Psychological Evaluation

Psychological Evaluations

A psychological evaluation can offer clarity about your child’s strengths and needs, empowering you with practical answers and a personalized plan to help your child or teen succeed at home, school, and in their daily life.

Why Families Seek a Psychological Evaluation

Families may pursue a psychological evaluation for a variety of reasons. In addition to addressing specific questions or concerns, an evaluation can provide valuable insight and guidance. Common reasons include:

• Gaining Clarity and Understanding: Many families want a comprehensive picture of their child’s strengths and challenges, and to understand if a diagnosis such as autism, ADHD, or anxiety is present.

• Guiding Treatment and Support: Evaluation results guide treatment priorities and recommendations for home, school, and therapy, which provides families confidence in planning for next steps.

• School Accommodations: A formal evaluation and diagnosis can help children and teens qualify for school accommodations (e.g., IEP or 504 Plan) and additional support services in the school setting.

• Exploring Medication Options: If appropriate, an evaluation can help determine whether medication may be beneficial and provide the documentation needed to explore the option of medication.

• Monitoring Progress and Growth: Some families seek evaluations to track their child’s progress over time or to re-evaluate and adjust plans as their child develops.

• Peace of Mind and Empowerment: The evaluation process can answer lingering questions, reduce uncertainty, and empower families to make informed choices.

Common Presenting Concerns for Evaluations

Parents often consider a psychological evaluation for:

• Social difficulties (making friends, navigating social situations)

• Attention and focus concerns (ADHD/ADD)

• Anxiety or worries impacting daily life

• Sensory sensitivities

• Challenging behaviors

• Emotional outbursts or mood changes

• Exploring autism or neurodevelopmental differences

Areas of Focus

Primary areas evaluated:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Dr. Ko specializes in ASD assessment using gold-standard tools, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R)

• ADHD/ADD and executive functioning

• Anxiety disorders

• Neurodevelopmental differences

• Social and emotional concerns

• Mild to moderate depressive disorders/mood concerns

Areas not currently evaluated:

• Learning disabilities

• Personality disorders

• Severe mood disorders

• Schizophrenia or prodromal symptoms

Evaluation Process

1. Initial Intake Session: The evaluation starts with an intake appointment to learn about your concerns, gather background information, and set goals for the evaluation.

2. Personalized Assessment: A testing plan is created just for your child/teen, which may include one-on-one child/teen testing, interviews, and questionnaires for parents and teachers.

3. Feedback Session: Following the evaluation, a feedback session will take place to discuss results, diagnoses (if applicable), and individualized recommendations.

4. Comprehensive Report: Families receive a detailed, extensive report with all findings and recommendations for home and school to ensure your child/teen gets the support they need.