Unlike
most places, all ApaCenter assessments are conducted by Licensed Psychologists.
That means that a Ph.D. with a license in psychology will do all the
testing themselves, write the entire report, and personally give you
a one hour feedback session. Also, a psychologist who specializes
in your area of interest will conduct the assessment. We assess individuals
who range from age 3 through adulthood.
Several of our Licensed Psychologists at the ApaCenter also are Licensed
Specialists in School Psychology (LSSPs) and are experienced at working
within schools and with school staff. So, we will be able to tailor
our assessments to meet the specific needs of schools when eligibility
for special education and/or 504 services is in question.
For information on how you will receive the assessment results and next steps please see our article, What's Next.
Unless otherwise noted, all ApaCenter assessments
will include the following:
- Review of developmental, medical, behavioral, and family history
- A clinical interview
- Review of report cards, teacher information, results of school
administered standardized tests (for students), and results of
other psychological evaluations
- Individual testing in areas such as cognitive abilities, memory,
attention, academic and language skills, and emotional/behavioral
functioning
- A comprehensive report that includes answers to your specific
questions, identification of strengths and weaknesses, diagnoses,
educational/vocational implications, and recommendations
- A one hour feedback session with the Licensed Psychologist who
conducted the assessment
The ApaCenter offers the following assessments:
Asperger’s
Syndrome and High Functioning Autism (HFA) Assessments
Our assessments for Asperger's Syndrome and high functioning
autism range from age 3 through adulthood. Although there is no
single standardized test that can diagnose an autism spectrum disorder,
a number of autism rating scales and structured interviews now exist
that are helpful in determining the likelihood of such disorders.
While assessments look for the main characteristics of an autism
spectrum disorder (social impairment, communication difficulties,
reliance on repetitive routines/ narrowness of interests), a comprehensive
evaluation will assess the following areas of functioning through
a combination of individualized standardized testing, self-report
measures, behavioral checklists, interviews, and observations:
- Developmental and medical history
- Cognitive abilities and academic achievement
- Social competence and social perception
- Emotional and behavioral functioning
- Communication and language skills
- Perceptual-motor/visual-spatial ability
- Assessment of attention and memory as indicated
The ApaCenter may also recommend a full medical evaluation to rule
out other medical conditions that may be causing symptoms (e.g.,
hearing loss). Diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder takes particular
care, because it often appears very different among individuals,
and symptoms often change with development. More often than not,
clients with Asperger’s or HFA also experience other related
difficulties such as ADD/ADHD, depression, and learning disabilities
that confound diagnosis. In addition, many times individuals who
have characteristics that fit an Asperger’s profile are actually
experiencing other difficulties. For example, it is sometimes challenging
to distinguish Asperger’s Syndrome from symptoms experienced
by a shy, depressed child who is verbally gifted. Symptoms common
to autism spectrum disorders also need to be distinguished from
symptoms that result from trauma. For this reason, the consideration
of current life stressors is extremely important for a reliable
diagnosis. Finally, an awareness and sensitivity to cultural factors
that may confound accurate diagnosis is essential (e.g., the norms
for respectful eye contact and communication vary from culture to
culture).
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Assessments
When determining whether a person meets diagnostic criteria
for ADHD (often called ADD), it is important to keep in mind that
this is a clinical diagnosis, and there is no definitive test that
can determine whether a person has ADD/ADHD. Also, many different
problems and conditions can have a negative impact on attention that
need to be ruled out in evaluations of ADD/ADHD. For example, depression,
anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, memory problems, and slow processing
speed can all have a negative impact on attention and might look like
ADD/ADHD. So, a determination of whether ADD/ADHD is the appropriate
diagnosis is actually rather tricky. A proper diagnosis leads to more
effective treatment recommendations.
ApaCenter evaluations for ADD/ADHD
typically include the following:
- Comprehensive review of the client’s history and a client
interview
- Behavioral checklists and self-report measures
- Testing in the areas of cognitive abilities, academic skills,
and auditory processing
- Computerized tests of attention
- Comprehensive emotional evaluation (in some cases)
Dyslexia
Assessments
The ApaCenter's assessments for dyslexia are based on the recommendations
by the International Dyslexia Association and renowned dyslexia expert,
Sally Shaywitz, M.D. In addition to gathering background information
that we use for a dyslexia evaluation, our individualized testing
using standardized measures includes:
- Cognitive abilities and processing (including auditory processing,
visual processing, visual motor integration)
- General academic achievement in reading, writing, and math
- Specific evaluation of reading and writing skills including:
- Phonological processing
- Rapid automatized naming
- Single word decoding of both real and nonsense words
- Oral and silent reading in context to evaluate rate, fluency,
comprehension, and accuracy
- Reading comprehension
- Dictated spelling test
- Written expression
- Tests of specific oral language skills
- Evaluation in other areas as indicated, such as attention, memory,
and emotional functioning
Giftedness
Assessments
A Licensed Psychologist with a Ph.D. and experience in assessing
levels of giftedness will conduct the evaluation, complete a written
report that includes specific recommendations, and provide feedback.
