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EVALUATION SERVICES

Commonly Asked Questions
What types of evaluations do you offer, and how can they help?

We offer a wide range of assessments, designed to meet the individual needs of children and adults. They include academic, psychological, neuropsychological and developmental assessments for ages 18 months through adulthood. These tests are non-invasive in nature and are a combination of interview, questionnaire, and behavioral measures. The testing process provides valuable information about an individuals’ cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and under what conditions they can thrive. Assessments are often a vital component of treatment and educational planning. Families and individuals leave the testing experience with questions answered about possible diagnoses, and a better understanding of how to help their child or themselves.

 

In case you are still wondering what an assessment can offer you or your child, let us walk you through some common reasons people seek evaluation services. In the preschool years, parents come because they have concerns about their child's social or emotional development. Perhaps they have noticed differences between their child and peers, or gotten worrisome feedback about their child not meeting verbal milestones or displaying lack of social connectedness. Parents may wonder if Autism is affecting their child. Early identification of these diagnoses is important so early intervention can be started, which has been shown to significantly improve developmental outcomes for children. At the time of school entry, we help parents make the decision about school readiness based on their child's social, academic development. Another common scenario is when children start to struggle in school as the coursework gets harder, and parents and teachers feels they aren't learning at the rate they would expect for the child. In this case, evaluation for learning disabilities, including dyslexia, can provide the information teachers and parents need to best tailor the child's educational experience so they can thrive. Often, it is necessary to also rule out if ADHD or mood disorders (such as anxiety or depression) are present, as they can also account for academic struggle. Questions about possible giftedness are also a common reason for referral. We also help homeschool parents know if their children are meeting grade level expectations in their academics. For adolescents and young adults with a pre-existing diagnosis (e.g., Autism, ADHD, Learning Disability), sometimes an evaluation is needed when applying for accommodations on standardized exams (e.g., SAT, ACT, MCAT, LSAT, etc.), or academic supports at the college level. We have also worked with young adults who always suspected an ADHD or Autism diagnosis, and are seeking the evaluation now to get answers to their unanswered questions. Regardless of the reason for the testing, all of our evaluations culminate in a feedback session with our psychologist where you can ask questions, and recieve a comprehensive report that clearly explains all results. Individually tailored recommendations are also provided so that the client leaves the assessment experience with a clear understanding of how to best proceed to ensure that they thrive.

Who will do the evaluation?

At Strong Foundations, all of our evaluations are only completed by licensed and highly experienced psychologists. Dr. Tanya Banda, Dr. James Orth, and Dr. Lea LaPointe have extensive experience in providing evaluations. Dr. Banda and Dr. Orth have experience working with individuals as young at as 18 months old, through the young adult age. Dr. LaPointe focuses on assessments of teens and adults.

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