Questions after Receiving Your Child's Psychological Assessment Results

Bringing your child for a psychological assessment can bring about a lot of difficult feelings.

Some parents feel really worried about what the results will say about their child. They have questions such as: Is my child going to be diagnosed with something? Is the psychologist going to really figure out what’s going on? Will my child get the help that he/she needs? Will my child qualify for accommodations... get into the private school... make the gifted program?

All of these questions are valid! And it makes complete sense if you have or had some of those questions of your own. So now what happens when you get those questions answered by the evaluation, but maybe the results weren’t what you were expecting, or you have more concerns? How does a parent deal with that? While everyone’s situation is unique, here are some common additional questions parents encounter when they receive their child’s psychological assessment results.

How do I deal with my child’s diagnosis?

This can be such a hard thing for parents. The “label” that a diagnosis brings is tough. You’re definitely not alone on that. By the same token, it is so important to understand that a diagnosis simply puts a name on what your child is already experiencing. A diagnosis does not change your child in any way. Rather, it helps other providers be informed of how to best assist them and can lead you to finding the specific support needed to begin overcoming their challenges.

What happens when my child doesn’t qualify for an IEP/504 Plan but still needs help?

This can be very discouraging for parents who were hoping for a specialized academic plan for their child or specific accommodations. However, keep in mind that all hope is not lost. There are still many outlets available to assist with your child’s needs. A quality psychological evaluation should still outline specific, tailored recommendations that can be helpful for your child. This may include suggestions for study tips, ways to stimulate their learning outside of the classroom, homework routine “hygiene,” and useful resources in the community. The recommendations will likely also include specific pointers for your child’s teacher, which may help them better understand/help your child without the need for enforced accommodations.

What if my child’s scores aren’t eligible for the gifted program or private school I was hoping for?

It’s understandable why this would be a concern to any parent that was anticipating entrance to a specialized program. It is important to know that as long as you got your testing completed by a licensed professional qualified to administer/interpret the results, the results are likely the most accurate estimation of your child’s intellectual functioning. This means that if your child’s scores did not meet the criteria for the particular program you were looking into, the program was likely not the best option for them. Should they have been admitted as you hoped for, it could have led to significant academic challenges along the way. Please check back for an upcoming resource about other things to consider when your child is not eligible for the gifted program.

What if I have more questions about my child’s assessment results?

Ask. Ask, ask, and ask some more. All child psychological evaluations conclude with a feedback session. During that session is where you learn more about what your child’s strengths and challenges are as well as any diagnoses and recommendations. It can honestly be a lot of information to take in at once! This means that, naturally, there might be things you missed or questions you may come up with later at home, when you’re reviewing the report on your own or discussing the results with a family member or other provider. If this happens, please reach out to the psychologist that completed your evaluation. Most psychologists will make themselves available to you even after the evaluation process is complete if you have additional questions about the report.

Should I get a second opinion?

This depends on a few factors and careful consideration. You’d want to really reflect on why you think the results given are not accurate and what your true hopes are in getting a new evaluation. You’d also want to keep in mind the possibility that you could pay for another evaluation that ends up with the same results! Check back for an upcoming resource that will detail whether a second opinion of your child’s test results is right for you.