Psychoeducational Assessments
Comprehensive evaluations for learning, attention, behavioural, and social‑emotional needs.
Psychoeducational assessments help clarify a wide range of learning, attention, behavioural, and social‑emotional needs. At Constellation Psychology, we provide comprehensive evaluations to understand how cognitive, academic, and emotional factors interact in daily functioning. These assessments offer clear, evidence‑based recommendations to guide school planning, accommodations, and next steps. We proudly serve children, teens, and adults in Calgary and surrounding areas for in‑person services, and offer online assessments for clients in British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Our assessments can support the identification of:
- Learning disabilities/disorders
- ADHD and executive functioning challenges
- Behavioural concerns
- Social‑emotional and mood‑related difficulties
- Giftedness
- Intellectual disabilities
ADHD‑only assessments are also available as a standalone option for families and adults who are specifically seeking clarity around attention and executive functioning. For children, we generally recommend a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment, as it provides a fuller understanding of learning, cognitive, and emotional factors that may be contributing to concerns. You can learn more by clicking below.
Please note: Psychoeducational assessments do not include autism identification. If autism is a concern, we offer a comprehensive autism assessment that includes all components of a psychoeducational evaluation plus additional tools specifically designed to assess social communication, behaviour, and developmental history. You can learn more about our autism assessment process below.
Learning Disability Identification
Insight Into Learning Strengths, Needs, and Next Steps
According to the DSM‑5-TR, a Specific Learning Disorder (learning disability) involves persistent difficulties in learning and using academic skills. Diagnosis requires that these challenges have been present for at least six months, despite targeted intervention, and are confirmed through a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment. At Constellation Psychology, we assess reading, writing, mathematics, and related cognitive processes to understand each individual’s learning profile and guide evidence‑based recommendations.
Types of Learning Disabilities
The DSM‑5‑TR uses the diagnosis Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) with specifiers in reading, written expression, and mathematics. Terms like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are also commonly used to describe these specific patterns of difficulty.
Dyslexia may involve:
- Inaccurate or slow word reading/recognition
- Difficulty decoding unfamiliar words
- Reduced spelling accuracy
Dysgraphia may involve:
- Handwriting challenges (legibility, spacing, letter formation)
- Difficulty organizing written ideas
- Spelling accuracy
- Grammar, punctuation, and written mechanics
Dyscalculia may involve:
- Difficulty with number sense
- Challenges learning or recalling basic arithmetic facts
- Inaccurate or slow calculation
- Difficulty with math reasoning
What a Learning Disability Can Look Like
Learning disabilities often show up in everyday life long before a formal diagnosis is made. The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) notes that learning disabilities are distinct from global intellectual delays and stem from differences in the processes involved in perceiving, thinking, remembering, or learning. These challenges can affect how a person understands, organizes, or uses information, even when they have at least average reasoning abilities.
Families may notice that reading, writing, or math tasks take more effort than expected, or that progress feels slow despite extra support. Some children avoid schoolwork because it feels overwhelming, while others work very hard but still struggle to keep up. These experiences are common — and highly responsive to the right supports once properly identified.
Common Red Flags for Learning Disabilities
These signs don’t diagnose a learning disability on their own, but they may suggest that a child, teen, or adult could benefit from a psychoeducational assessment.
Early Childhood (Preschool–Kindergarten)
- Difficulty learning letters, numbers, or days of the week
- Trouble rhyming or matching sounds to letters
- Delayed speech or articulation challenges
- Difficulty with printing, pencil grasp, or fine‑motor tasks
- Trouble following directions or routines
- Challenges learning left from right
- Frustration or low confidence during early learning tasks
Early Elementary (Grades 1–3)
- Reluctance to go to school or discouragement about learning
- Avoiding tasks that feel hard or take longer than peers
- Difficulty remembering spelling patterns or sight words
- Slow, effortful reading that doesn’t improve with practice
- Trouble learning basic math facts
- A noticeable gap between effort and academic performance
Later Elementary to High School
- School avoidance or anxiety related to academic tasks
- Mood changes connected to school performance
- Difficulty keeping up with reading volume or written assignments
- Persistent challenges with math reasoning or written expression
- Strong verbal abilities but unexpectedly weak academic output
Across Ages
- Inconsistent performance (“good days” and “bad days”)
- Working significantly harder than peers to achieve the same results
- Frustration, reduced confidence, or avoidance of academic tasks
- Difficulty retaining information from one day to the next
Sources: Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) – National definition of learning disabilities. LD & ADHD Network (Canada) – Early indicators of learning disabilities. Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) – Clinical red flags for Specific Learning Disorder.
For additional information about learning disability resources in Alberta, visit the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta
Social-Emotional & Behavioural Functioning
Anxiety Disorders
Depressive Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Psychoeducational Assessment
A comprehensive psychoeducational assessment for children, adolescents, and adults costs $2,820.00 (flat fee). This evaluation provides a clear understanding of cognitive, academic, social‑emotional, and behavioural functioning and is completed by a Registered Psychologist trained in identifying Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Intellectual Disabilities, Anxiety and Mood Disorders, Behavioural Disorders, and related concerns.
The process begins with a 1 to 1.5‑hour online intake appointment to review background information, plan the assessment, and obtain consent. Assessment sessions typically include two in‑person testing appointments of approximately two hours each, involving cognitive testing, academic achievement measures, clinical rating scales, and tools assessing memory, visual‑motor integration, attention, executive functioning, and adaptive skills. Once testing is complete, families receive a detailed written report by email and attend an online feedback meeting to review results and recommendations. The typical timeline from intake to report completion and feedback is four to six weeks.
