Parents choose assessment for their children for a variety of reasons. Maybe you have questions about how to best help your child learn. Or perhaps you have concerns about your child’s development or behavior. Whatever your reason for seeking assessment for your child, rest assured that we will walk with you through this process.

My areas of specialty include Autism and ADHD. I also see children for concerns of Dyslexia, learning disorders, or other developmental concerns. The Autism assessment process is usually able to begin as early as age 2. Early identification and intervention has been shown to be one of the greatest factors impacting the child’s long-term positive outcomes.

ADHD assessment may begin around age 5. Before that time, it is very difficult to accurately diagnose ADHD. Testing will allow you to have a clear picture of your child’s individual needs and abilities, which will, in turn, help them in school and in life!

After we have a free consultation and decide to work together, we will schedule an approximately 1-hour intake interview. The child does not typically attend this first appointment.

At our next meeting, your child will attend the clinic with you for the main evaluation session. This session typically lasts 2-4 hours depending on the child’s age, attention level, and needs. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section for more in-depth information about what to expect on testing day.

As part of evaluations, I make every effort to conduct a community-based observation with you and/or your child. This may take place at the child’s school, daycare, church nursery, or other community location such as a park or library.

After testing, I will compile, score, and interpret information in order to write a comprehensive report for your child.

Lastly, a feedback session is scheduled to go over your child’s completed evaluation and answer any questions you may have. Typically, at the end of this session, parents will be given a completed report that they can immediately share with teachers, doctors, and other child care providers that work with their child.

Either informally through observation or interviews, or formally through standardized assessment, each evaluation typically includes elements of the following: speech/language, social/emotional/behavioral functioning, physical needs including fine and gross motor skills, cognitive functioning, academic skills, and adaptive behavior.

Information is gathered from parents, the child, and also from teachers or daycare providers (or other adults who interact regularly with the child). Every effort is made to do a community-based observation of the child, which is particularly important in the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.