Services

Evaluations

Gifted Identification

The state of Florida identifies gifted learners by three criteria: 1) intellectual ability at the 98th percentile or higher (130+), 2) frequent demonstration of gifted characteristics, 3) need for enrichment.

Our team specifically evaluates within the first component of criteria – the intellectual ability assessment – by evaluating your child’s global IQ. Depending on the age and strengths of your child, our clinicians choose a standardized and norm-referenced assessment comprised of short “activities” to assess their reasoning, verbal knowledge, memory, and/or speed of processing.

This evaluation is typically scheduled over a two hour block of time with rapport building activities and games, assessment, and parent feedback of student performance immediately following the session. A written report is sent within the week of the evaluation session.

Learning Disability Identification

A learning disability is characterized by deficits in a specific area of learning (reading, math, writing), provided effective instruction and intervention and average or above cognitive abilities. Within the school system, the state of Florida recognizes students in need of services under the classification of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) after a series of specific interventions at increasing levels of support, in addition to synthesizing all of the available classroom and formal assessment data.

Our practice focuses on the formal assessment component of learning disability diagnosis. Input will be gathered from the school to determine specific areas of struggle, types of support provided, and strengths of the student. The formal evaluation is typically conducted over two sessions with cognitive and academic measures that assess your child’s strengths and areas of challenge. After all testing sessions are completed, a formal report is written and reviewed with you within two weeks that outlines your child’s needs and recommendations.

Social/Emotional (ADHD/Anxiety)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is defined as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. It is characterized by: 1) Inattention (6 or more symptoms persisting for at least 6 months) and/or 2) hyperactivity and impulsivity (6 or more symptoms persisting for at least 6 months).

Within the school system, the state of Florida recognizes students with a diagnosis of AD/HD or Anxiety under the classification of an Other Health Impairment (OHI) after a series of specific interventions at increasing levels of support, in addition to synthesizing all of the available classroom and formal assessment data.

Our practice focuses on formal assessments and rating scales to make a diagnostic impression AD/HD. Input will be gathered from the school to determine specific areas of struggle, characteristics and frequency of behavioral symptoms, types of support provided, and strengths of the student. The formal evaluation is typically conducted over two sessions with cognitive and academic measures that assess your child’s strengths and areas of challenge, in addition to measures of global behavioral and executive functioning. Parent and teacher ratings are also gathered with a review of developmental history. After all testing sessions are completed, a formal report is written and reviewed with you within two to four weeks of final data collection that outlines your child’s needs and recommendations.