What to Expect from a Psychological Evaluation for Your Child

A psychological evaluation for your child provides insight into their strengths and needs through a supportive, individualized process.

Stephanie Miodus, PhD, NCSP, Licensed Psychologist

Seeking a psychological evaluation for your child can feel like a big step. It often comes with a mix of questions, emotions, and hopes for clarity, as well as uncertainty about what the process will look like. Whether you are noticing challenges with attention, learning, social development, or behavior, or if a pediatrician or teacher has recommended testing, a psychological or neuropsychological evaluation can provide valuable insight into how your child thinks, learns, and grows.

These evaluations—including neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluations—typically assess a wide range of areas, including cognitive abilities (like memory and problem-solving), academic skills, language and communication, executive functioning (such as skills needed to plan and organize), social-emotional development, and behavioral patterns.

Depending on your child’s unique needs, the evaluation may also help clarify diagnoses such as ADHD, autism, learning disabilities (like dyslexia or dyscalculia), anxiety, or intellectual disabilities.

This post will walk you through the psychological evaluation process step by step—from the first intake meeting to the final feedback session. My goal is to make the experience as clear, supportive, and personalized as possible for both you and your child.

Steps of the Psychological Evaluation Process

1. Parent Intake Interview

The process begins with an intake interview with you, the parent or caregiver. The goal is to learn more about your child and your concerns. While you are coming for an evaluation for professional expertise in child development and diagnosis, you are the expert on your child. That’s why this process is collaborative, and the information you provide is essential to shaping an evaluation that reflects your child’s unique strengths and challenges.

Some areas we will discuss include your child’s developmental history, family background, school experiences, social relationships, strengths, interests, and goals. Understanding these factors helps tailor the evaluation and ensures we are focusing on the areas that matter most.

2. Child Intake Interview

Depending on your child’s age and communication abilities, they will typically participate in an intake interview as well. This interview helps me understand how your child experiences their difficulties and strengths from their own perspective.

For example, a school might report that a child is “defiant” or “refuses to follow directions.” But during the intake, that same child might say, “My head hurts when I try to read. Everyone else finishes so fast and I’m still on the first page.” This response may point toward undiagnosed dyslexia and anxiety rather than defiance. Hearing directly from your child provides critical insight into what they’re experiencing and what we need to assess further.

The interview begins by explaining the purpose of the evaluation to your child in a developmentally appropriate, supportive way. Your child can ask questions before we begin, and they are always invited to participate only if they feel comfortable.

At Next Steps Psychology, I tailor the interview format to each child’s communication needs. If your child struggles with open-ended questions, I offer multiple-choice formats. If they have trouble with verbal communication, I incorporate visuals they can point to. From the very beginning, the evaluation is individualized with your child’s strengths, needs, and comfort in mind.

3. Testing Sessions

After the initial interviews, your child will participate in one or more testing sessions. The number of sessions depends on what areas are being assessed. These sessions are designed to feel comfortable, age-appropriate, and supportive. Many children describe the experience as a mix of puzzles, games, and schoolwork—some parts feel like school, others like play.

Depending on your child’s age and needs, testing may include:

• Memory, attention, and problem-solving tasks

• Academic activities like reading, writing, and math

• Language and communication tasks

• Tasks related to emotional regulation, flexibility, and focus

• Play-based activities to observe social engagement

  
  

At Next Steps Psychology, I pace each session with breaks and follow your child’s lead. For younger children or those who benefit from shorter sessions, testing is broken into smaller chunks to avoid fatigue and frustration. The goal is to get a full picture of your child’s strengths and challenges while making the process as positive and stress-free as possible.

4. Teacher and School Input

With your permission, I will collect input from your child’s teachers and school staff. This provides context about how your child is functioning in the classroom, including academic performance, attention, behavior, and peer interactions. It also helps us understand whether certain challenges are consistent across settings or only appear in school or at home.

In some cases, I may conduct a school observation to gather first-hand information about your child’s engagement and behavior in the classroom. This can be especially helpful when considering whether their current school placement is meeting their needs or whether classroom-based supports could be beneficial.