An ApaCenter assessment for identifying giftedness typically includes:
- Review of developmental, medical, behavioral, and family history
- Review of report cards, teacher feedback, and results from any
previous standardized testing
- Assessment of cognitive abilities using comprehensive, standardized
measures (including verbal and nonverbal abilities, working memory,
and processing speed)
- Assessment of academic achievement in the areas of reading,
writing, and math
- Review of any already completed work that may be indicative
of your child's unique gifts or talents. This could include previously
written work (e.g., poems, creative writing, etc.), artwork, and/or
audio/video recordings of any musical or theatrical talents, etc.
Further evaluation in additional areas may also be necessary when
suspected learning, emotional, behavioral, or attention problems
are evident.
Twice-Exceptional
(2e) Assessments
Students In addition to the above measures used in evaluations for
giftedness, ApaCenter assessments for identifying twice-exceptional
students also include:
- Clinical interviews · Standardized tests of visual and auditory
attention
- A more in-depth look at achievement in areas of suspected difficulty
(e.g., reading fluency in expected cases of hidden dyslexia)
- Standardized tests of memory and learning when needed
- Behavior checklists completed by parents, teachers, and student
- Psychological/projective measures as warranted
Independent
Educational Evaluations (IEE)
If your son or daughter receives an evaluation by his/her school to
determine eligibility for special education services, and you disagree
with the results, you can request an independent educational evaluation
for which the school might pay. You also have the right to request
who conducts the evaluation. The ApaCenter has several Licensed Psychologists
who are also Licensed Specialists in School Psychology. So, we are
able to conduct evaluations that will meet your needs as well as the
school's standards for acceptability. The psychologists at the ApaCenter
know how to advocate for parent and student rights and interests and
can communicate with schools in an effective manner.
Learning Disabilities
Assessments
Sometimes referred to as psychoeducational evaluations, these assessments
typically consist of a review of the client's history, interviews,
cognitive testing, and assessments of academic skills. Such evaluations
might be used to:
- Provide academic/career direction based on an individual’s
profile of strengths and weaknesses
- Establish whether a learning disability in a particular area
(e.g., written expression) is present that might merit special
education or 504 services
- Determine whether there is a disability present that might
merit accommodations such as extended time, preferential seating,
and note taking assistance.
Personality
and Psychological Assessments
Sadness, anxiety, lack of focus, irritability, and impulsive behavior
may be related to many different causes. A thorough evaluation of
personality features and current emotional and behavior concerns
can provide clarity and options as you search for solutions. These
assessments include screening of intellectual and academic abilities,
plus standardized questionnaires and tests to clarify diagnoses
and personality features. Some of the test procedures used in assessments
of individuals experiencing emotional/behavioral challenges include
interviews, behavior checklists, self-report measures of personality
and behavior, and projective tests (e.g., drawings, sentence completion,
story telling, inkblot). Procedures for very young children may
also include play-based techniques. Assessment reports include recommendations
for resolving troublesome symptoms, for building on strengths, and
for developing new strategies to manage personal challenges. These
assessments can also be used to determine whether the individual
has an emotional disability that merits 504 services and accommodations
at primary, secondary, and college levels.
Substance
Use Assessments
Substance use and abuse is often related to many factors, including
a person’s home, school, and work environments, personality
style, impulse control, and emotional concerns such as depression
and anxiety. Through an in-depth clinical interview and personality
assessment, the ApaCenter provides an assessment that describes
the severity of a person’s substance use, the factors that
contribute to that individual’s substance use, and strategies
for breaking the cycle of substance use and abuse.
TCLEOSE Evaluations - L-3 Declaration
of Psychological and Emotional Health
These evaluations are used by law enforcement and related agencies
to ensure that applicants meet standards for emotional health/well-being.
The total time for these assessments is approximately 2-3 hours.
Initially you will be asked to complete some questionnaires and
provide some background information followed by a brief interview
(30-45 minutes). At the end of this time, you will immediately be
provided with results of the evaluation and completion of the L-3
form if appropriate.
|
