Psychological evaluations are a crucial component to treatment planning. We often recommend an evaluation, especially if this is your first time coming in to our office. Evaluations help us determine appropriate diagnoses, develop appropriate treatment plans, coordinate care with other professionals, and provide insight as to what may be underlying a particular problem.
Psychological evaluations assess whether the symptoms that someone is experiencing might be explained by a psychological diagnosis. An evaluation may also describe or explain the general psychological adjustment problems being presented by an individual, in an effort to understand the individual’s behavior.
Psychological tests are designed to examine a variety of cognitive abilities, including general level of cognitive functioning, memory, visual-perceptual-motor skills, speed of information processing, attention, language, and executive functions, which are necessary for goal-directed behavior. Educational evaluations are used to assess for academic difficulties, giftedness, or to help evaluate the basic academic skills of candidates for employment or promotion. In addition, the comprehensive version can be administered to assist with diagnosis of learning disabilities, to help design learning interventions, or to make educational program placement decisions.
A comprehensive neuropsychological, psychological, or educational evaluation may take several hours, or even several days, depending on the problems being assessed, and the reason for the assessment. Each evaluation is tailored to the specific needs of the person and the questions that are being asked.
We offer numerous types of evaluations including:
- Neuropsychological Evaluations
- Psychological Evaluations
- Educational Evaluations
- Diagnostic Screenings
If a previous evaluation has been conducted, please bring a copy of that evaluation to your first appointment. It is helpful to see what previous evaluators may have found in the past.
What to Expect for the Evaluation Process
- Step 1 includes an initial meeting (intake) in order to gather a detailed history and assess current concerns. During the intake, the examiner will discuss the evaluation process for you or your child and will let you know what additional information will be needed to complete testing. Sometimes, insurance authorization is needed following the first appointment. If you have prior evaluation materials, school reports, report cards, notes from a physician, medical records, IEPs, 504 Plans, etc. please bring this documentation with you to the first appointment. This intake/clinical interview is typically one-hour. Consultation may also take place with other treating professionals (e.g., neurologists, primary care physicians, and/or psychiatrists).
- Step 2 is the evaluation itself. One or more testing sessions are scheduled. The first session typically lasts 3 hours and additional testing sessions may last 1-3 hours. Testing involves administration of various psychological and neuropsychological tests. Some of the tests are paper and pencil. Others are done on a tablet or computer. In addition, parents, teachers, and/or significant others will be asked to complete questionnaires to further assess functioning and concerns. Breaks will be provided during testing. Patients are encouraged to bring drinks and snacks to have during breaks.
- Step 3 is the feedback meeting to review the results of the evaluation. This step usually occurs 2-3 weeks following the end of testing. The feedback meeting will be held to discuss evaluation results, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations. A written report will also be provided at the conclusion of the assessment process or shortly thereafter. This feedback meeting is usually 1 hour or so.