If you're searching for a child psychologist in Charlotte, NC because something doesn't seem quite right for your child, you may already have a long list of questions. Maybe school has become harder, you're noticing changes in attention, behavior, learning, friendships, or emotions, or a teacher or doctor has suggested an evaluation, and you're not sure what kind your child needs.
A child evaluation can help families gather more information about what may be contributing to those concerns. The right type of evaluation depends on your child and what you're hoping to better understand.
When an Evaluation May Help
Families consider evaluations for many different reasons. Sometimes a concern has been present for a while. In other cases, a new school year, a change in expectations, or feedback from a teacher brings an issue into clearer focus.
Parents may consider a child psychology evaluation when they have questions about:
- Reading, writing, math, or other areas of academic learning
- Attention, organization, working memory, or executive functioning
- Behavior or emotional regulation
- Social communication or developmental differences
- Anxiety, mood, or other emotional concerns that may be affecting daily life
- A school recommendation for psychological or psychoeducational testing
- Private school admissions, cognitive ability, or IQ testing
A concern on this list doesn't mean your child has a particular diagnosis or necessarily needs testing. An evaluation may be useful when you want a fuller picture of your child's strengths, areas of difficulty, and possible supports.
Types of Evaluations for Children and Teens
ADHD Testing for Children
If your child is having ongoing difficulty with attention, organization, impulse control, or executive functioning, an evaluation may help clarify what could be contributing. ADHD testing for kids often looks at more than attention alone because learning, emotional functioning, and other factors can affect how a child manages school and daily responsibilities.
Explore Neuropsychological & Psychoeducational Evaluations
Autism Evaluations
Parents may seek an autism evaluation when they have questions about their child's social communication, relationships, sensory experiences, routines, or development. The evaluation can consider these patterns alongside the child's individual strengths and broader functioning.
Explore Autism Spectrum Evaluations
Learning Disability and Dyslexia Testing
When reading, writing, math, or other academic skills continue to be difficult, testing may give families a clearer picture of how a child learns and where support may be useful. Learning disability testing can help evaluate concerns related to specific learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, while also examining academic achievement alongside cognitive and processing skills that may influence classroom performance.
Explore Neuropsychological & Psychoeducational Evaluations
Neuropsychological and Psychoeducational Evaluations
A neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation may be appropriate when concerns involve several areas or when the reason for a child's difficulties isn't yet clear. Depending on the referral questions, these broader evaluations can look at learning, attention, cognitive skills, executive functioning, memory, development, and social-emotional functioning.
Explore Neuropsychological & Psychoeducational Evaluations
Admissions and IQ Testing
Some families need testing for a specific school admissions requirement, gifted programming, cognitive ability questions, or other educational purposes. The type of testing needed can depend on the school, program, and reason for the assessment.
Explore Admissions & IQ Testing
What the Evaluation Process Looks Like
Every child and every referral question is different, so the exact evaluation process can vary. In general, families may expect several parts designed to gather information from more than one perspective.
The process may include:
- A parent consultation to discuss current concerns, developmental history, school experiences, and the questions you hope the evaluation can address
- Review of relevant records, questionnaires, or information from school
- Direct testing or assessment with your child using measures selected for the specific referral questions
- A feedback meeting to discuss findings, strengths, areas of concern, and possible recommendations
- A written report when appropriate for the type of evaluation
Parent partnership is an important part of Alderwood's evaluation process. Parent meetings can give caregivers space to ask questions, understand what the information may mean in daily life, and discuss practical tools or supports for home.
When helpful and appropriate, the evaluation may also include input from teachers, doctors, therapists, or other professionals involved in your child's care. Timing can vary depending on the type of evaluation, scheduling, records needed, and the child's individual needs.
How Alderwood Approaches Evaluations
At Alderwood, your family's questions stay at the center of the evaluation. Our goal is to understand your child as a whole person, not simply focus on a score or label.
Evaluations are tailored to your child's age, concerns, strengths, history, and referral questions. Parents are included throughout the process, with time to ask questions, understand the findings, and discuss recommendations that may be useful at home, at school, or with other professionals involved in their child's care.
