Purpose

Assessments conducted at the elementary and secondary school level are typically undertaken to determine whether an underlying neurodevelopmental disorder (Learning Disability, Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder), behavioural issue, and/or mental health difficulty is affecting the student’s academic, social, and/or family functioning. Assessments are also administered to determine a student’s eligibility for an educational identification of Gifted within the school environment.

Process

Before your scheduled appointment, you will be provided with forms to complete providing information about the student’s medical/developmental, family/social, academic, and behavioural/psychological functioning. You may be provided with checklists to complete regarding your child and/or checklists to be completed by school personnel. You will also be directed to bring all report cards, special education documents, and previous assessment reports to the initial meeting.

On the day of your initial appointment, you will be asked to accompany your child to the assessment room for a 45 to 60 minute intake interview. Should there be information that you wish to discuss with the Psychologist without your child present, please let us know while scheduling or at the beginning of the initial appointment. After the interview is complete, your child will begin formal testing lasting approximately two hours. They will subsequently be scheduled for a second testing session which will be approximately three hours in length.  The nature and number of testing tools used during an assessment is determined by the presenting difficulty. A typical assessment includes: a developmental history; a review of medical and school reports; assessment of intellectual ability; assessment of various cognitive processes, including language, visual-spatial analysis, attention, working memory, processing speed, memory, and executive functioning; tests of academic achievement; and behavioural and psychosocial rating scales.

After completing the assessment, a feedback session will be scheduled. Recommendations resulting from the assessment are introduced to provide guidelines on how to best meet the student’s specific learning and emotional needs both at home and in the classroom. An identification of exceptionality within the school system may also be recommended and the parents are provided with information on how to approach the school board with this information and how to be the best advocate for their child. In addition, the student’s learning style is discussed with the student to ensure that they understand their specific learning needs. Finally, the parents are provided with a report outlining the results and recommendations.

Costs

Psychological, neuropsychological, psychoeducational services are not covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Often, coverage is provided by extended health insurance plans. Check your coverage if you have such a plan. Please note that some insurance companies will only reimburse the cost if there is a physician referral for the service. In these cases a referral letter from the physician should be obtained prior to the assessment.

Fees for assessments are based on the professional time involved in completing the assessment, meetings, test scoring, and time for report preparation. The fee for the assessments includes a comprehensive feedback session to discuss the results in addition to brief follow up telephone or email consultation to clarify or answer questions about the assessment. An estimate of the total fee is provided before the initial session. Assessment fees do not include any further follow up meetings or additional testing. Fees are due at the follow up interview at the end of the assessment, and can be paid by cash or certified cheque. Following full payment of fees, a comprehensive assessment report will be provided that contains findings and recommendations. Unpaid fees will result in a written reminder following one month. After two months, unpaid fees will be transferred to a collection agency.

The standard fee rate is $200.00 per hour. Costs for a child typically range from $1200 to $1500. Costs for an adolescent typically range from $1500 to $2000.

Please be punctual for the appointments. Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance to avoid a charge to your account. Missed appointments are charged $75.00 to your account. Exceptions are made when poor weather conditions make travel hazardous or when you (or your child) are ill. If you are unable to make your appointment, phone as soon as you can so other arrangements can be made.