The Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity (KCLC) provides psychoeducational assessment services to currently enrolled USC students.
A psychoeducational assessment can help you better understand how you learn, identify your strengths and areas of difficulty, and explore possible reasons for ongoing challenges with learning, attention, or academic performance.
KCLC psychoeducational assessment services are free of charge.
Is a Psychoeducational Assessment Right for You?
Many students experience periods when stress, workload, sleep, or other circumstances make it harder to focus or perform at their best. A difficult semester alone does not necessarily indicate ADHD or a learning disability.
A psychoeducational assessment may be helpful when there is a history of ongoing or recurring concerns, such as:
- Longstanding difficulty with attention, concentration, organization, or completing academic work
- A history of challenges with reading, writing, math, memory, or processing information
- Consistently needing significantly more time or effort than expected to complete academic work
- A recurring gap between what you know and how well you are able to demonstrate your knowledge on exams or assignments
- Academic challenges that have persisted across courses, educational settings, or different stages of your life
- Questions about whether ADHD, a learning disability, or another learning-related concern may help explain a longstanding pattern of difficulties
Experiencing these challenges does not necessarily mean you have ADHD or a learning disability. Assessment can help clarify what may be contributing to your difficulties and identify strategies and supports that may be helpful.
What Can an Assessment Tell Me?
A comprehensive psychoeducational assessment can provide insight into:
- How you think, learn, remember, and process information
- Your academic and cognitive strengths
- Areas that may be making learning more difficult
- Factors that may contribute to difficulties with attention, memory, or academic performance
- Whether a diagnosis, such as ADHD or a learning disability, may be appropriate
- Strategies and recommendations based on your individual learning profile
What Should I Expect?
Psychoeducational assessment is comprehensive and requires a significant time commitment.
Testing: Testing typically takes approximately 10–15 hours in total. The exact amount of time depends on your individual needs.
Scheduling: Testing is usually completed over multiple sessions, with sessions lasting a few hours at a time. Breaks are provided as needed.
Preparation: Please arrive well-rested and make sure you have eaten before your appointment so you can perform at your best.
Report: After testing is completed, your clinician will prepare a comprehensive written report. This process may take several weeks depending on the assessment completed.
What Happens After the Assessment?
Your assessment results can provide a clearer understanding of your individual learning profile, including your strengths and areas where additional support may be helpful.
If the assessment supports a diagnosis, your report may also provide documentation that can be used when requesting academic accommodations. Students seeking accommodations at USC can submit appropriate documentation to the Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) for review.
Your report will also include individualized recommendations and strategies to support your learning and academic success.
Interested in Learning More?
Psychoeducational assessment services through KCLC are available to currently enrolled USC students.
If you are wondering whether an assessment may be appropriate for you, contact the Kortschak Center to learn more about the process and eligibility.
Email: kortschakcenter@usc.edu