The Benefits of Spring Testing: Why Now Is the Ideal Time for Your Child’s Evaluation

If you have been considering having your child undergo an evaluation for ADHD, autism, or a learning disability like dyslexia, or if you have been recommended to seek a comprehensive assessment due to academic, social, or behavioral difficulties at school, spring might be the perfect time to take that next step. Psychological and neuropsychological testing during the spring can provide answers, guide school planning, and set your child up for success in the fall—all without the pressure of back-to-school deadlines. In this post, we will explore why spring can be an opportune season for scheduling an evaluation and how it can benefit both your child and your family.

Why Is Testing Important?

First, it is important to understand the purpose of psychological and neuropsychological testing. Assessments can provide insights into your child’s strengths and areas for growth by offering a comprehensive picture of how your child thinks, learns, and interacts with the world. Evaluations examine areas including cognitive abilities like problem-solving and visual-spatial skills (such as navigating space), academic performance to pinpoint any learning difficulties in areas such as reading, writing, and math, and communication skills. Nonverbal reasoning, such as recognizing patterns, is also assessed. Attention and executive functioning are evaluated as well, helping identify how your child manages focus, organization, and self-control. Other areas that can be explored include memory, motor skills (which help us understand your child’s coordination), and everyday life skills like self-care. Finally, social, emotional, and behavioral assessments highlight how your child manages relationships, emotions, and different environments. Taken together, this information helps create a full understanding of your child’s strengths and areas for support.

This information is then used to guide recommendations for your child at home and school. These recommendations are individualized to promote your child’s strengths and create opportunities for them to apply those strengths to make progress in areas that are more challenging. They will also help your child’s school understand what supports are needed for success in the academic setting, and an educational consultant like those at Evolved Education Company can assist you in advocating for these services, school accommodations, or support in finding the right educational placement if it is determined that a different setting would better meet your child’s needs.

Why Spring?

Although people often think about testing for their child just before or at the start of a school year, there are several benefits to evaluations during the spring, before the current school year ends:

• Your child is in their normal routine, so testing reflects how they are performing day to day at school. When needed, this also allows for a school observation as part of the assessment process.
• Teacher input is a key component of evaluations. Spring is an excellent time to gather information from teachers and hear their perspectives. At this point in the school year, teachers know your child well, having worked with them for several months, and can provide up-to-date information on their behaviors and academic work.
• When assessments are completed in the spring, this gives you time to prepare for back-to-school in the fall. You can plan for the supports that will be needed, upcoming IEP meetings, or when necessary, identifying a different learning environment that better fits your child.
• Spring testing also allows your child’s school to implement recommendations from the very start of the new school year.
• Recommendations from the evaluation can also help you understand what type of support your child may need during the summer, such as tutoring or a social skills group.
• Having more information now can bring relief to you and your child, as you will be equipped with a greater understanding of their needs and a clear action plan for the next steps.

Spring can be an ideal time to gain clarity about your child and prepare for the upcoming year. Testing now allows you and your child time to reflect, plan, and take action before the next school year begins. At Next Steps Psychology, I specialize in comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations tailored to each child’s unique strengths and challenges. If you are considering testing, now may be the right moment to take that first step. I would be happy to speak with you about whether an evaluation is right for your child.

About the Author

Stephanie Miodus, PhD, NCSP, is a licensed psychologist and founder of Next Steps Psychology, a private practice based in New York City. She specializes in comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children and adolescents, with a focus on autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and giftedness. Dr. Miodus is passionate about helping families better understand their children’s unique strengths and needs.