Pediatric Psychologists in Tampa
Developmental Evaluations for Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers
Every child develops at their own pace. But because development varies so much during the first few years of life, it can be difficult to know when differences are simply part of normal development and when they may signal the need for additional support. Rather than comparing your child to a single milestone checklist, a comprehensive developmental evaluation looks at how they are growing across multiple areas of development to better understand their strengths, identify areas that may need support, and determine the most appropriate next steps.
At Tampa Pediatric Psychology, we provide comprehensive developmental evaluations for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children using evidence-based assessment methods that help families better understand their child’s unique developmental profile.
What is a Developmental Evaluation?
A developmental evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of a young child’s early development. During the first five years of life, children are developing rapidly across many areas at the same time. Communication, motor skills, thinking, problem solving, social relationships, emotional regulation, adaptive skills, and play all develop together and influence one another.
When one area develops differently than expected, it can affect many aspects of everyday functioning. A developmental evaluation examines these developmental skills together to understand how your child is learning, interacting with others, communicating, and navigating the world around them.
Why Families Choose Tampa Pediatric Psychology
One of the biggest advantages of a developmental evaluation is that it helps replace uncertainty with understanding. Whether your child is developing typically, showing mild delays, or would benefit from additional services, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what you’re seeing and what to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
A psychoeducational evaluation involves a series of standardized tests and measures to gather information about a student’s intellectual functioning (IQ), academic skills, and socio-emotional wellbeing. The purpose of psychoeducational testing is to identify learning disabilities, developmental delays, giftedness, and other factors that may impact an individual's educational progress. By examining cognitive processes, memory, attention, and academic skills, this type of testing provides valuable insights for teachers, parents, and professionals to develop appropriate interventions and support strategies. Ultimately, an evaluation helps us understand a student’s strengths, weaknesses, and unique learning styles, empowering them to achieve their full potential in education and beyond.
What is a psychoeducational evaluation?
What does a psychoeducational evaluation measure?
Every evaluation is individualized based on the referral questions, but it often includes assessment of:
Cognitive abilities and reasoning
Academic achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics
Attention and executive functioning
Working memory
Processing speed
Language skills
Visual-spatial reasoning
Learning efficiency
Emotional and behavioral functioning
A psychoeducational evaluation is broader than testing for a learning disability alone. It examines cognitive abilities, academic skills, attention, executive functioning, and emotional factors to understand why a student is struggling. While it can identify learning disorders such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia, it also evaluates other factors that may contribute to academic difficulties.
Is psychoeducational testing the same as learning disability testing?
Yes. Many gifted or high-achieving students compensate for learning differences through intelligence and hard work. An evaluation can identify underlying challenges that become more noticeable as school demands increase.
Can students with high grades still benefit from testing?
Yes. When appropriate, our evaluations include recommendations that may support eligibility for accommodations in K–12 schools, college, or standardized testing. While accommodation decisions are made by the school or testing organization, a comprehensive evaluation provides the documentation they often require.
Can testing help with school or college accommodations?
When might a Developmental Evaluation be helpful?
Parents, pediatricians, teachers, or childcare providers may recommend an evaluation when there are concerns about a child’s development or behavior.
Families do not need to know exactly what is causing the concern before reaching out. The evaluation process is designed to help clarify what may be contributing to the child’s development and behavior.
A developmental evaluation may be helpful when a child:
Is not meeting expected developmental milestones
Has delays in speech, language, or communication
Has difficulty engaging with other children or adults
Shows limited pretend play or unusual play patterns
Has intense reactions to changes, transitions, or sensory experiences
Struggles with emotional or behavioral regulation
Has difficulty following classroom routines
Appears significantly ahead in some areas and delayed in others
Has been referred for an autism evaluation
Is preparing to enter preschool or kindergarten and there are concerns about school readiness
Developmental Evaluations for Autism
When autism is a concern, the evaluation may include autism-specific assessment measures, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition, commonly called the ADOS-2.
The ADOS-2 is one part of a comprehensive evaluation. Results are considered alongside the child’s developmental history, parent report, behavioral observations, rating scales, and other testing. The evaluation may explore areas such as:
Social communication
Reciprocal interaction
Play and imagination
Flexibility
Repetitive behaviors or interests
Sensory differences
Emotional and behavioral regulation
Early Childhood Evaluations in Tampa
What Does the Evaluation Process Include?
The exact process is customized for each child, but developmental evaluations typically include several components.
Parent Intake
The process begins with a detailed interview with the child’s parent or caregiver. We discuss developmental milestones, medical and educational history, current concerns, family observations, and the child’s functioning across settings.
Child Assessment
Testing is designed to be developmentally appropriate and may feel more like structured play than traditional testing. The psychologist may use toys, pictures, puzzles, conversation, and interactive activities to assess the child’s skills.
Parent and Teacher Questionnaires
Parents and, when appropriate, teachers or childcare providers may complete questionnaires about the child’s behavior, communication, social development, adaptive skills, attention, and emotional functioning.
Review of Records
With permission, we may review relevant records such as school reports, previous evaluations, early intervention documents, therapy notes, or medical information.
Feedback Session
After testing is complete, families meet with the psychologist to review the findings. We explain the results in clear language, discuss any diagnoses, and provide individualized recommendations.
Written Report
Families receive a written report summarizing the evaluation results, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations for treatment, school, and home.
What Can a Developmental Evaluation Diagnose?
Depending on the child’s presentation and the scope of the evaluation, results may help clarify concerns related to:
Autism spectrum disorder
Developmental delays
Attention and self-regulation
Language or communication concerns
Anxiety
Behavioral or emotional difficulties
Adaptive functioning
School readiness
Giftedness or advanced cognitive development
Recommendations After the Evaluation
Recommendations are based on a child’s individual profile. We focus on helping families understand what to do next rather than simply providing test scores or a diagnosis.
Speech and language therapy
Occupational therapy
Parent training or behavioral support
Play-based or individual therapy
Early intervention services
Preschool or school accommodations
Classroom strategies
Social skills support
Additional medical or developmental consultation
Monitoring and reevaluation over time
Why Choose Tampa Pediatric Psychology?
Our developmental evaluations are completed by psychologists and supervised doctoral-level clinicians with experience assessing young children. We understand that preschool-aged children may be shy, active, cautious, playful, or inconsistent during testing. The evaluation is designed to account for your child’s age, temperament, and comfort level.
We know how difficult it can be to see your child struggling. Reach out to our office by completing the contact form below. A brief consultation will be arranged to discuss your concerns, review your child's background information, and answer any questions you may have.