What to Expect:

Preparing for the Evaluation

It can be helpful to talk with your child about the evaluation the day before testing. You might say something like:

"Everyone’s brain learns and thinks in its own way. Tomorrow we’re going to find out how your brain works. We’ll discover the things your brain is really good at, and if there are areas where you might need some extra help at school or at home."

Please bring any relevant medical or school records, as well as reports from prior psychological, psychoeducational, or neuropsychological evaluations. Whenever possible, I encourage parents to upload these documents to the patient portal ahead of time so I have the full picture before we meet.

What to Expect on the Day of Testing

Testing typically lasts about the length of a school day. A parent or guardian must remain on-site during the entire evaluation, and Wi-Fi is available if you’d like to bring work or something to do while you wait.

Parents are not able to join their child in the testing room, as it’s important for the evaluation to reflect how your child works independently. The only exception is during autism assessments, when one parent may be asked to participate in the ADOS-2 portion.

Your child will be asked to complete a variety of tasks such as answering verbal questions, working with blocks, pointing at pictures, completing multiple-choice items, doing paper-and-pencil activities, and some computer-based testing.

Short breaks are built into the day to help your child stay comfortable and focused. There is also a full 1 hour lunch break.

To make the day go smoothly, please bring:

Glasses, hearing aids, or any assistive devices your child uses for reading or writing
A sweater or extra layer in case the room feels cool
Drinks and snacks for short breaks
A packed lunch for the one-hour lunch break
School and Medical records
Records from prior evaluations