A diagnostic evaluation is right choice if you or your child are referred by pediatrician, therapist, or other professional for a specific diagnosis, such as ADHD, Autism, OCD, a mood disorder, depression, or anxiety. Diagnostic evaluations are designed to be quicker and less expensive than comprehensive or psychoeducational evaluations. This is to minimize the time it takes to complete the evaluation and to focus on key factors related to whether a specific diagnosis is warranted. Turn around time on these evaluations from intake to feedback session is can be as little as 1 -2 weeks depending on client availability. Domains commonly assessed may include verbal and nonverbal comprehension and reasoning skills, working memory, executive functions and attention, processing speed, behavioral and emotional functioning, social functioning, and adaptive functioning.
Diagnostic evaluations generally consist of:
- Intake session including a clinical interview and gathering background information
- 1 testing session
- Communicating with collateral sources, if necessary
- Feedback session
- Brief report detailing relevant background information, results and analysis of the current evaluation, diagnosis, and appropriate recommendations
The full price of a diagnostic evaluation is currently $800. Autism evaluations are $850, as they generally require assessment in more domains and take longer than standard diagnostic evaluations. 50% of the cost is due at the intake session, with the balance paid by the feedback session. Reports cannot be released until the full price of the evaluation has been paid.