About Pediatric Psychological Evaluations

Psychological Evaluations are a group of tests administered by our evaluation team to assist parents and teachers in developing an understanding of a child’s strengths and weaknesses. The profile is used to determine what assistance your child needs and what the priorities for treatment should be. PSLN evaluations are unique in that children, adolescents, and adults are assessed with the most recent research-based tools available in the field.

The state and federal mandates for school-based assessments are for school personnel to determine whether your child meets criteria for legally-mandated services at the expense of the school system. Our assessments may include similar testing, but the focus of our assessment is to assess your child’s functioning in all necessary areas to determine what intervention can make your child a successful learner and an emotionally-healthy individual. Our recommendations may include private, community-based, and school-based interventions. We maintain extensive knowledge of local, regional and state resources for children and adults.

PSLN offers individual psychological evaluations when children or adolescents are suspected of having: a learning disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, high-functioning autism (previously called Asperger’s Disorder), depression, or anxiety disorders. In addition, parents and individuals may choose an assessment to assist with educational planning, to determine appropriateness of gifted curriculum, for private school placement, residential treatment, etc.

• Comprehensive diagnostic interview
• Parent/teacher questionnaires
• Self-report questionnaires
• Standardized psychological tests
  * IQ, Achievement Testing
• Learning assessment tools, including:
  * Phonological Awareness assessment
  * Neurodevelopmental assessment tools
  * Reading, Writing, Math assessment
• Classroom behavioral observations
• Review of work samples
• Computerized attention testing
• Personality/emotional/social assessment

The length of the assessment varies dependent upon which tests we feel we must administer to understand your child’s needs, as well as based on the pace of your child during testing, how many breaks are necessary, etc. Depending on the complexity of the referral question, your child’s age, and task engagement, testing times typically range from 2-6 hours. Please note that this may vary significantly based on a number of factors including how rapidly your child processes information, his/her level of anxiety with regard to test taking, his/her degree of knowledge, etc. Testing is typically only administered in the morning, to ensure the reliability and validity of the testing results by administering the tests at a time when your child is not fatigued. 

Most children enjoy the assessment process, as it is an opportunity to spend one-on-one time engaged in a variety of tasks, with an adult’s full attention. Some portions of the assessment may prove more difficult than others as we gain an understanding of the child’s strengths and needs. We recommend that you explain to your child that you want to help make school more fun or less frustrating for him or her, and that the “testing” will help you understand how he/she learns. The day of the initial consultation is scheduled in advance to allow your child an opportunity to become comfortable with our office and staff. Anxious children may need further explanation. Feel free to ask one of our clinical staff how best to handle this if you have any concerns.

Your first appointment is critical to the development of an evaluation plan. Please bring any previous evaluations your child may have had, samples of his/her class work and homework, academic and behavioral reports, as well as information regarding your child’s medical, developmental, academic, and family history.

Yes. You have complete control of the information gained during the evaluation. It is released to others only with your permission.  Psychological Solutions of Lake Norman is an independent private psychological practice.

The results of your child’s testing will be reviewed following the assessment with you by one of our clinicians. At this time, you will be made aware of strengths and concerns regarding your child, any appropriate diagnosis, our recommendations, and referral information (for counseling, tutoring, further testing, and in some cases, medication). You will receive a written report with all assessment information and recommendations approximately three weeks later. Some parents choose to have one of our clinical staff review the testing data with a professional at their child’s school. 

The cost of the assessment varies dependent upon several factors, including the time necessary to complete the assessment, and your insurance benefits.  Please contact our office to determine if we have a preferred provider relationship with your insurer.  Individuals with out-of-network plans are provided with a completed insurance claim form to submit to their insurance company to access their benefits. We are pleased to assist you in seeking reimbursement from your insurance
company. We also accept Visa, Mastercard and debit cards. For more information on billing or insurance, please call our office and ask to
speak with the Office Manager