thinks. This has nothing to do with intelligence either. This is more about determining their specific strengths and weaknesses in areas such as problem-solving, reasoning, and memory recall.

Academic Achievement

This part of the eval determines how well your child is performing in school subjects such as reading, writing, and arithmetic. It also identifies where your child’s success lands in comparison to their peers.

Processing Abilities

This part of the assessment tests how your child processes auditory and visual information. These concepts are some of the most important factors in learning.

Learning Disabilities

If your child appears to be struggling with a learning disability, the psychoeducational evaluation will help identify which one(s). For example, they may struggle with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or additional learning differences. This assessment helps diagnose those learning challenges and helps to develop a customized plan of intervention.

When to Choose a Psychoeducational Evaluation

You might opt for this type of assessment if your child is falling behind in school, having difficulty with reading or math, or if teachers have mentioned possible learning disabilities. This evaluation helps identify what’s getting in the way of their academic success, so you can create a game plan that plays to your child’s strengths while addressing their challenges.

It is your role as their parent to help set them up for success. By getting a psychoeducational evaluation, you can determine their strengths in class and where they struggle. By identifying learning disabilities and school struggles, you can get them the extra support and modifications they need to academically succeed.

What is a Psychological Evaluation?

A psychological evaluation differs from a psychoeducational evaluation. These types of evals focus more on the following:

Behavioral
Emotional
Mental health

Think of it as the “emotional investigation” that can determine how your child is thinking, behaving, and feeling, all outside of merely an academic context. This evaluation identifies how they exist and feel in their personal world, not just in the classroom.

Here is what to expect in a Psychological Evaluation:

Emotional and Behavioral Functioning

This part of the assessment investigates your child’s emotions, mood, anxiety levels, regulation, and how they respond to their environment and situations. It can be especially beneficial if you believe they struggle with mental health issues such as behavioral challenges, anxiety, and/or depression.

Social Skills

This part of the assessment observes how your child interacts with other people and how they process social interactions. If they struggle with these social interactions, it may point to issues such as social anxiety or autism.

Attention and Focus

If you notice your child struggles to stay focused or remain still, this part of the test can help assess them. It may be determined they have ADHD or other attention-related disorders.

Mental Health Disorders

If you are concerned your child may suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, a psychological evaluation will explore this. The evaluation helps to diagnose these disorders and can help determine the best interventional path to help your child.

When to Choose a Psychological Evaluation

If you suspect your child is withdrawing, having behavioral issues at the house, or struggling emotionally, it may be time to get a psychological evaluation. This assessment can help identify where their issues may be so a customized plan can be created to help them.

Children who go undiagnosed and who do not receive support suffer from low self-esteem. This lack of self-confidence and internal struggle can go well into adulthood and negatively affect them for the rest of their lives if left unsupported.

Which Evaluation Does My Child Need?

Go for a Psychoeducational Evaluation if your primary concern is how your child is doing in school academically. If their teacher keeps mentioning struggles with reading, math or writing, or you’re noticing that homework is turning into a daily battle, this is the one for you.

Opt for a Psychological Evaluation if your child seems to be struggling emotionally. Maybe they’re having a tough time making friends, seem anxious or sad more often than not, or are acting out in ways that don’t seem typical for them.

Comprehensive evaluation go for this one if you have concerns that that overlap what the psychoeducational and psychological covers. Frankly, this is one of our favorite evaluations because we get to take a look at everything - academically and social-emotionally. Read more about it below.

The Middle Ground - The Comprehensive Evaluation

Of course there is a third option! As nothing is truly black and white, your child’s struggles may fall in the middle ground section. You may want to consider a combined, comprehensive approach to both psychoeducational and psychological evaluations. For example:

Your child may struggle in school due to a mental health condition such as ADHD or anxiety. These issues can affect their focus and ability to feel confident in class.
If your child has a learning disability such as dyslexia, this can cause frustration and alter their mood and behavior.

In the above situations, identifying both emotional and learning issues can lead to a bigger picture which can help create a personal plan of support for them. Mental health professionals can offer a combined approach such as this to handle both emotional and academic needs at the same time.

Bottom Line

The Takeaway: Choosing the Right Path

Making the decision between a psychoeducational and a psychological evaluation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Think of it like this: if school performance is the main issue, lean toward a psychoeducational evaluation. If emotions and behaviors are taking center stage, go for a psychological evaluation. And if your child is showing a mix of both, consider doing both evaluations for a holistic understanding of what’s going on.

No matter which path you choose, remember that these evaluations are all about supporting your child in the best way possible. They provide valuable insights that will help teachers, parents, and professionals create a plan to unlock your child’s potential—both academically and emotionally.

Schedule a f ree consult today to find out the best type of psycho-educational evaluation to get for your child. Also, get a free copy of our ebook on Smart Tips to Prepare Your Child for a Psycho-Educational Evaluation.

The Mind Center, LLC is a thought leadership mental health brand dedicated to helping parents, their kids, and the schools they attend. At The Mind Center LLC, we specialize in psycho-educational evaluations and offer a range of services to support children. Contact us today.

The Difference Between a Psychoeducational and Psychological Evaluation