Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Will We Benefit From an Assessment?

An assessment may be beneficial for many different reasons. For example, your child may be having difficulty paying attention, may be disorganized or forgetful, or may be having difficulty making progress academically. He or she may seem to be depressed or anxious, and this may be impacting his or her functioning in multiple ways. There are many factors that influence a child’s academic, social, and emotional success. A thorough assessment can provide detailed information about your child's pattern of strengths and weaknesses and can offer insight into why he or she is struggling. The goal of the assessment is to provide specific, individualized recommendations for your child. This may include referrals to other providers (e.g., a speech and language pathologist, an occupational therapist, a psychotherapist), suggested school accommodations, changes that can be made at home or at school, and/or recommended informational resources, depending on your child’s needs.

What is Involved in an Assessment?

Assessments typically include the following:

Completion of intake forms and standardized questionnaires to obtain background information about your child’s medical, developmental, and academic history as well as his or her social, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
An interview with you (the parent or guardian) to learn more about your concerns and to obtain more detailed and nuanced information about your child’s history and his or her current functioning.
Your child will complete multiple tests designed to assess his or her verbal abilities, visual-spatial skills, nonverbal reasoning abilities, working memory, processing speed, academic achievement, attention, learning, memory, executive functioning skills, visual-motor, and/or motor skills. The test battery will be individualized to your child’s needs. During testing, your child may be asked to answer questions, complete puzzle-like tasks, read, write, or complete math problems. For many children, testing will seem similar to school. All tests are administered on a one-on-one basis in a quiet setting.

How Long Does an Assessment Take?

Assessments usually include the following appointments:

Parent interview (remote): This 60- to 90-minute appointment is for the parent or parents only (your child does not attend). During this session, we’ll discuss your child’s history and your concerns for him or her. The testing session is planned based on information from this appointment.
Two testing sessions (in person): Your child will meet with me for two mornings of testing. Testing sessions are typically scheduled for 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, with short breaks during testing. Younger children may have shorter testing sessions.
Feedback session (virtual): The feedback appointment (about 60 minutes) is for parents. During the feedback, you’ll receive the assessment report, we’ll discuss the results and recommendations in detail, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions that you have.
Child feedback session: Depending on your child’s age and the nature of the results and recommendations, I may also meet with your child for a brief (20-30 minute) feedback session. This gives your child a chance to talk about what we learned from the assessment, including their strengths and challenges, and how we can use this information to help him or her.

Will My Child Receive a Diagnosis?

If your child meets criteria for a diagnosis, such as ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), a learning disability, depression, anxiety, or autism spectrum disorder, the diagnosis or diagnoses will be included in the written report that you receive. However, it is your choice as a parent to decide who to share this information with. The advantages and disadvantages of sharing this information in particular situations will be discussed in detail during the feedback session as it relates to your child’s individual needs.

How Do I Pay for an Assessment?

Village Child Assessment is not in-network with any insurance companies at this time and I do not bill insurance companies directly. However, you will be provided with documentation for out-of-network benefits if you wish to seek reimbursement yourself. If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may be able to receive partial reimbursement for the assessment. Please call (410) 205-6564 for an explanation of fees. Fifty percent payment is due at the time of the first appointment (the parent interview) and the remainder is due on the day of the testing session. Personal checks and all major credit and debit cards are accepted.