Explaining psychologists’ approach to diagnosing learning disabilities and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
In honour of Learning Disabilities and ADHD Awareness Month, October 2025
What is a psychoeducational assessment?
Many parents have heard the term ‘psychoeducational assessment,’ but may not understand exactly what is involved, when such an assessment might be valuable, and the benefits of having an assessment completed.
A psychoeducational assessment provides an in-depth look at a child’s cognitive skills (i.e., thinking and reasoning), academic functioning (e.g., reading, writing, and math), their information processing skills (e.g., memory, processing speed, attention, and executive functioning), as well as their social-emotional functioning. Psychologists are uniquely trained to assess for learning disabilities. Given the likelihood that ADHD may also be present if a learning disability is diagnosed, a psychoeducational assessment, unlike some other types of assessments, provides a thorough and comprehensive look at both potential diagnoses (statistics suggest that ADHD is present along with a LD in 30-45% of cases; https://www.ldao.ca/ldmonth/#stats).
What happens in an assessment?
In an assessment, the child will work closely with the psychologist who will engage them in novel activities to assess their abilities and support them to show their best reading, writing, and math skills. Many children find the assessment experience enjoyable, and psychologists work hard to ensure the environment allows them to show their full potential.
Parents will also be heavily involved, as they will provide a thorough developmental history, participate in a clinical interview, fill out questionnaires, and provide report cards to the psychologist.
When might a psychoeducational assessment be useful?
Often, families will seek out an assessment when the child has been struggling with attaining reading, writing, or math skills at some point in elementary school. Other times, children who have been struggling with self-regulation and emotion regulation may be referred when school- or home-based strategies have been exhausted with little noticeable change.
Some specific signs that might warrant a psychoeducational assessment (Note: this list is not exhaustive):
- Difficulty understanding sound-symbol relationships (e.g., ‘b’ says ‘buh’) beyond what is developmentally appropriate
- Choppy reading (i.e., not fluent when reading aloud); misses or avoids reading words; cannot remember what was read to show comprehension of text; avoidance of reading long passages
- Difficulty producing written work; quality of written work is weaker than expected for child’s age
- Poor spelling
- Difficulty acquiring basic math facts
- Challenges with focus, organization, and following through on tasks
- Forgetfulness
- Easily distracted
- Avoidance of tasks that require focus or sustained attention
- Difficulty sitting still; excessively talking; or acting without thinking
What are some of the benefits of having a psychoeducational assessment completed?
Many parents express concern that a diagnosis may be stigmatizing for their child or could be used ‘as an excuse’ for their difficulties. Often, however, the reverse is true. A diagnosis can be validating for a child who knows they are struggling but does not have an explanation as to why nor an understanding of their difficulties. In addition to the validation and change in understanding that an assessment can offer, a holistic treatment plan can also be developed to support the child, whether or not a diagnosis is made.
If you have questions about how a psychoeducational assessment may be helpful in understanding your child, we are here to help. If your child is already diagnosed with a LD or ADHD, we have clinicians who understand how to provide effective therapy that considers your child’s learning profile.
Written by Dr. Ashley Morgan, C.Psych.
Dr. Ashley is a child clinical and school psychologist in the Vaughan area who helps families to understand what’s underneath a child’s behaviour and how to navigate big feelings. Dr. Ashley, along with other clinicians on our team, provides psychoeducational assessments to children and adolescents.