What is a Psychological Evaluation?
Sometimes called a Psychodiagnostic Evaluation, a Psychological Evaluation seeks to answer a specific question or questions about psychological functioning (e.g., Does my child have ADHD? Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Learning Disorder?). The result is a comprehensive report that includes a diagnosis, if applicable, and a treatment plan. At Compass Clinic, we will be assessing:
- Intellectual Functioning, including Giftedness
- Learning Disabilities
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Hyperactivity and Inattentiveness
- Executive-functioning difficulties
- Adaptive Skills
- Social-Emotional Development
- Behavioral Difficulties
Over the course of 2-4 assessment days, most assessments will include a school observation, parent and teacher questionnaires, plus specific tests administered by qualified professionals to determine ability levels in domains of interest.
How is this Different from a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
There is no firm line demarcating what may be included in a Psychological Evaluation versus a Neuropsychological Evaluation and certainly there is overlap in these two in terms of assessment batteries (i.e., which specific tests or questionnaires are administered). A Neuropsychological Evaluation is typically more comprehensive in scope and can evaluate all aspects of the brain-behavior relationship. A Neuropsychological Evaluation (vs. a Compass Clinic Psychological Evaluation) would be more appropriate for children suffering from birth trauma or defects (e.g., Cerebral Palsy), traumatic brain injuries, learning difficulties associated with medical or neurological diagnoses, fine or gross motor delays, language disorders, or visual-spatial/visual-motor difficulties.
How Do I Decide if My Child Needs an Evaluation at all and What Kind?
We are happy to provide a free 15-minute consult to help you decide. Evaluations are time-consuming and often expensive. This means that the more comprehensive the evaluation necessary, the more resources it will require. It is important to determine the correct evaluation approach for your child, depending on your main concerns. Our primary motivation for starting the Compass Assessment Clinic is to be able to provide the “just right level” of assessment at the “just right cost” for our clients.
Fees*
During your consult call, we will make an initial estimate of evaluation type and cost. Additionally, each evaluation begins with a two hour clinical interview to further determine assessment direction and compatibility of your child’s assessment needs and the approach of our clinic. The following fee schedule is for informational purposes only and not a set contracted rate.
- Basic ADHD Evaluation: $4500
- Basic Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation: $5000
- ADHD Evaluation plus Learning Disorders: $6000
*Please contact us to confirm current fee schedule.
Next Steps
If you are interested in scheduling a complimentary consultation or have any additional questions click here to email us.