What Actually Happens in an Evaluation, Start to Finish

Most parents have never been through this and have no idea what they are agreeing to. Here is the whole thing.

1 · The free 15-minute call

You tell me what you are seeing. I ask a few questions and tell you honestly whether an evaluation is the right next step, or whether something else would serve your child better. No commitment, no cost. I reply to every message within one business day.

2 · The parent intake

About an hour, without your child present. Developmental history, school history, what has already been tried, and what you are hoping to understand. I also ask for school records and any prior reports, and I review them at no extra charge.

3 · Testing sessions with your child

Six to eight hours of testing in total, usually across two sessions of three to four hours each, though every child is different and I schedule around what works for yours. Most children find it far less unpleasant than they expect. It is puzzles, questions, reading and drawing, with breaks. I also send rating scales to you and, with your permission, to teachers.

4 · Scoring, record review and writing

This is the invisible part, and it is where most of the hours go: scoring every measure, integrating the school records and teacher input, and writing a report that a committee will actually read.

5 · The feedback session

About an hour, with you. We go through everything: what the testing showed, what it means, and what to do about it. You leave with the written report and a prioritised list of next steps for school and for home.

In total

A typical evaluation is about an hour with you at the start, six to eight hours of testing with your child across roughly two sessions, and an hour with you at the end, with the written report in your hands one to two weeks after the last testing session.

And afterwards

I am available to answer questions about the report, and if it is useful I can attend a CSE or 504 meeting to present the findings directly. That is included, by request, at no extra charge.

If you want to know how payment and insurance work, that is set out on the insurance, payment and timelines page. Or request a free 15-minute call.