A full evaluation is a comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational assessment that goes beyond a single IQ test. It provides a detailed picture of your cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral functioning, with actionable recommendations for academic planning, career development, or clinical intervention.

Last Updated: August 2026

What is a Full Evaluation?

A full evaluation is a comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational assessment that provides a complete picture of your cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Unlike a single IQ test, which focuses only on cognitive abilities, a full evaluation includes multiple tests and assessments to provide a holistic understanding of your strengths and challenges.

Full evaluations are typically conducted by licensed psychologists and can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours of testing time, often spread across multiple sessions.

What a Full Evaluation Includes

• Cognitive Assessment (IQ testing): WISC-V (children), WAIS-IV or WAIS-5 (adults), or Stanford-Binet 5 to measure intellectual abilities
• Academic Achievement Testing: Measures reading, writing, math, and other academic skills
• Behavioral and Emotional Assessment: Questionnaires and interviews to assess emotional well-being, social functioning, and behavioral patterns
• Executive Functioning Assessment: Measures attention, planning, organization, and self-regulation
• Clinical Interview: Detailed interview to understand personal history, concerns, and goals
• Comprehensive Report: Detailed findings with scores, interpretations, and actionable recommendations

Full Evaluation vs. Single IQ Test

When Is a Full Evaluation Recommended?

A full evaluation is recommended in several situations:

• Learning disabilities: Suspected dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, or other learning disorders
• ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and treatment planning
• Giftedness with learning challenges (2E): Twice-exceptional children who are both gifted and have learning disabilities
• Autism assessment: Comprehensive evaluation for autism spectrum disorder
• Educational planning: For Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans
• Legal documentation: For court cases, disability claims, or special education advocacy
• Mental health concerns: Anxiety, depression, or other emotional challenges affecting academic or occupational functioning
• College accommodations: Documentation for accommodations on college entrance exams (SAT, ACT, GRE) or in college settings

Wichita Hospitals and Medical Centers Offering Evaluations

Ascension Via Christi St. Francis

• Role: Major acute-care and specialty hospital serving Wichita and the region.
• Referral use: Medical records, neurology and rehabilitation referrals may support broader cognitive evaluation.
• Verification: Confirm whether neuropsychological testing is available for the specific age and diagnosis.

Wesley Children’s Hospital

• Pediatric context: Children with neurological, developmental or complex medical histories may need multidisciplinary assessment.
• Scope: Hospital-based evaluation is generally broader than gifted-only testing.
• Referral: Physician referral and prior records may be required.

Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center

• Eligible population: Serves veterans across a large Kansas region.
• Testing: The behavioral-health service lists neuropsychological and psychological testing for ADHD, cognitive impairment, dementia and other questions.
• Neurology: The medical center evaluates nervous-system disorders including cognitive disorders and dementia.

Wesley Medical Center

• Adult care: Neurological, trauma, rehabilitation and medical services may generate cognitive referrals.
• Coordination: Ask whether evaluation is completed internally or referred to an independent neuropsychologist.
• Insurance: Referral and authorization requirements vary.

COMCARE of Sedgwick County

• Community mental health: Provides assessment and outpatient treatment for Sedgwick County residents.
• Same-day access: COMCARE describes same-day assessments for new clients needing mental-health or addiction services.
• IQ testing: Confirm whether the requested cognitive battery is offered or requires referral elsewhere.

Private-Practice Psychologists and Neuropsychologists

• Services: Private clinicians may offer psychoeducational, ADHD, autism, learning, capacity, disability and forensic evaluations.
• Credentials: Verify Kansas licensure, specialty training, age range and test editions.
• Purpose: Tell the examiner whether the report is for school, court, disability, medical, work or personal use.

Wichita Evaluation Costs by Provider

• School-based evaluation: Usually no direct family fee when the public-school process applies.
• Private IQ evaluation: Lower cost than a comprehensive battery, but limited in diagnostic scope.
• Psychoeducational evaluation: Adds achievement, attention, behavior and learning measures.
• Neuropsychological evaluation: Pricing reflects longer testing, record review, scoring and medical interpretation.
• Forensic evaluation: Court-related work may include higher hourly rates, record review and testimony.
• Insurance: Gifted, admissions and career testing are often self-pay; medically necessary evaluation may be partly covered.

