FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does testing take?
A full evaluation can take 8-10 hours or more so it is usually broken into three separate sessions.
Could insurance cover the cost of testing?
Academic Evaluation & Diagnosis does not bill insurance companies directly but parents are often successful at getting part or all of the fees covered, depending upon their carrier and plan.
I want my children tested but I am concerned that they are too young. What is the best age to complete an evaluation?
Academic Evaluation & Diagnosis has conducted evaluations from ages 3 through 55. I.Q. becomes much more stable around age six when most children enter school. However, preschool children who are demonstrating particular characteristics may greatly benefit from an alternative instructional program, and an evaluation is the best way to determine the need.
What is the cost of an evaluation?
Parents are billed either a flat fee or an hourly rate. The rate depends on the type of evaluation desired. Please contact the office for more information.
My child is going to be given entrance/achievement exams for private school, and I want him to be prepared. Can Dr. Stephens assist me in this process?
Dr. Stephens often gives baseline evaluations to identify a student’s strengths and weakness and provides families with specific academic topics or content that they are likely to encounter during testing. Due to ethical considerations, she does not provide specific answers to entrance/achievement exams.
My child is having tremendous difficulty reading, and I need more than just a diagnosis. I need to know what to do. Can Dr. Stephens assist me?
Dr. Stephens can administer a complete evaluation, identify the specific nature or the source of the problem, and develop an appropriate plan for instruction. She can assist with selecting a private tutor and help determine the most appropriate placement for the student in an educational environment.
My district requires a cross-battery evaluation. Can Dr. Stephens do this?
Yes, Dr. Stephens has extensive training in cross-battery evaluation and analysis. She occasionally conducts Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs).
My child’s school suspects that there may be a neurological problem with my child. Does Dr. Stephens do this kind of testing?
Very few specific learning disabilities such as reading or math are neurologically based with no other recognizable characteristics such as motor, language, or perceptual concerns. This referral comes about when a child is slower at completing work than his same-age peers. In general, children who complete work at a slower pace are not going to have a true neurological deficit but have a different learning style. Several students were referred for testing because of “neurological” concerns and were diagnosed as gifted. The giftedness had not been previously suggested by the school. When the school makes a suggestion of a need for an evaluation, it is best to get as much information as possible to determine the best evaluation. Dr. Stephens can assist with determining whether or not she is the best person to evaluate the student.
Can Dr. Stephens diagnose AD/HD?
Yes, Dr. Stephens can and will administer the same rating scales that are used to make this determination. However, it is best practice to partner with a medical diagnosis, so it is important to also involve your family doctor.
Can Dr. Stephens diagnose Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)?
This evaluation may include some screening instruments, and Dr. Stephens can certainly identify to what extent CAPD may be impacting a student’s educational performance and suggest appropriate accommodations. However, to confirm a CAPD diagnosis, an audiologist must conduct a separate evaluation.
Does Dr. Stephens diagnose autism?
Yes, but only in conjunction with at least two other specialists including a speech language pathologist and a psychologist. Dr. Stephens will update testing for a student who is already diagnosed without the complete autism team.
Will Dr. Stephens participate in a school meeting (ARD) to explain the needs of the student to the school?
Yes, Dr. Stephens frequently attends meetings to share the results of evaluations, answer questions, and make instructional recommendations.
Can Dr. Stephens communicate the educational needs of my child with other private or public service providers?
Yes, particularly when the student has a wide variety of concerns or diagnoses. The best practice is to work with other experts to form a team for the child.
My child is on a variety of medications for attention/emotional disorders. I think that she may have a learning disability as well. I have spoken with several other experts who want to remove the medications for two weeks prior to testing so that they can evaluate the root of the problem. I don’t see how this will help her. What do you think?
Dr. Stephens has routinely evaluated students who are taking prescribed medications under the supervision of a physician. If the ultimate goal is to determine how the student is functioning academically, it is recommended that the student be evaluated while on medication so that the emotional/behavioral condition can be separated from the learning concern.
My child is having some difficulty in his classroom? Can Dr. Stephens determine what the problem is?
Dr. Stephens frequently conducts classroom observations in order to gain more information about the student’s learning environment and how to provide academic support.
