Comprehensive Testing is recommended when you are trying to understand the whole person within the context of the home and school or work environment. When your concerns are more complicated, examining emotional, developmental, behavioral, and educational factors is essential to creating a plan for your solutions. Comprehensive testing is especially important to tease out how one issue might be affecting another (Is attention causing problems in reading? Why can’t I seem to focus on my job and my kids? Is my child failing because they are anxious? Is my teen depressed because they cannot read?). We strongly encourage comprehensive testing when there are complex issues impacting an individual across settings.
Our testing clinic is geared to assess for the intersection of learning disabilities and mood/anxiety issues or identification of autism spectrum disorders. Of note, we only have a few psychologists who specialize in autism, so these appointments may be harder to schedule. We are experts in dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges.
Our testing services are very individualized and each battery is tailored for the specific referral question(s). Only doctoral level (PhD or PsyD) clinical psychologists perform the testing (no students) and you will only be working with one clinician from intake, testing, to feedback. All of our testing is completed in person. We work hard at consulting with teachers, schools, therapists, and tutors in determining our analysis. We pride ourselves on having a quick turn around of the report and feedback from the completion of testing as we are focused on working with your particular family at that time.
For this testing, we specialize in ADHD, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, autism, and social concerns. Of note, due to the high volume of calls and increased complexity of cases, we are currently not completing assessments if any of the following issues are present –
- Suicidal Ideation
- Harm/aggression to self or others
- Substance abuse
- Delusional or psychotic thinking
- Eating Disorders
- Court ordered Testing
- Psychiatric hospitalization within past three months
Mental Health Conditions
A child’s mental and emotional well-being is intrinsically linked to their ability to learn. Psychological factors can profoundly affect concentration, motivation, and social interactions. Sometimes, what appears to be a learning disability or ADHD might actually be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition, or the stress of academic struggles may cause emotional distress.
A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation includes screening for emotional and behavioral issues. The assessment helps distinguish between psychological problems and purely educational ones. Psychologists use clinical interviews, standardized rating scales, and other measures to understand the child's emotional world, which is vital for determining the right interventions (such as psychotherapy or counseling).
Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but when it becomes intense and persistent, it can develop into an anxiety disorder. In children, anxiety can manifest in many ways that interfere with their academic and social lives. A child with anxiety might have trouble concentrating because their mind is preoccupied with worries. They may avoid participating in class, struggle with perfectionism (leading to procrastination), or experience physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches.
Test anxiety is also common, where a student’s fear of failure causes them to perform poorly on exams, even if they know the material. Psychoeducational testing can identify the presence and severity of anxiety and determine how it is impacting the child’s learning. Once identified, interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and school accommodations can help the child develop coping strategies.
Depression in children and adolescents often looks different than it does in adults. While sadness can be a component, irritability, anger, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities are often more prominent symptoms. Depression can severely impact a student's academic engagement. It can cause low motivation, poor concentration, changes in energy levels, and feelings of worthlessness.
A student struggling with depression may stop completing homework, withdraw from friends, or exhibit changes in sleep and appetite. Their grades may drop significantly, and they might appear disengaged or "checked out" in the classroom. Psychoeducational evaluations screen for mood disorders to determine if emotional factors are the primary cause of academic difficulties. Identifying depression is the first step toward seeking appropriate treatment.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of angry/irritable mood and defiant behavior. Children with ODD frequently lose their temper, are easily annoyed, argue with authority figures, deliberately annoy others, and blame others for their mistakes. While all children exhibit oppositional behavior at times, in ODD, these behaviors are frequent, persistent, and significantly disrupt the environment at home and school.
In the classroom, ODD can severely interfere with learning. The child may refuse to follow directions, disrupt lessons, and have difficulty maintaining positive relationships. Psychoeducational testing helps diagnose ODD by thoroughly reviewing behavioral patterns and ruling out other conditions. It also helps identify any co-occurring conditions, such as ADHD or anxiety, which are common in children with ODD. Diagnosis leads to interventions focused on behavioral therapy and parent management training.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition characterized by challenges with social communication and interaction, as well as the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. The term "spectrum" emphasizes that autism manifests differently in every individual, with varying degrees of severity and combinations of symptoms.
Signs of ASD might include difficulty making eye contact, delayed speech development, challenges understanding social cues or sarcasm, intense focus on specific topics, repetitive movements (stimming), and distress with changes in routine. Because ASD requires a specialized diagnostic approach, a psychoeducational evaluation for autism typically includes specific tools, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), alongside comprehensive developmental history and adaptive functioning assessments. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to supporting children with ASD in developing essential social, communication, and life skills.