A Department for Children, Schools and Families study, which involved interviews with parents, found the SEN system was confusing and intimidating for families.
The report, Parental Confidence in the Special Educational Needs Assessment, Statementing and Tribunal System Qualitative Study, found that parents were given little information about the support that is available.
Forms to get their children assessed were described as huge and confusing.
Other criticisms made by parents were the "perceived brevity" in the way educational psychologists spoke with their children during the assessment process.
Parents also thought that council SEN officers appeared to lack empathy.
The report, which will be fed into the Lamb Inquiry into SEN, which reports later this year, calls for schools and councils to improve the way they communicate with parents during the SEN process.
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