5. Analysis and Interpretation

After all testing is completed and information is gathered, I analyze and interpret the results. This includes reviewing your child’s performance across different tasks, integrating data from parent and teacher input, and considering your child’s perspective.

If appropriate, I will determine whether your child meets criteria for a diagnosis (such as ADHD, autism, a learning disability, anxiety, or intellectual disability). Regardless of diagnosis, I focus on identifying how your child learns best and what types of support will help them thrive.

6. Parent Feedback Session

At Next Steps Psychology, feedback sessions are scheduled within one week of the final testing session. You’ll receive a comprehensive written report with detailed findings and individualized recommendations.

During our session, we’ll review:

• A summary of your child’s strengths and difficulties

• Any diagnoses, if applicable

• How these findings relate to what you’ve observed at home and what teachers may be seeing at school

  
  

Recommendations may include school accommodations (for an IEP or 504 Plan), therapy referrals, enrichment opportunities, or home-based strategies.

Recommendations are individualized to your child and family context. For example, for a teen with ADHD, I might recommend a consistent after-school routine using a visual schedule. But if that teen’s parents work late hours, I’d tailor the plan, so the teen uses a self-guided checklist with built-in rewards. We might design the checklist to match their interests, such as a music app-style interface with album covers as task icons for a music lover, and include breaks tied to hobbies like gaming or music production. This increases buy-in and supports real-world follow-through.

7. Child Feedback Session

I often recommend a separate feedback session with your child, depending on their age and developmental level. This helps them understand themselves better in a supportive, strengths-based way. We’ll talk about how their brain works, what’s easy, what’s hard, and what tools can help.

Many children feel empowered to know there’s a reason certain things are hard and that there are ways to make them easier. I use visual aids in this session and provide your child with a visual summary they can bring home, which also encourages continued conversations at home.

8. Follow-Up and Ongoing Support

I know that figuring out next steps can feel overwhelming. Please know that I’m available for follow-up questions, school meetings, or additional support. I care deeply about helping families feel confident and empowered as they move forward.

Tips for Parents: Preparing for the Evaluation

Psychological and neuropsychological evaluations are designed to be thoughtful and supportive—but it’s completely normal to feel unsure beforehand. Here are some tips to help your child (and you) feel more prepared:

1. Reassure Your Child

Let your child know this is not a test they can “pass” or “fail.” I often recommend saying:

“You’ll be doing different activities so we can learn how your brain works best—what feels easy, what feels hard, and how to make things that are hard now a little easier.”

2. Pack a Few Comfort Items

Bring:

• A snack and water bottle

• Glasses, hearing aids, or other assistive devices

• A small toy your child finds comforting (especially for younger kids)

  
  

3. Let Me Know About Medications

If your child takes daily medication, especially for attention, mood, or behavior, please let me know ahead of time. This helps ensure we get accurate results that reflect your child’s typical functioning.

4. Be Open During the Intake

Parents sometimes wonder how much to share. Please know that openness is extremely helpful. You know your child best, and your input helps me make the evaluation meaningful and tailored to your child’s needs.

Final Thoughts

Choosing to pursue a psychological evaluation is a meaningful and empowering step. Whether your concerns involve learning, attention, emotional development, or social behavior, an evaluation can help you better understand your child and chart a path forward.

If you’re considering a psychological or neuropsychological evaluation, I’d be happy to speak with you to see if it’s the right fit. My approach is warm, personalized, and rooted in helping children and families feel seen, understood, and supported.

You can schedule a free consultation or reach out with any questions. I’m here to help.

About the Author

Stephanie Miodus, PhD, NCSP, is a licensed psychologist in New York and Pennsylvania and the founder of Next Steps Psychology, located on the Upper East Side in NYC. She specializes in psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. Her areas of expertise include autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, dyslexia, giftedness, twice-exceptionality, and intellectual disabilities. She strives for her evaluations to be thoughtful, personalized, and empowering. Learn more about Dr. Miodus and her approach at Next Steps Psychology.