Assessment:  The Procedure
 

STEP ONE:  Purpose-- What questions are you trying to answer?
When you call in requesting an assessment it will be important to explain the purpose of the evaluation.  What questions are you trying to answer through an evaluation?  If you are not sure, that's okay, we can discuss the issue to pinpoint what you are seeking to accomplish, and what your options are. It may be helpful to clarify with your teacher, doctor, or counselor what specific information they are seeking, and what potential decisions will be made based on the evaluation results.

STEP TWO:  Schedule Appointments-- How long does an evaluation take?
Length of appointments and number of sessions vary according to the age of the client and the purpose of the assessment.  Generally children are seen only in the morning hours, to assure that they are alert and not fatigued from a day of school or other activity. Testing appointments for younger children can last from  1 1/2 to 3 hours a day, depending on the child's stamina. Adolescents and adults can be assessed mornings or afternoons, usually for 3-4 hours at a time, possibly longer.  Breaks are given for all ages, as needed. Typically a full evaluation for a child or an adolescent requires from 6-8 hours of face to face time.  A separate parent interview is conducted after the first assessment session with the child. After all tests have been administered, either a full report or a summary of findings is written, depending on the needs in your circumstances. 

STEP THREE:  Preparation-- How should I prepare myself or my child for the assessment?
The most important preparation is to be well-rested and at ease.  There is no studying or special practice of any kind in preparation for a psychological evaluation.  Children should be informed that they will be doing "activities" with the doctor, rather than taking "tests", which  is an understandably anxiety-provoking word for many children and adults.  Clients of all ages are expected to cooperate with the activities, make their best effort to follow directions and  answer items as accurately as possible.

STEP FOUR:  Gathering the information
An evaluation involves gathering information in a number of ways, from a number of sources.  The standardized tests administered during the appointments will provide a wealth of information, but parent or spouse interviews, collateral information from teachers or employers, and a review of past evaluations are also very valuable.  If the client has had any other evaluations (psychological, occupational, speech and language, reports from teachers or employers), it is helpful to bring them in to be reviewed. As tests are administered and preliminary results begin to emerge, the direction of the inquiry may become more specific, and certain tests may be dropped or added to the evaluation.  When all measures have been administered and data has been gathered from all sources, the results are integrated into a full written report or a summary of findings. When the report/summary is finalized, a feedback session is held, which typically lasts about 2 hours. 

STEP FIVE:  Plan your next steps
During the feedback session you will receive a detailed verbal explanation of the findings and be given copies of the written report or the summary.  Equipped with the information the assessment has yielded, you will be better informed in making decisions to address outstanding issues. During the feedback session recommendations are discussed.  This is also your opportunity to ask questions about the results. The completion of the assessment process is actually your first step in intervention.  It forms the basis for planning your next steps.