How long does testing take?
A full evaluation can take 8-10 hours or more so it is usually broken into three separate sessions.
Could insurance cover the cost of testing?
Academic Evaluation & Diagnosis does not bill insurance companies directly but parents are often successful at getting part or all of the fees covered, depending upon their carrier and plan.
I want my children tested but I am concerned that they are too young. What is the best age to complete an evaluation?
Academic Evaluation & Diagnosis has conducted evaluations from ages 3 through 55. I.Q. becomes much more stable around age six when most children enter school. However, preschool children who are demonstrating particular characteristics may greatly benefit from an alternative instructional program, and an evaluation is the best way to determine the need.
What is the cost of an evaluation?
Parents are billed either a flat fee or an hourly rate. The rate depends on the type of evaluation desired. Please contact the office for more information.
My child is going to be given entrance/achievement exams for private school, and I want him to be prepared. Can Dr. Stephens assist me in this process?
Dr. Stephens often gives baseline evaluations to identify a student’s strengths and weakness and provides families with specific academic topics or content that they are likely to encounter during testing. Due to ethical considerations, she does not provide specific answers to entrance/achievement exams.
My child is having tremendous difficulty reading, and I need more than just a diagnosis. I need to know what to do. Can Dr. Stephens assist me?
Dr. Stephens can administer a complete evaluation, identify the specific nature or the source of the problem, and develop an appropriate plan for instruction. She can assist with selecting a private tutor and help determine the most appropriate placement for the student in an educational environment.
My district requires a cross-battery evaluation. Can Dr. Stephens do this?
Yes, Dr. Stephens has extensive training in cross-battery evaluation and analysis. She occasionally conducts Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs).
My child’s school suspects that there may be a neurological problem with my child. Does Dr. Stephens do this kind of testing?
Very few specific learning disabilities such as reading or math are neurologically based with no other recognizable characteristics such as motor, language, or perceptual concerns. This referral comes about when a child is slower at completing work than his same-age peers. In general, children who complete work at a slower pace are not going to have a true neurological deficit but have a different learning style. Several students were referred for testing because of “neurological” concerns and were diagnosed as gifted. The giftedness had not been previously suggested by the school. When the school makes a suggestion of a need for an evaluation, it is best to get as much information as possible to determine the best evaluation. Dr. Stephens can assist with determining whether or not she is the best person to evaluate the student.
Can Dr. Stephens diagnose AD/HD?
Yes, Dr. Stephens can and will administer the same rating scales that are used to make this determination. However, it is best practice to partner with a medical diagnosis, so it is important to also involve your family doctor.
Can Dr. Stephens diagnose Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)?
This evaluation may include some screening instruments, and Dr. Stephens can certainly identify to what extent CAPD may be impacting a student’s educational performance and suggest appropriate accommodations. However, to confirm a CAPD diagnosis, an audiologist must conduct a separate evaluation.
Does Dr. Stephens diagnose autism?
Yes, but only in conjunction with at least two other specialists including a speech language pathologist and a psychologist. Dr. Stephens will update testing for a student who is already diagnosed without the complete autism team.
Will Dr. Stephens participate in a school meeting (ARD) to explain the needs of the student to the school?
Yes, Dr. Stephens frequently attends meetings to share the results of evaluations, answer questions, and make instructional recommendations.
Can Dr. Stephens communicate the educational needs of my child with other private or public service providers?
Yes, particularly when the student has a wide variety of concerns or diagnoses. The best practice is to work with other experts to form a team for the child.
My child is on a variety of medications for attention/emotional disorders. I think that she may have a learning disability as well. I have spoken with several other experts who want to remove the medications for two weeks prior to testing so that they can evaluate the root of the problem. I don’t see how this will help her. What do you think?
Dr. Stephens has routinely evaluated students who are taking prescribed medications under the supervision of a physician. If the ultimate goal is to determine how the student is functioning academically, it is recommended that the student be evaluated while on medication so that the emotional/behavioral condition can be separated from the learning concern.
My child is having some difficulty in his classroom? Can Dr. Stephens determine what the problem is?
Dr. Stephens frequently conducts classroom observations in order to gain more information about the student’s learning environment and how to provide academic support.