Demystifying Evaluations: A Parent’s Guide to Unlocking Your Child’s Potential

Reviewed by Rebecca Reidy Bunn, PhD, Neuropsychology Post-Doctoral Fellow

As a parent, few things are more frustrating than watching your child struggle and not knowing why—or how to help. Maybe your child is falling behind in reading, melting down over homework, or constantly forgetting things at school. Perhaps their teacher has gently mentioned concerns about focus, attention, or social interactions.

You’ve probably asked yourself: Are these growing pains? Will things resolve on their own, or are we missing something?

This is where a comprehensive evaluation can be life-changing. While diagnoses might be part of the picture, an evaluation’s purpose is not to name but rather to provide an understanding of your child’s thinking and learning profile. And more importantly, it’s about identifying the tools and support your child needs to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

What is an Evaluation?

At its core, an evaluation is a deep dive into how your child learns, thinks, and feels. 

There are two primary types:

1. School-Based Evaluations: Conducted by school staff, including school psychologists or special educators, these evaluations focus on determining eligibility for special education services under state and federal law. They often assess academic skills, attention, and emotional functioning. Overall, these evaluations aim to determine whether your child’s challenges have a functional impact at school and to identify the next steps to support them if needed.
2. Clinical Evaluations: Conducted by licensed professionals such as neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, or psychiatrists, these evaluations look beyond the bounds of school functioning. They use psychological and medical criteria (like those found in the DSM-5) to identify neurodevelopmental and socio-emotional disorders such as ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, anxiety, or mood disorders. Overall, these evaluations focus on understanding your children’s strengths and areas of vulnerability and, most importantly, provide recommendations for both school and home.

Both types of evaluations are important and may overlap, but they serve different purposes. If your child is facing challenges that affect daily life beyond academics, or if you feel your concerns haven’t been fully addressed in the school setting, a clinical evaluation can offer the broader picture.

When Should I Consider Getting My Child Evaluated?

Here are just a few signs that a professional evaluation might be helpful:

• Difficulty keeping up academically, regardless of effort
• Frequent forgetfulness, disorganization, or rushing through work
• Challenges with focus, impulse control, or following directions
• Mood swings, anxiety, or social withdrawal
• Trouble expressing ideas, understanding language, or following conversations
• A history of medical issues that may impact learning (like seizures, head injury, or developmental delays)

Whether your child is struggling quietly or externalizing their behaviors, evaluations help uncover what’s going on beneath the surface. Sometimes, the answer is ADHD. Sometimes it’s a learning disability. Sometimes it’s anxiety getting in the way of thinking clearly. And sometimes, it’s a combination of factors.

What Happens During A Clinical Evaluation at Sasco River Center?

The evaluation process may sound formal, but it’s designed to be supportive and informative. Here’s what to expect:

1. Initial Contact & Intake

You’ll start by meeting with the clinician to discuss your concerns, your child’s history, and what prompted the referral. This helps tailor the evaluation to your child’s unique situation.

2. Testing Sessions

Your child will participate in one-on-one sessions. These sessions typically last three to four hours and take place over a couple of days. Building a good rapport to create and maintain buy-in is at the heart of our evaluations. Thus, we work to create a low-pressure environment fueled by curiosity and collaboration. We strive to facilitate a calm and child-friendly environment. Clinicians select specific tests to assess various skills—think of it like a detailed map of how your child’s brain works.

3. Collateral Information

Input from current teachers, previous evaluations, and parent rating scales help complete the picture. As we are interested in understanding how your child navigates various environments and responds to different demands, parent and teacher insights are essential.

4. Feedback Session

A few weeks after testing is complete, you’ll meet with the clinician to walk through the findings and recommendations. This is a time to ask questions and gain clarity.

5. Written Report

You’ll receive a comprehensive report that summarizes everything: history, test results, observations, diagnoses (if applicable), and detailed recommendations.

6. Child Feedback Session

At Sasco River Center, we offer developmentally tailored child feedback sessions. This is a time for the clinician to meet with your child to explain the results and help your child feel seen and supported.

7. Follow Up

As parents can feel overwhelmed with information during the feedback process, we offer a complimentary three-month follow-up to meet and discuss if any additional direction or recommendations could be beneficial.

What Exactly Gets Evaluated?

A comprehensive evaluation looks at the whole child—strengths, challenges, and everything in between. Here are the key areas that are typically assessed:

• Intellectual Functioning (IQ): Measures overall reasoning, problem-solving, and thinking abilities.
• Language: Looks at how your child understands and uses words—both expressive and receptive language.
• Attention & Executive Functions: These skills help your child plan, organize, focus, and manage time. This is often where ADHD concerns come to light.
• Learning & Memory: Evaluates how your child takes in and stores new information, both visually and verbally.
• Visual-Spatial & Motor Skills: Assesses tasks involving hand-eye coordination, copying shapes, and spatial awareness.
• Academic Achievement: Measures reading, writing, and math skills to determine if your child is performing on par with their peers and commensurate with their cognitive abilities.
• Social-Emotional Functioning: Looks at mood, anxiety, social understanding, and overall emotional well-being. Includes input from parents and teachers.
• Behavioral Observations: The clinician notes how your child engages during the testing process—are they attentive, frustrated, cheerful, or anxious?

All of this information helps form a clear, compassionate understanding of your child’s unique profile.

What Do I Do With The Results?

Once you have the report, you’re not left alone to interpret it. Your clinician will walk you through:

• Strengths and weaknesses in your child’s learning profile
• Any diagnoses (such as ADHD, dyslexia, or an anxiety disorder)
• Personalized recommendations for school and home
• Suggested accommodations (like extra time on tests, breaks, or specialized instruction)
• Next steps, which might include academic tutoring, therapy, or a school support plan (like an IEP or 504 Plan)

You’ll also receive ideas on how to better connect with and support your child—not just academically but emotionally.

Final Thoughts: Evaluations Are a Tool, Not a Label

Getting your child evaluated can feel overwhelming at first—but it’s one of the most empowering decisions you can make. When you understand why your child is struggling, you can finally identify the most effective next steps.

A high-quality evaluation turns confusion into clarity. It turns frustration into action. And most importantly, it helps your child feel understood.

Every child deserves the chance to learn in the way that works best for them—and every parent deserves the information needed to advocate confidently.

If you’re unsure whether your child might benefit from an evaluation, trust your instincts. Ask questions. Reach out to your school, your pediatrician, or a licensed mental health professional.

Sometimes, the first step to unlocking your child’s potential is simply understanding how they learn.

We Are Here to Help

At Sasco River Center, we specialize comprehensive neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults in Fairfield County, Connecticut, including Westport, Darien, Wilton, Fairfield, Greenwich, and surrounding areas such as Westchester County.

If your child is struggling, don’t wait—early intervention can make all the difference and increasing your understanding of your child’s profile is immensely helpful. We are here to help; contact us today!