By Stephanie Hewitt, Ed.S., NCSP, LEP 3975, ABSNP | Published October 30, 2026
Not every child who struggles needs a formal evaluation, but it may be time to consider one if your child is working much harder than expected, still struggling with reading, writing, or math despite support, or showing ongoing stress, attention, or social difficulties. Below, I share seven signs to look for and how to decide where to start.
I’ve talked with so many parents who are worried about their child but aren’t sure what to do next.
Maybe homework has become a nightly battle. Maybe your child is struggling with reading, even though you’ve practiced together over and over. Or maybe their teacher says everything is fine, but you can tell something isn’t quite right.
One example that reflects several families I’ve worked with is a child who was bright and capable but having a really hard time keeping up with schoolwork. After an evaluation, we had a much better understanding of the child’s learning and attention needs. We were able to recommend supports, including changes to homework expectations, that made the workload more manageable.
For families who have been struggling for months or even years, finally understanding why things are so difficult can be a huge relief.
This is one of my favorite parts of being a Licensed Educational Psychologist. It’s not just about identifying a diagnosis. It’s about understanding how a child learns and helping families find practical ways to support them.
Of course, not every child who struggles with homework has ADHD or a learning disability. And not every child needs a formal evaluation.
But there are some patterns I encourage parents to pay attention to.
Here are seven signs that it may be time to take a closer look.
1. Your Child Is Working Much Harder Than Expected
Some children spend hours on homework that should take 20 or 30 minutes. Others need constant reminders, extra explanations, or a parent sitting beside them to finish their work.
You might notice that your child understands a concept when you talk about it but struggles to show what they know on paper. Or maybe they can answer questions out loud but have a hard time completing written assignments.
Sometimes parents are told their child just needs to try harder or be more motivated. But often, these children are already trying incredibly hard.
There may be differences in how they process information, remember instructions, organize their thoughts, or complete tasks.
An evaluation can help us understand what’s making schoolwork so difficult and what might help.
2. Reading, Writing, or Math Continues to Be Difficult
All children struggle with new skills from time to time. But when difficulties continue despite good instruction and extra practice, it’s worth looking into.
For example, your child might:
- Have trouble sounding out words or reading smoothly.
- Read a passage but struggle to remember or explain what they read.
- Have great ideas but find writing them down exhausting.
- Struggle to remember math facts or follow the steps in math problems.
- Avoid certain subjects because they feel frustrated or embarrassed.
Sometimes these patterns are related to a learning disability, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia. Other times, attention, language, working memory, or other factors may be involved.
A psychoeducational evaluation helps us understand how a child learns and why certain skills may be harder for them.
3. Attention, Organization, or Getting Started Are Constant Challenges
Does your child forget assignments, lose materials, or have trouble getting started on tasks?
Maybe they understand exactly what they’re supposed to do but can’t seem to get going. Or they start something, get distracted, and never finish.
These skills are part of what’s called executive functioning. They help us plan, organize, manage time, remember information, and follow through on tasks.
Executive functioning skills develop throughout childhood and adolescence, so some challenges are expected.
But when these difficulties regularly interfere with school or daily routines, it may be helpful to understand what’s going on.
ADHD is one possible explanation, but it’s not the only one. Anxiety, learning differences, sleep difficulties, and other factors can also affect attention and organization.
4. School Is Causing a Lot of Stress or Frustration
Sometimes the first sign that a child needs support isn’t a low grade. It’s how they feel about school.
You might notice:
- Frequent tears or frustration during homework.
- Complaints of stomachaches or headaches before school.
- Saying things like “I’m stupid” or “I hate school.”
- Avoiding reading, writing, or other difficult tasks.
- Becoming upset over assignments that seem manageable to others.
When children struggle without understanding why, they may begin to believe something is wrong with them.
I see this as one of the most heartbreaking parts of my work. Children who are bright, creative, funny, and capable can start to feel like they’re not smart enough because certain things are harder for them.
An evaluation can help us understand what’s contributing to their frustration. It can also help children recognize their strengths and understand that needing support doesn’t mean they’re less capable.
Of course, stress and anxiety can have many causes. Sometimes support from a teacher, pediatrician, or mental health professional is the best first step.
5. Social Situations or Communication Feel Difficult
Some children have a harder time understanding social situations, making or keeping friends, or communicating what they need.
You may notice that your child:
- Has trouble joining conversations or group activities.
- Often feels misunderstood by peers.
- Finds changes in routines especially stressful.
- Has strong sensory preferences or sensitivities.
- Seems exhausted after spending the day at school.