Wichita Legal and Forensic Evaluations

• Competency and capacity: Require a psychologist with relevant forensic training and a clearly defined legal question.
• Disability: Reports should document diagnosis, functional limits, validity and work or educational impact.
• Guardianship: Cognitive data are only one component of functional and legal capacity.
• Workers’ compensation: Referral source, causation standards and independent-examination rules should be clarified.
• Records: Medical, school, employment and prior-testing records may be essential.
• Neutrality: A forensic evaluator’s role differs from a treating clinician’s role.

Wichita Evaluation Timeline and Process

• Referral clarification: Define the decision the evaluation must support.
• Scheduling: Wait times differ across hospitals, private practices, schools and university clinics.
• Record collection: Obtain prior testing, school records, medical notes and medication lists.
• Interview: Developmental, educational, occupational, medical and psychosocial history is reviewed.
• Testing: Sessions may be split to reduce fatigue.
• Scoring and integration: The psychologist considers validity, norms, behavior and context.
• Feedback: Results and recommendations are discussed before final use.
• Report: Turnaround depends on complexity, records and referral purpose.

Wichita Insurance Coverage for Evaluations

• Medical necessity: Coverage is more likely for neurological, developmental or psychiatric diagnostic questions.
• Exclusions: Gifted, Mensa, admissions, career and personal-interest testing is commonly excluded.
• Authorization: Confirm referral, prior authorization, deductible and network status.
• School services: Public-school evaluation follows education law rather than medical insurance.
• VA eligibility: Veterans should confirm enrollment and referral requirements with Dole VA.
• Written estimate: Request expected testing, report and feedback fees before beginning.

Wichita Evaluation Referrals

• Pediatrician or primary care: Useful when medical, developmental or medication issues are involved.
• School team: Appropriate for educational eligibility and classroom concerns.
• Neurology: Important after seizures, stroke, brain injury, dementia symptoms or neurological disease.
• Psychiatry or therapy: Helpful when mood, anxiety, trauma or behavior affects cognition.
• Attorney or court: Forensic referrals should state the legal standard and evaluator role.
• Self-referral: Many private practices accept direct inquiries for gifted, career or personal testing.

Benefits of a Full Evaluation

• Complete picture: Understand the full picture of your or your child's functioning – cognitive, academic, emotional, and behavioral
• Accurate diagnosis: Receive precise diagnoses for learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, or other conditions
• Legal documentation: Obtain documentation for IEPs, 504 plans, college accommodations, disability claims, or court cases
• Personalized recommendations: Receive tailored recommendations for academic planning, career development, therapy, or treatment
• Peace of mind: Understand your or your child's strengths and challenges and how to address them effectively
• Long-term planning: Use the findings for educational, career, and personal planning

Full Evaluations in Wichita

• Children: Common questions include giftedness, dyslexia, ADHD, autism, developmental disorders and school planning.
• Adults: Common questions include ADHD, learning disabilities, memory, capacity, disability and career transitions.
• Veterans: Dole VA provides neuropsychological and psychological testing for eligible veterans.
• Aerospace workforce: Shift schedules, noise exposure, injury and safety-sensitive work may shape referral questions but do not change test norms.
• Multilingual residents: Language proficiency and educational history require careful interpretation.
• Regional travel: Patients from surrounding counties should ask about multi-session scheduling and telehealth interviews.

• Validity testing: Comprehensive evaluations may include measures of effort and response consistency.
• Collateral interviews: Family members, teachers or employers can provide functional context with consent.
• Language planning: Interpreter use and bilingual testing should be arranged before the appointment.
• Record chronology: A timeline of medical, school and occupational events can clarify onset and progression.
• Safety-sensitive work: Aviation and manufacturing referrals require careful role clarification and privacy safeguards.
• Return to school: Recommendations may address reduced load, assistive technology, tutoring or accommodations.
• Return to work: Functional recommendations should connect cognitive findings with actual job demands.
• Emergency limits: Outpatient evaluation is not a substitute for crisis, emergency or acute medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions