Psychoeducational Evaluations
Psychoeducational evaluations are performed to address educational or occupational concerns. Individualized recommendations, interventions, accommodations, and placement or school recommendations are targeted to support academic and occupational success. Evaluations are also committed to gaining appropriate accommodations on influential standardized tests used for various purposes, including education, employment, certification, and assessment of cognitive and academic abilities.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults. Individuals with ADHD may experience persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can interfere with daily functioning and development.
Autism (ASD)
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a range of challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. The term "spectrum" is used because the symptoms and severity of autism can vary widely among individuals. Some people with autism may have mild challenges, while others may experience more severe impairments in multiple areas.
Specific learning disabilities (SLD)
Specific learning disabilities (SLD) refer to neurological conditions affecting a person's ability to acquire, store, process, or produce information. These difficulties may manifest in various areas, such as reading, writing, mathematics, and reasoning skills. It's important to note that learning disabilities do not indicate a lack of intelligence; individuals with learning disabilities often have average or above-average intelligence. Common types of learning disabilities include:
- Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects reading, making it challenging for individuals to decode words, recognize sight words, and spell accurately.
- Dyscalculia is a learning disability related to mathematics, leading to difficulties in understanding and manipulating numerical concepts and problems with mathematical reasoning.
- Dysgraphia is a condition that affects writing skills, including difficulties with handwriting, spelling, and organizing thoughts on paper.
- Non-verbal learning Disability (NVLD or NLD) is a condition that affects spatial awareness, visual-spatial processing, and non-verbal communication skills.
Intellectual disability (ID)
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior limitations. Intellectual functioning involves a person's ability to reason, learn, problem-solve, and comprehend complex ideas. Adaptive behavior includes everyday social and practical skills necessary for independent living.
Mental health disorders
Mental health disorders are conditions that affect a person's thoughts, emotions, behavior, or a combination of these aspects, leading to significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. These disorders are often characterized by disturbances in thinking, mood, behavior, or social interactions. Mental health disorders can vary widely in terms of severity, duration, and impact on an individual's life. Some common categories of mental health disorders include:
Mood Disorders: These disorders involve disturbances in mood or affect.
Examples include:
- Depressive Disorder: Characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.
- Anxiety Disorders: These disorders involve excessive worry, fear, or anxiety.
- Personality Disorders: These disorders involve enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate from cultural expectations. Examples include borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Occurs in response to a traumatic event and involves persistent re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal symptoms.
Behavioral disorders
Behavioral disorders, also known as disruptive behavior disorders, refer to a group of mental health conditions characterized by persistent patterns of behaviors that violate social norms, rules, and the rights of others. These disorders often emerge during childhood or adolescence. They can significantly impact a person's daily functioning, relationships, and academic or occupational performance. It's important to note that behavioral disorders are distinct from typical age-appropriate behaviors and may require professional assessment and intervention. Common types of behavioral disorders include:
- Conduct Disorder (CD): This disorder involves persistent patterns of behavior that violate the basic rights of others or societal norms. Behaviors may include aggression, bullying, theft, vandalism, and deceitfulness. Conduct Disorder is often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): ODD is characterized by a pattern of defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior directed toward authority figures. Children with ODD may argue, refuse to comply with rules, and exhibit angry and irritable moods.
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD): DMDD is characterized by severe and recurrent temper outbursts that are out of proportion to the situation. The disorder typically begins in childhood and may coexist with other mood disorders.
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED): IED involves recurrent episodes of impulsive aggression that are disproportionate to the provocation. Individuals with IEDs may have difficulty controlling their anger and may engage in verbal or physical aggression.
Test accommodations evaluation is a comprehensive assessment conducted to determine if an individual is eligible for specific accommodations when taking standardized tests. These accommodations ensure that individuals with documented disabilities or impairments have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their abilities on these exams. Common standardized tests that may offer accommodations include the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), the Bar exam (for prospective lawyers), the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), the SAT ( and others.