When Should You Get Your Child Tested? A Parent's Guide

Knowing When to Seek Answers

As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. When something feels off — whether it is academic struggles, behavioral challenges, or social difficulties — it is natural to wonder whether testing might provide the answers you need. Psychological testing is a powerful tool that can illuminate your child's unique learning profile and guide effective interventions.

Academic Warning Signs

Consider testing if your child consistently struggles with reading, writing, or math despite adequate instruction and effort. Other academic red flags include a significant gap between what your child seems capable of and their actual school performance, difficulty completing homework that seems disproportionate to their peers, or teachers expressing concerns about attention, processing speed, or learning in the classroom.

These patterns may indicate a learning disability, attention disorder, or giftedness that is being masked by other challenges — sometimes called being "twice exceptional" or 2e.

Behavioral and Emotional Signs

Testing may also be warranted if your child shows persistent behavioral challenges that do not respond to typical parenting strategies. This includes excessive anxiety or worry, frequent meltdowns or emotional dysregulation, difficulty managing transitions, rigid or repetitive behaviors, or significant changes in mood or behavior.

Sometimes what looks like a behavioral problem is actually rooted in an unidentified learning difference, sensory processing issue, or anxiety disorder. Testing helps us look beneath the surface to understand the root cause.

Social Concerns

If your child has persistent difficulty making or keeping friends, struggles to read social cues, seems unusually isolated or withdrawn, or has frequent conflicts with peers, testing can help determine whether there is an underlying condition — such as autism spectrum disorder or social communication challenges — that would benefit from targeted support.

What Testing Reveals

A comprehensive evaluation at KPLA assesses cognitive abilities, academic achievement, attention and executive functioning, emotional and behavioral functioning, and social-adaptive skills. The result is not just a diagnosis, but a detailed understanding of how your child thinks, learns, and experiences the world — along with specific, actionable recommendations for home and school.

If you are wondering whether your child needs testing, trust your instincts. Early identification leads to early intervention, and early intervention leads to better outcomes.