There are many reasons a child might have these experiences.
For some children, they may be related to autism, ADHD, anxiety, or differences in communication and sensory processing.
Being neurodivergent isn’t something that needs to be fixed. But understanding how a child’s brain works can help families and schools make changes so the child feels more comfortable, supported, and understood.
An evaluation can help identify support needs while also recognizing a child’s interests, abilities, and unique strengths.
6. Your Child’s Abilities Seem Inconsistent
This is something I see often in my evaluations.
A child might have an incredible vocabulary but struggle to read. They might understand advanced math concepts but have trouble remembering basic math facts. Or they may be creative, curious, and full of ideas but struggle to complete everyday assignments.
Parents sometimes hear, “They’re so smart. They just need to try harder.”
But being bright doesn’t mean every part of learning comes easily.
Some children have both advanced abilities and a learning or developmental disability. This is sometimes called being twice-exceptional, or 2e.
These children can be especially difficult to identify because their strengths may hide their challenges, and their challenges may keep others from recognizing their strengths.
A comprehensive evaluation can help us see the whole picture.
7. You Have Concerns, Even Though Your Child’s Grades Are Fine
One of the most common things I hear from parents is, “I know my child is struggling, but the school says they’re doing fine.”
Good grades are wonderful, but they don’t always tell the whole story.
Some children work incredibly hard to earn those grades. Others receive so much help at home that their teachers don’t see how difficult schoolwork really is.
And some children are doing well academically but struggling with attention, anxiety, social relationships, or emotional regulation.
Parents know their children in ways that report cards and test scores can’t always capture.
If you’ve noticed a pattern of challenges that continues over time, it’s reasonable to ask questions and seek more information.
You don’t have to wait until your child is failing to explore whether additional support would help.
Does My Child Need a Private Evaluation, or Should We Start With the School?
One thing I always tell parents during consultations is that they can request an evaluation through their public school at no cost.
In fact, sometimes that’s exactly what I recommend.
If you have concerns about your child’s learning, attention, or development, you can submit a written request to the school asking for a special education evaluation.
The school will review the request and determine whether an evaluation is warranted under special education law. If the school declines to evaluate, it must provide written notice explaining its decision.
School evaluations are designed to help determine whether a student qualifies for special education services and what educational supports they may need.
If your child doesn’t qualify for special education but still needs help, the school may also consider a 504 Plan, which provides supports like extra time or breaks.
A private evaluation can be another option. Families may choose one because they want a closer look at their child’s learning and development, have questions about a possible diagnosis, or want an independent perspective.
Neither option is automatically better. It depends on your child, your concerns, and what you’re hoping to learn.
When I meet with families, I want them to understand their options before deciding how to move forward. Sometimes that means scheduling an evaluation with Learning Pathways. Other times, it means encouraging them to start with their school.
My goal is to help families find the right next step for their child.
What Happens During a Psychoeducational Evaluation?
A psychoeducational evaluation is much more than giving a child a few tests.
Depending on the concerns, it may include interviews with parents and teachers, a review of school records, questionnaires, and activities that help us understand how a child thinks, learns, remembers, pays attention, and solves problems.
We look for patterns across different sources of information. We also look closely at strengths.
I love being able to tell parents not just where their child is struggling, but also where they’re doing well. Sometimes those strengths are things families already recognize. Other times, we discover abilities that haven’t been obvious in the classroom.
At the end of the process, families receive a written report explaining the findings and recommendations for home, school, and other settings.
The goal isn’t simply to give a child a label. It’s to help the adults in their life better understand them and make informed decisions about support.
Where Do We Go From Here?
If your child is struggling, you don’t need to have all the answers before asking for help.
You also don’t need to wait for things to get worse.
Sometimes an evaluation is the right next step. Sometimes a conversation with the teacher, pediatrician, or another professional is a better place to start.
Either way, asking questions is a good thing.
Every child deserves to feel understood, capable, and supported as they learn and grow.
Wondering Whether an Evaluation Is Right for Your Child?
At Learning Pathways Educational Psychology, our team provides comprehensive and targeted evaluations for children, teens, and adults, including evaluations for learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, and social-emotional concerns. We serve clients throughout Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Roseville, Rocklin, and the greater Sacramento area.
We focus on understanding each child’s unique strengths and needs and providing practical recommendations that families and schools can use.
If you’re unsure whether an evaluation would be helpful, we’d be happy to talk with you about your concerns and possible next steps.
Note: Examples in this article are drawn from clinical experience. Details have been combined or changed to protect client privacy.
This post is general information, not a substitute for an evaluation or professional advice.