A report after an assessment can run to many pages, full of scores and technical words. It is easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news is that you do not need to understand every number. You need to understand the picture it gives of your child, and what it recommends.
Before you read
- Ask the evaluator for the report in writing, and ask for time to read it before you meet to talk about it.
- Read it with a trusted person, such as your partner or a friend. Reading with someone else can bring more clarity.
- Keep a highlighter and a pen. Mark what is important, and put a question mark by anything confusing.
Where to start
- Read the summary first. IncludeNYC suggests starting with the summary section at the end, which highlights the key findings and recommendations and previews what the rest of the report contains.
- Read the evaluator’s observations of how your child behaved during testing.
- Look at the sections. A typical report looks at thinking and reasoning (cognitive ability), how your child processes information, academic skills such as reading, writing and maths, and social and emotional functioning. The evaluator may also ask teachers to fill in questionnaires.
- Read the recommendations carefully. A good report does more than describe your child. It suggests support and next steps.
Look at patterns, not single numbers
IncludeNYC advises looking for patterns across the results, instead of focusing on a single number. A score on one test is only part of the picture. Pay particular attention to your child’s strengths as well as the difficulties. Strengths are what the support plan can build on.
Questions to ask the evaluator
- What did you see or observe that led to this conclusion?
- How did my child do on each of the tests, in plain words?
- What does this mean for school, and for home?
- Which words in the report should I understand better?
- What do you recommend I tell my child? See talking to your child about their learning difference.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia notes that you should be given the chance to speak to the evaluator, in person or by phone, after you have read the report. Reading Rockets suggests asking whether the report brings all the individual tests together into one overall picture of your child’s strengths and needs.
Using the report at school and for documents
- Give the school a copy, and ask for a meeting. See how to prepare for an IEP meeting.
- Ask how each recommendation will be written into the IEP, who will do it and how it will be checked. See how to write measurable IEP goals.
- Keep the report safe. A report is not the same as a legal disability certificate, but you may be asked for it. See getting a learning assessment in India and the disability certificate and UDID card.
Sources
- IncludeNYC, Understanding evaluation reports.
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, What questions should I ask after an evaluation?
- Reading Rockets, Questions to ask specialists who evaluate learning disabilities.
- Disability Rights California, Understanding psycho-educational evaluations (what a typical evaluation covers).
This guide is general information, not legal, medical or professional advice. If something here does not match your situation, please speak to a qualified professional.