Evaluation services are offered for children, adolescents, and adults. I complete all testing myself rather than using psychometrists, technicians, or graduate students. Assessment refers to an investigative process with two broad goals: (1) gain a thorough understanding of the nature of the presenting problem and (2) provide a framework for effective and timely treatment. An assessment might include standardized measures of IQ (cognitive skills), attention, executive skills, language comprehension, academic achievement, adaptive skills, behavior, and emotional functioning as well as diagnostic and developmental interviews with caregivers and teachers. School -based observations are also conducted when requested. The assessment process includes formal testing, report writing, and feedback. The formal testing process can take up to one full day, and feedback is given within approximately two weeks from the date of assessment.
Assessment services provided include:
Psychological - an assessment of behavioral and/or emotional struggles, which generally includes a brief cognitive assessment, diagnostic interview data, rating scales, and additional tasks to rule out other potential causes of concerns
Psychoeducational - an assessment of general learning problems, learning disabilities, processing problems, memory deficits and the impact on learning; typically includes measures of IQ, reading, math, writing, academic fluency, memory and learning, processing speed, and executive skills in addition to rating scale data and diagnostic interview information
ADHD - an assessment of behaviors and patterns of cognitive and behavioral strengths and weaknesses specific to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder including attention, behavioral regulation, impulse control, and executive skills; often includes specific measures of IQ, academic fluency, processing speed, auditory and/or visual attention, cognitive flexibility, working memory, behavioral rating scale data from multiple sources, clinical interviews, and observational data
Developmental - an assessment of an infant, toddler or young child's progress in the areas of cognitive skills, expressive language, receptive language, adaptive skills, and social functioning to ensure any needed interventions are provided
Autism/Developmental Disorder - an assessment of autism spectrum disorder symptoms including social interaction, receptive and expressive language, behavioral and emotional functioning, adaptive skills, and cognitive functioning; assessment often includes the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2nd Edition (ADOS-2), which is considered the "gold standard" in the assessment of autism spectrum disorders
Gifted - an assessment of intellectual functioning, academic skills, creativity (using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking), and academic motivation to determine if a child's pattern of performance meets state qualifications for Gifted services and/or entry into non-school-based programs
Please feel free to ask about specific tests administered.