Comprehensive evaluations offer an in-depth understanding of an individual’s functioning. There are various reasons parents, school personnel, or other specialists (e.g., pediatrician, neurologist, psychiatrist) request psychological testing. Often, they are administered to determine whether an individual meets criterion for:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Behavioral disorders
- Developmental delays
- Emotional disorders
- Specific Learning Disabilities
Psychoeducational testing reveal information about an individual’s profile of intellectual abilities and academic achievement. Evaluations also often include measures of adaptive functioning, screening of language development, learning and memory, and emotional and behavioral functioning, since these areas also impact academic achievement. Reasons for psychoeducational evaluation often answer questions about potential learning disabilities and processing deficits that are impacting academic performance.
Gifted testing reveals information about intellectual abilities and may be used to determine whether a child or adolescent qualifies for enrollment in gifted class placement.
Psycho-developmental testing provides information about developmental delays and include, but are not limited to assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Psychological testing includes assessment of various emotional, behavioral and neurobiological disorders including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The evaluation process occurs in three phases.
- Initial intake (75-90 minutes) is a clinical interview aimed to collect background information and history of presenting concerns.
- Psychological Testing sessions (6-9 hours over several days) includes standardized administration of various measures assessing presenting problems. In addition to face-to-face testing, questionnaires will be provided to parents and teachers to obtain further insight about the presenting concerns. Test and questionnaire selection is tailored to each individual and dependent on the presenting problem.
- Feedback session (60 minutes) provides parents an opportunity to review the evaluation in detail. Psychological testing results, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations are all discussed during the feedback session. In addition, an original copy of the comprehensive report is provided to parent(s) during this time. Additional copies for the school will be sent only if parents provide written consent to release information.