Psychological Testing
At West County Behavioral Health, we offer comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations to help families understand how their child learns, what supports their success, and what may be making school and daily life more difficult. Because medical and educational criteria differ, families often receive mixed messages. Our evaluations help make sense of both systems by providing clarity and guiding family and school planning with clear, actionable recommendations to support success.
What is a Psychoeducational Evaluation or Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
A psychoeducational evaluation (or IEE) is an in-depth assessment of how a child learns, processes information, and functions across academic, cognitive, and social-emotional domains. These evaluations do not provide a medical or educational diagnosis. Instead, they identify patterns that align with both medical and school-based criteria, helping families understand their child’s strengths, the challenges affecting daily and academic functioning, and what supports may be appropriate at home, in clinical settings, and in school.
All evaluations are conducted by a doctoral-level school psychologist with extensive experience in both educational and clinical settings. The process may include:
- Standardized cognitive and academic testing
- Executive functioning and attention measures
- Social-emotional and behavioral rating scales
- Parent and teacher interviews
- Review of school and medical records
- Observations when appropriate
Each evaluation concludes with a clear, parent-friendly report designed to support decision-making at home, in daily life, and in school. Results can be shared with school teams to promote educational outcomes and inform service decisions.
Areas We Assess
- Our evaluations can address a wide range of concerns, including:
- Learning differences (dyslexia, orthographic processing) and academic challenges (reading, writing, math)
- Attention and executive functioning (ADHD)
- Memory and processing concerns
- Social-emotional functioning (anxiety, depression)
- Behavioral challenges
- Autism-related characteristics
Evaluation Tiers
We offer three levels of psychoeducational evaluations to meet a wide range of needs:
Tier 1: Basic Psychoeducational Evaluation
For single-domain concerns such as reading, math, writing, or attention.
Tier 2: Multi-Component Psychoeducational Evaluation
For children with concerns across multiple areas, including memory, learning, attention, behavior, and/or social-emotional functioning.
Tier 3: Autism/Complex Psychoeducational Evaluation
For children with more complex presentations or when autism-related characteristics are a concern.
Each tier includes an individualized assessment plan and tailored recommendations.
Why Choose West County Behavioral Health for Testing?
- Expertise in Both School and Clinical Settings– Medical and educational diagnoses are not the same, and families are often left trying to interpret conflicting information. With extensive experience in both settings, Dr. Sussman-Dawson provides clarity on how your child’s profile aligns with school‑based and medical eligibility, helping you understand what supports may be available to your child in each system.
- High-Quality, Actionable Reports– Our reports are thorough, easy to understand, and designed to be useful for IEP/504 teams, therapists, and other providers. Families receive clear next steps and practical recommendations.
- Quick Turnaround Time– We know families need answers quickly. Our evaluation process is efficient, organized, and provides timely results, so that families can move forward with clarity and confidence.
- Wraparound Supports– After the evaluation, families can access ongoing support through our clinic’s therapy, psychiatry, and skills‑based services. Your child can continue care with providers who understand their evaluation results and can help implement ongoing services.
- Compassionate, Family-Centered Care– We know that seeking an evaluation often comes during moments of uncertainty. Our approach is warm, collaborative, and focused on helping families feel supported, informed, and empowered.
Schedule an Evaluation Today!
If your child is experiencing learning difficulties, attention deficits, social-emotional challenges, behavioral concerns, and/or struggles with memory, a psychoeducational evaluation can provide the insight and direction your family deserves. Early diagnosis is key to effective support and educational success.
Contact West County Behavioral Health to schedule an evaluation and take the next step toward clarity, confidence, and a more supported path forward for you and your child.
