Struggling at school or work is rarely about effort. A psychoeducational assessment looks carefully at how a person learns, identifies the presence of a learning disability, and turns that understanding into concrete recommendations — for the classroom, the workplace, and home.
Psychoeducational assessments at Silm Centre for Mental Health are offered to children, adolescents, and adults at our North York (Toronto) and Oakville locations. Adults can be assessed too: many people reach university or the workforce before anyone looks properly at how they learn.
What the assessment involves
- Gathering academic and developmental information
- Collateral information (e.g., parent or teacher perspectives), with consent and when appropriate
- A review of available files and records (such as report cards or prior assessments)
- Extensive psychometric (psychological) testing
What you receive
At the end of the assessment, you receive documentation that outlines the findings and describes recommendations for treatment and/or accommodations for work or school. A psychoeducational assessment is often the document schools and post-secondary institutions require before putting accommodations in place.
People seek psychoeducational assessments for many reasons: to understand how they or their child learns, to identify a learning disability, or to get documentation for accommodations at school, post-secondary, or work. We support assessments for all of these reasons.
The documentation from this assessment can also support disability applications — including the Disability Tax Credit, long-term disability, and ODSP.
Measures we use
Depending on age and the referral question: WISC / WAIS (cognitive ability), WIAT (academic achievement), WRAML or WMS (memory and learning), and CTOPP (phonological processing). The assessment may also include additional testing for executive functioning.
Who does this assessment
Assessments at Silm Centre for Mental Health are conducted by our assessment team — psychologists working with psychometrists:
Psychologists
Psychometrists
Clinical Associate
Cost and first step
Psychoeducational assessments cost $3,500. Costs can vary depending on type of documentation required. The first step is a free initial consultation, where we gather information about what you need and explain the assessment and its cost before you commit to anything.
Post-secondary students who are struggling academically may be eligible for funding for a psychoeducational assessment — ask us and we can help you understand your options. Our services are offered by registered psychologists (often with the support from psychometrists), which means they are often covered by extended health benefits plans.
If you are wondering about more than one thing — for example, a learning disability and a mental health concern — we can often assess for both together. We will discuss the cost of the combined assessment with you at intake, or later, if we notice during the assessment that something requires further exploration. The cost is generally $500 to $1,000 more than the cost of a single assessment, depending on the scope of the additional assessment — not the cost of both assessments added together. We will never proceed without your consent.
How we approach every assessment
Every assessment at Silm Centre for Mental Health is person-centred and trauma-informed. Where records are available, we review them; with your consent, we also gather collateral information from people who know you well. And we are always screening beyond the original question: an assessment here does not simply answer yes or no — it looks for the best explanation for a person’s symptoms and patterns, which is sometimes a different explanation than the one expected. When that happens, we may ask your consent to broaden the scope of the assessment, so the answer you get is the right one.
Common questions
How long does the whole process take?
Once you reach out to us, we aim to have your intake completed within one to two weeks, and your first testing appointment scheduled two to three weeks after that. Testing is usually done in longer sessions, and we aim to complete it within one to three appointments. After testing, we aim to have your report ready within three to four weeks — so from first contact to final report, the process typically takes 8 to 12 weeks. Assessments can be completed virtually, in person at our North York or Oakville offices, or a combination of both; where possible, we prefer to meet in person for at least part of the assessment, because it gives us observational information that strengthens the report. We have no waitlist, and evening and weekend appointments are available.
What ages do you assess?
Children, adolescents, and adults. Learning disabilities don’t expire at graduation, and neither does the usefulness of understanding them.
What can the results be used for?
School and post-secondary accommodations, workplace accommodations, and planning support that actually matches how the person learns.
Do I need a referral?
No. You do not need a referral — you can reach out to us directly, fill out the initial consultation form, or book an intake with one of our psychologists (booking options below).
I did well in school. Could I still have a learning disability?
Yes. Doing well in school does not rule out a learning disability. Many people compensate for years — working far harder than their peers, leaning on strengths, steering around the difficulty. The cost usually shows up later: exhaustion, results that don’t match ability, or hitting a wall when demands jump, at university or in a new job. An assessment looks at the pattern of strengths and difficulties, not just grades.
Book a free initial consultation: fill out our initial consultation form, or book an intake with one of our psychologists. You can also reach us at (416) 384-1111 · admin@silmmentalhealth.com