As children grow and develop, they sometimes have trouble learning in school, difficulty concentrating, or problems getting along with others. When this happens, a psychological assessment can pinpoint where the difficulties lie.

A psychological assessment offers insights into a child’s learning, social, behavioral, and personality development, with the goal of tailoring recommendations to address a child’s educational and mental health needs. The Yale Child Study Center Assessment and Testing Services Program provides a broad range of testing services to school-age children and youth throughout Connecticut and beyond.

A psychological assessment is a structured series of interviews, standardized tests, and questionnaires designed to evaluate strengths and weaknesses in several areas. For example, these tests may identify learning styles and social-emotional patterns of functioning. Some parents seek a psychological assessment out of concerns about how well their child or teen is functioning. Other parents are advised to get an assessment by one or more professionals who are concerned about the child’s learning and/or development.

The assessment ensures that everyone in a child’s world is working toward the same goals.

A psychological assessment considers the whole child, including family, school, and community factors. Assessments are always individualized, based on the child’s needs, to address the concerns that led to the referral. A psychological assessment may look at:

• Intelligence: These tests look for developmental delays, intellectual gifts, language and communication skills, and nonverbal reasoning skills.
• Achievement: By measuring mastery of reading, mathematics, and writing, psychological and educational tests can identify academic strengths and pinpoint learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. For children with special needs, the psychological assessment can help develop a Special Education Individualized Educational Program (IEP) at a Planning and Placement Team meeting (PPT).
• Memory and attention: Neuropsychological tests are often used to measure memory skills, attention skills, reasoning abilities, and executive functioning, such as planning and organizational skills.
• Behavioral, emotional, and social development: Social-emotional evaluation tools help identify depression, anxiety, or social challenges that may contribute to difficulties at home or school. If there are mental health concerns, the assessment provides direction for strategies to be used at home or school. It can also provide therapists with information for treatment planning, including whether medication is appropriate.

Even before the first appointment, parents complete the first step of a psychological assessment by filling out questionnaires regarding their child’s developmental, medical, social, and academic history. The psychological assessment plan begins with this information, as well as the results of earlier evaluations and school reports.

The next phase consists of interviews with both the parents and the child. Parents provide information about the child’s strengths and weaknesses and discuss areas of particular concern. The child then has several one-on-one testing sessions, which examine cognitive, educational, and social-emotional functioning.

Once the written report is completed, the evaluator meets with the parents to review the results and discuss the proposed recommendations.

The Yale Child Study Center Assessment and Testing Services Program provides a broad range of evaluation services to school-age children and youth throughout Connecticut and beyond, including comprehensive evaluations for children in grade school, middle school, and high school.

The Child Study Center has a longstanding reputation as both a leader in research on child development and an innovator in developing programs that connect families with the extra help—including mental health treatment and educational supports—that their children may need.

The evaluation team consists of highly trained clinicians who are passionate about helping children overcome their obstacles and fulfill their potential. Yale Child Study Center researchers explore and evaluate the efficacy of new treatments; in a clinical setting, Child Study Center clinicians have worked with some of the most challenging and complicated situations, developing a unique perspective and level of expertise.

Public schools and other agencies often refer medically and psychiatrically complex children and teens to the Yale Child Study Center because they appreciate how current and comprehensive the evaluations are. Another benefit of working with the Center is the ready access to other services. For instance, if a child needs to see other specialists, the Center can often coordinate those consultations.

As a preeminent research center focused on child development, the Child Study Center uses current, scientifically based testing measures to provide a holistic view of a child. The Center also empowers parents to act on their child’s behalf. For example, the Center’s clinicians may accompany parents to school meetings to help them advocate for their child’s educational needs.

This article was medically reviewed in January 2026.