Psychological Assessment

Child Study Institute provides a wide range of assessment services for toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, adolescents, college students, and adults. Services include:

• comprehensive psychological evaluations
• neuropsychological evaluations
• early childhood evaluations
• school admissions IQ testing.

Comprehensive Psychological Evaluations

Referral questions for comprehensive psychological evaluations include possible learning disabilities, academic difficulties, school readiness, eligibility for accommodations under IDEA, emotional/behavioral adjustment, and autism spectrum disorders. Assessment is carried out by licensed and certified school psychologists. When appropriate, children are observed in school contexts and in informal, non-academic settings. Comprehensive psychological evaluations involve assessment of intelligence, academic achievement, information processing, and social/emotional adjustment. Detailed clinical reports address issues of individual learning style, academic performance, and social/emotional functioning, and provide educational and/or therapeutic recommendations.

Neuropsychological Evaluations

Like comprehensive psychological evaluations, neuropsychological evaluations of children, adolescents, and adults entail a comprehensive record review and clinical interview, school observation, a written report, and a feedback meeting. Neuropsychological evaluation focuses on brain-behavior relations in assessment of intellectual functioning, academic achievement, language, visuospatial skills, learning and memory, attention, problem-solving, motor functioning, and social/emotional functioning. Thus, neuropsychological evaluations address how well different regions of the brain work in concert to support mental functioning. A neuropsychological evaluation is particularly recommended when a history of adverse events affecting the brain is present (e.g., prenatal or perinatal complications, CNS infections, or traumatic brain injury), or when possible neurological problems are suspected.

Early Childhood Evaluations

CSI also offers Early Childhood Arena Team Developmental Screenings and Comprehensive Evaluations for children aged 18 months to 6 years. Referral questions for Early Childhood Evaluations include school readiness, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorders, and emotional/behavioral adjustment. The evaluation team includes a licensed/school certified psychologist, a speech pathologist, and an occupational therapist.

• Developmental Screening
  For children 18 to 36 months of age, the team provides Developmental Screening of a child's communication, motor, early learning, and social-emotional skills with a report with recommendations for supporting developmental progress or early intervention.

 

• Comprehensive Evaluation
  For children 36 months of age and older, or with complex medical or developmental needs, the team provides a Comprehensive Evaluation conducted across several morning sessions. An observation at preschool or at home may be included as well. A detailed report provides specific recommendations regarding early intervention, supportive therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, and strategies for learning and play. Educational recommendations are also provided for children who are transitioning from early intervention to kindergarten or first grade.

School Admissions / IQ Testing

CSI also provides IQ testing, which is required by certain independent schools as a component of admissions and by public schools as a component of "gifted" program assessment. A test of cognitive ability (typically, a Wechsler Intelligence Scale or the Stanford‑Binet Intelligence Scale) is administered by a certified school psychologist. After administration, the examiner meets with the caregivers to provide verbal results and interpretation. Within one week, a complete written report is sent to the caregivers and to any schools they request. The psychologist is available for consultation and to answer questions after caregivers receive the report.

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