Evaluations Overview
Advantages of a private evaluation
Parents who are seeking a comprehensive evaluation may be best served by a private evaluation. Our evaluations are tailored to the individual needs of a child and family. Families can enjoy the advantage of an attentive provider that guides them through the process. A private evaluation achieves a level of depth that is not possible from school district testing or from testing at most large institutions. We are happy to address any questions you may have about the pros and cons of various evaluation options.
We are often asked to simply test a child for a specific diagnosis. It’s important to understand that we approach the evaluation in a more holistic manner, where we strive to identify the child’s developmental, cognitive, academic, behavioral, and social-emotional profile. We identify the child’s pattern of strengths and areas of challenge. From there, we explore possible factors that may be driving the child’s difficulties - ultimately in the service of guiding intervention and identifying the types of supports that your child may need in order to thrive. We may explore possible diagnoses such as learning disabilities, ADHD, and the autism spectrum. Often, one or more diagnoses are identified - but not always.
How do I know if my child would benefit from an evaluation?
Lags in academic development (reading, writing, math).
Behavior challenges at school and/ or home (such as not listening, not focusing, impulse-control challenges, or aggression).
School-related anxiety (school avoidance or undue stress for your child).
Homework battles.
Concerns about social or emotional development.
What will I learn from an evaluation?
A comprehensive evaluation will provide insights about your child’s learning and behavioral profile. If needed, the evaluation can identify the presence of a learning disability or ADHD diagnosis, thereby opening doors for intervention and supports. Ultimately, the purpose of the evaluation is to promote optimal development for your child by shedding light on factors that may be holding your child back at school or home. The goal is to help you and your child’s teachers better understand your child, and to provide you with a set of customized, concrete pathways for how to help your child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
How do I know if I should just “wait and see” before committing to an evaluation?
The earlier the intervention for childhood problems, the stronger the impact. Neural pathways are the most responsive to interventions during early childhood. For example, struggling readers are more likely to successfully close the gap in their achievement if problems are caught and addressed prior to second grade. It’s even more powerful to identify children at-risk for reading problems before they enter Kindergarten, as the language processes that lay the groundwork for reading can be improved even before reading is expected.
Similarly, there is research that children who receive early intervention for behavior regulation challenges or social delays fare better than those who are left to “grow out of” their problems. Along these same lines, there is evidence that children who receive school supports and accommodations for learning and behavior issues fare better over the long-terms compared to students who do not receive supports.
What are the different types of evaluations?
The vocabulary for evaluations is a common source of confusion to parents. The terms psychoeducational, educational, psychological, and neuropsychological can usually be used interchangeably. Each of these types of evaluations use similar tools and identifies problems such as learning disabilities and ADHD.
What can I expect from the evaluation process?
The first step of any child evaluation is a 75 to 90-minute parent-only intake (conducted over video). Prior to the parent interview, we have you complete several history forms in a secure online portal. Your provider will review the information prior to the parent interview in order to make the interview process as efficient as possible. There may be other forms that your provider will ask you to complete as the process moves forward. Your provider will likely also request teacher information and records from other professionals involved in your child’s care. From there, your child will attend anywhere from 1 to 3 in-person visits (each lasting 1 to 2 hours), depending on the level of assessment that your child needs. Please refer to our Safety Guidelines for in-person visits for information about COVID-19 precautions.
The in-person visits involve assessment of your child’s cognitive and developmental functioning. This is a crucial aspect of the evaluation as it helps us to understand your child’s challenges within in the context of their developmental level, strengths, and weaknesses. Evaluation of cognition and development gives insights about your child’s brain functioning in terms of reasoning skills, language, problem-solving, and memory. We also gain insights about your child’s behavior such as impulse-control, persistence, flexibility, and anxiety. When appropriate, we also include assessment of academic functioning as well as additional measures of language and communication.
About two weeks following your child’s last evaluation session, your provider will meet with you for an online feedback session to discuss the evaluation results and specific suggestions for how to best intervene and support your child. Depending on the age and specific circumstances for your child, a brief feedback session with you and your child may also be arranged. Within about one week of the feedback, you will receive a detailed written report of the evaluation. The most important part of the written report includes an explanation of diagnostic conclusions and the customized suggestions for how to help your child.
How long does the evaluation process take?
The evaluation process typically spans 4 to 8 weeks, from the initial parent interview to the completion of the written report.
How much does the evaluation cost?
If you inquire about our evaluation services, we will offer cost estimates. Comprehensive evaluations involve a time intensive, detailed, careful process that involves at least 10 to 20 hours of time for the provider. The cost varies depending on the depth of the evaluation, which is customized for each child. Cost is based on the amount of time spent by the provider with you and your child, as well as time spent reviewing records, communicating with other professionals involved in your child’s care, scoring test measures, and the written report. Please inquire directly about fees and cost estimates. Depending on your out-of-network insurance benefits, a portion of the cost may be covered by your insurance.