Psychoeducational Evaluations: Testing for Learning Disabilities by a Specialist Based in Arlington, VA
Behind every struggle is a story worth understanding.
A psychoeducational evaluation offers a comprehensive look at how someone learns, examining intellectual ability (IQ), attention, visual-spatial skills, processing, memory, processing speed, and academic skills in reading, writing, and math. At Virginia Lindahl, Ph.D. Therapy and Psych Testing, I provide psychoeducational evaluations for clients in Arlington, Virginia, to assess for learning disabilities and related challenges. With over 20 years of experience conducting evaluations, I specialize in helping children, adolescents, and adults understand how they learn, process information, and approach challenges.
What Is Psychoeducational Testing?
A psychoeducational evaluation assesses an individual’s cognitive, academic, and emotional functioning to identify strengths and challenges related to learning and attention. During testing, I use evidence-based tools to measure areas such as:
Cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills
Reading, writing, and math achievement
Attention, focus, and executive functioning
Memory and processing speed
Social and emotional factors that impact learning
I may choose to add or remove steps when specifically testing for learning disabilities or testing for ADHD. In the end, understanding the “why” behind your challenges makes a world of difference. You’ll finally have answers, along with practical recommendations for school accommodations, workplace adjustments, and targeted interventions.
The Goals of Psychoeducational Testing
Testing can help identify learning disorders such as dyslexia (reading), dysgraphia (writing), and dyscalculia (math), as well as other cognitive barriers that make learning harder than it should be. The goal is to understand your or your child’s strengths, pinpoint areas of difficulty, and make sense of why certain tasks feel frustrating, confusing, or overwhelming.
Psychoeducational testing is often the first step toward meaningful support. By identifying learning differences early, we can better tailor strategies, educational planning, and school or workplace accommodations. Testing results can also be used to request modifications for standardized exams such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or AP tests.
Using Psychoeducational Testing Results for Accommodations
Without appropriate accommodations, students with learning disabilities tend to struggle with standardized testing and other classic forms of education. But armed with your test results, you can make a strong argument for yourself or your child to have the support they need. Common accommodations for learning disabilities include:
Extended time
Distraction-reduced testing environments
Access to assistive technology (like laptops, calculators, or speech-to-text devices)
The use of tools like graph paper
Modified schedules
Your evaluation will include clear documentation for these supports, along with practical recommendations to help you or your child navigate learning with more confidence.
Testing for Learning Disabilities or ADHD in Arlington, VA
All psychoeducational testing done by Virginia Lindahl, Ph.D. Therapy and Psych Testing is conducted in person at my office in Arlington, VA. After testing, I provide a written report and meet with you to review the results and discuss next steps. If you or your child is struggling with focus, school performance, or executive functioning, testing for learning disabilities or testing for ADHD may be able to provide the clarity you’ve been seeking. To explore if this is right for you, contact me today to schedule an initial consultation!