Assessment: Q&A
What information does an assessment provide?
Assessments can look at any of the following areas depending on the assessment questions. An assessment plan and options are recommended based on information gathered from an initial consultation meeting.
Cognitive skills (i.e. verbal and visual problem solving, aspects of memory and processing, can also provide information on Giftedness)
Academic skills
Reading, writing, and math performance
Looking in-depth and directly at the building blocks of academic skills to determine why a person is struggling and to best inform interventions
Attention and Executive Functioning (i.e. Focus, planning, organizing, approaching multi-step tasks, switching between tasks)
Social Processing (i.e. noticing social cues, using verbal and nonverbal communication, getting along with peers)
Emotional Functioning (anxiety, mood changes, physical indicators of emotional difficulties)
Memory and Learning (general short and long-term verbal and visual memory)
Visual and Auditory Processing (how someone takes in the information they see and hear)
Motor skills (fine-motor skills, coordination, etc.)
What is the process for an assessment?
Step 1: Free initial 20min phone call to gather more information and answer your questions
Step 2: 1hr initial video consultation (This is a meeting typically just for parents. It is optional for teens ages 15+ to join).
Step 3: Testing
The assessment can include between 1 and 6 meetings, which are usually two hours each, depending on the scope of testing.
Most testing occurs in-person at the Elk Grove office. Some testing can take place virtually depending on the specific testing questions and the age of the person being assessed.
Parents are welcome to stay in the waiting room during testing or leave and come back.
Each session ends with a parent check-in to share any important information from the testing meeting.
Step 4: Comprehensive Report and 1-page summary
Parents will be securely emailed the report within 3 weeks of the last testing meeting
Step 5: Feedback session with parents and/or child
Dr. Whitley can provide an overview of the most important information, and this is an opportunity to ask any questions.
Why choose Spring Psychology?
Each assessment is comprehensive, strengths-based, and utilizes evidence-based quantitative information. There are also parts of a Spring Psychology evaluation that make us unique:
Quick Timeline: Options to start and complete testing quickly from your first free phone call with Dr. Whitley. You can expect the full report within 3 to 4 weeks of the last testing session.
Practical Approach: Each report includes a large recommendation and resource section that prioritizes answering the questions “How do I practically use this information, and what are the most important recommendations and next steps?”
Clear Results: Each neuropsych and neuroed assessment includes a comprehensive and strengths-based report as well as a summary section with the most important information.
Prioritizing your child’s experience: Dr. Whitley is an expert at helping children feel comfortable throughout the assessment process and at getting the most accurate information on their strengths and challenges.
What is a neuropsych vs neuroed assessment?
Spring Psychology provides tailored assessments based on what information is needed for yourself or your child. This includes neuropsychological, neuroeducational, cognitive, and achievement assessments.
A neuropsychological assessment looks at cognitive, academic, processing, and emotional functioning. Depending on the assessment questions, this can also look at attention, executive functioning, autism, and learning differences.
A neuroeducational assessment looks at cognitive, academic, and processing functioning. Depending on the assessment questions, this can also look at attention and executive functioning or learning differences.
A cognitive assessment looks at problem solving skills and provides information on how a child learns best. This assessment is also used to determine Giftedness and can be part of school applications.
An achievement assessment looks at general reading, writing, and math skills and provides age and grade-based information.
A supplemental assessment looks at one particular area such as attention/executive functioning, Autism, or reading/writing skills.
How much does an assessment cost?
A one-hour initial consultation is $250. If you decide to proceed with an assessment, this cost goes towards the total assessment cost.
Depending on the desired scope of the assessment, the cost is a flat fee that can range from $1,125 to $7,750*; this includes all testing, scoring, report writing, and a feedback session. (*Certain services like attending an IEP meeting, travel time for a school observation, etc. may add cost but this will be specified in the evaluation agreement).
A limited number of reduced cost assessments are available based on financial need.
We can provide a superbill for insurance reimbursement. We do not accept insurance directly. We cannot guarantee insurance reimbursement; however, many clients get part or all of the cost of services reimbursed.
There are no hidden costs to the assessment process, and the exact fee information based on your tailored assessment plan will be provided before beginning the assessment.
Are the results confidential?
For children aged seventeen and younger, the assessment results will be shared with the parents and no one else without parental written consent.
For individuals 18 and older, the assessment results will be shared with the young adult. With their written consent at the beginning of the assessment process, the assessment report is also shared with parents.
Often, it is recommended that parents share the results with their child’s school. However, this is entirely up to you.