How to Choose the Right Evaluation: AD/HD, Psychoeducational, or Comprehensive
When a child or teen is struggling—with attention, school performance, behavior, or social/emotional functioning—parents often face a key question: What kind of evaluation do we need? At Heights Family Counseling, we offer three main types of evaluations. Knowing how they differ will help you pick the one that fits your family’s needs and budget.
The Three Evaluation Paths
1. AD/HD Evaluation
When to choose it:
The primary concern is attention, focus, impulsivity, or hyperactivity.
School or home is reporting symptoms consistent with AD/HD.
You want to explore supports/accommodations specific to attention and executive functioning.
What it typically includes:
Parent and teacher rating scales for attention and executive function.
Interviews about developmental, school, and behavioral history.
Standardized tests measuring cognitive and neurocognitive abilities, attention, working memory, processing speed, sustained attention, executive functioning, and emotional functioning.
A feedback session with recommendations and possible accommodations.
At our practice, the AD/HD evaluation also screens emotional functioning (since anxiety, mood, or trauma symptoms may mimic or amplify attention issues).
2. Psychoeducational Evaluation
When to choose it:
You’re seeing difficulties not only with attention, but also with academics (reading, writing, math) and possibly emotional or social concerns.
You suspect a learning disorder, or your school is requesting a thorough evaluation for special services or 504/IEP eligibility.
You want a deeper look at how learning and attention intersect.
Most private schools require a full Psychoeducational evaluation to receive accommodations as well as standardized testing, such as the SAT and/or ACT.
What it typically includes:
Cognitive (IQ) testing, academic achievement testing (reading, math, writing), processing, language, fine motor control/handwriting, executive functioning, and emotional functioning
Parent and teacher questionnaires about social, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
Review of school records, report cards, prior interventions.
Report with recommendations for home and school supports, interventions, accommodations.
3. Comprehensive Evaluation
When to choose it:
The question is complex: you may be concerned about speech-language, social/pragmatic functioning, developmental history (autism spectrum ), executive functioning plus academic issues, or multiple overlapping areas.
There are multiple domains of concern (e.g., attention + learning + social communication + emotional regulation).
You need a full picture of functioning across cognitive, academic, language, social, emotional, and developmental areas.
What it typically includes:
Extended battery of tests: cognitive, achievement, language, memory/processing, social-pragmatic measures, adaptive functioning.
Interviews and rating scales across multiple domains.
Processing and in-depth look at academics
Multiple language measures to assess receptive/expressive, social/pragmatic, and abstract languageMultiple measures to look at emotional functioning
Comprehensive report and feedback with detailed recommendations for multiple systems (home, school, community).
Possibly multiple testing sessions given the breadth of the battery.
How to Decide Which One Is Right
Define the referral question.
Is the concern mostly attention/focus? → AD/HD evaluation may suffice.
Is it academics + attention? → Psychoeducational.
Is it many overlapping concerns (learning, language, social, emotional)? → Comprehensive.
Consider the scope of the concern.
Narrow concern → narrower evaluation.
Broad concern or multiple areas → broader battery.
Evaluate the cost and time.
Narrower evaluations are typically shorter and less expensive.
Broader evaluations require more time/testing sessions and a larger cost.
Think about what you’ll do with the results.
If you need specific accommodations for school in one domain (attention) → AD/HD.
If you want a full learning profile for intervention and accommodations or need accommodations for a private school → Psychoeducational.
If you want comprehensive understanding across domains (and possibly neurodevelopmental concerns) → Comprehensive.
Ask your provider about what the battery looks like.
What tests will be used? How many hours? How many sessions?
What kinds of recommendations will come out?
How will emotional or social functioning be addressed?
What You’ll Receive Regardless of Type
A parent intake interview to gather history and concerns.
Testing sessions (length varies by the type of evaluation).
A feedback session where results are explained.
A written report with strengths, weaknesses, diagnoses (if applicable), and actionable recommendations.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right evaluation ensures that your child’s strengths and challenges are understood, and that the resulting recommendations are meaningful and tailored. At Heights Family Counseling, we guide families through this decision, helping you pick the right path and understand what to expect. If you’re unsure, we’re happy to review the concerns and help you choose the best evaluation for your situation.