CHILDREN & TEEN ASSESSMENTS
We specialize in:
Pediatric Neuropsychological Evaluations
We determine if your child or teen has:
Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Dyscalculia
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Anxiety
Depression
Behavioral Disorders
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Traumatic Brain Injury
Developmental Trauma
Plus, any conditions that significantly impact learning and school performance.
Our in depth assessments can be used to develop an
Individualized plan for your child’s future success.
WHY ARE ASSESSMENTS BENEFICIAL?
✅ Provides an unbiased evaluation of learning and behavioral needs.
✅ Sheds light on specific learning strengths and weaknesses.
✅ Provides a road map for treatment.
✅ Assists parents and schools in planning appropriate intervention support.
✅ Helps determine eligibility for an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
✅ Helps determine eligibility for Section 504 accommodations.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
FIRST,
Book an Initial Intake Coaching Session:
During a 45 minute intake session, we will make recommendations on whether assessments are needed. If so, we will recommend the type of assessments that will answer your questions and help your child. If an assessment through our clinic is not recommended, we will help find the path that best meets your needs.
NEXT,
Time to schedule your Testing Sessions:
Following the initial intake session, you will schedule your testing with NeuroCal. Depending on the type of assessment that is needed, the testing may last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. These sessions are broken up into 2 hour sessions and you will receive an email link that allows you to select the appropriate number of sessions on the days and times that work for you.
Payment for the assessment:
Do you take insurance? We are currently in the process of insurance panelling and hope to take insurance soon. We do, however, provide “Superbills” with the necessary treatment codes so that you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. However, we cannot guarantee reimbursement even with the Superbill. You may want to check with your insurance company to find out what your plan will cover. It is also important to note that insurance companies require a qualifying diagnosis to determine “medical necessity”. Thus, educational testing that does not identify a mental health diagnosis is most often not covered. However, our clients have had success using their Health Savings Accounts to pay for testing.
LASTLY,
Once assessments are complete:
💡Parents receive a report clearly explaining findings and recommendations.
💡 Parents are encouraged to read through the assessment findings and identify questions.
💡 You can then schedule a results meeting with the psychologist to discuss the report findings & next steps.
TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS
Psychoeducational Evaluation
Neuropsychological Evaluation
Dr. Bylund has the expertise to conduct comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. Such evaluations may be needed when a child experiences the following medical/neurological disorders and/or unique educational challenges.
Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Traumatic Brain Injury
History of acquired or congenital brain damage (e.g., seizure disorder, brain tumors, anoxia/hypoxia, genetic abnormalities)
Medical disorder with CNS involvement (e.g., severe asthma, leukemia, low birth weight, spina bifida and hydrocephalus)
Exposure to environmental neurotoxins (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome, substance abuse, inhalant abuse)
A sudden and unexplainable drop in academic achievement
Failure to respond following multiple evaluations and intervention strategies
When traditional psycho-educational evaluation is not sufficient to describe the breath and/or depth of neuropsychological barriers and/or develop an educational program and/or other treatments that appropriately meet the clients needs.
Neuropsychological Evaluations assess the clients development in the following areas:
Sensory-motor processes
Processing Speed
Attention Regulation
Working Memory
Executive Functioning
Auditory Processing
Phonological Processing
Orthographic Processing
Rapid Naming
Language
Visual-Spatial Processing
Memory Functions
Reasoning
General Intelligence
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning
Social Communication and Flexibility (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders)
Academic Skills (e.g. reading, writing, mathematics)
Trauma Informed Evaluation
Trauma includes both highly stressful single events (e.g., car accident, assault, natural disaster) as well as persistent, or chronic stressors (e.g., abuse, domestic violence, community violence) that keep the nervous system in a state of high alert over a prolonged period. It also includes and acts of omission (e.g., neglect, impaired caregiving, multiple placement disruptions).
Both acute trauma and chronic stress can greatly impact the nervous systems and manifest in a host of physical, social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive challenges that are often far more complex than other developmental disorders (e.g., learning disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety). Because of this complexity, however, children with developmental trauma may be identified with any number, or combination, of other disorders such as anxiety disorder, oppositional defiance, ADHD, conduct disorder, dysthymia, PTSD, phobias, and others. Unfortunately, misidentification of the underlying disorder may also lead to inappropriate and ineffective educational programs and treatment, and possibly worsen their symptom presentation.
When assessing children and youth with a history of trauma, Dr. Bylund completes a neuropsychological evaluation (described above) including measures of attention, executive functioning, and memory, areas of neuropsychological processing most vulnerable to the impact of trauma. The assessment also includes a number of additional measures assessing the social, emotional, and behavioral impact of trauma. This may include the following
Assessing Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) functioning
Review history of trauma and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Review of attachment history
Personality assessment
Projective measures
Standardized measures of trauma symptoms
Trauma informed educational and treatment recommendations
