A diagnostic evaluation consists of a series of assessments, observations, parent reports, and interviews. The evaluation can assess a range of developmental domains, including speech and language, behavior, attention, and more. Diagnostic evaluations provide information to determine how children learn best. Parents might explore diagnostic evaluations if they suspect that their children are showing signs of developmental delays, learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, or more.
The diagnostic process includes three steps:
- Intake: Collecting information about the child prior to testing
- Testing: Diagnostic evaluation
- Feedback Meeting: Parents/caregivers are invited to a feedback meeting after the evaluation process is finished to discuss the results of the diagnostic evaluation with the psychologist
The diagnostic evaluation process is one-on-one testing with your child and the psychologist. Parents are not present during the testing. The exception to this rule is if a child is taking the ADOS. One component of the ADOS evaluation requires parental supervision for children under the age of five.
Parents are required to stay in the clinic if their child is not potty-trained. Bathroom breaks must be completed independently by the child or with the assistance of a parent/caregiver.
Areas of expertise: autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, mood disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression), behavioral disorders or dysregulation, neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., global delays), and more.