A Quick Ring
Before we get started, Dr. Davidson has a free phone consultation with the child’s caregiver(s). The phone consultation is an opportunity for caregivers to share the reason their child is being referred for an evaluation and learn about the evaluation process. This is the first step to determine if an evaluation would be appropriate.
An Intake Meeting
The evaluation begins with an intake meeting. The intake session is an opportunity for caregivers to sit down with Dr. Davidson and work through a complete and comprehensive developmental history of the child. This history begins prenatal and continues through the present.
Parents and important members of the child’s team (teachers, therapists, tutors, etc.) will be incorporated throughout the evaluation process. They could participate through completing structured forms and/or interviews about the child.
Testing Sessions
Next the child will participate in testing sessions. Dr. Davidson does not use a standard testing battery; each child will complete tasks based on the referral question, observations from Dr. Davidson, and the child’s own unique needs. The amount of sessions and the duration of each session varies depending on the child’s age, attention-span, and other important factors. During sessions, the child will be engaged in a variety of tasks which could include cognitive, achievement, and neuropsychological tests. The child may also complete structured or semi-structured self-report questionnaires, engage in play, and complete projective and/or apperceptive measures.
The goal of this evaluation is to have a full 360 degree picture of a child’s cognitive, academic, adaptive, and social-emotional functioning at home, school, and in the community.
The Final Report
The results of the completed evaluation will culminate in a final report. The final report will be presented during a feedback session with caregivers. The feedback session is an opportunity for families to thoroughly understand the results and recommendations from the evaluation. Dr. Davidson will also create an abridged developmentally-appropriate report for the child so that he or she will have a concrete way to understand his or her strengths and areas for improvement.
After the feedback session, Dr. Davidson remains available to families to answer questions as they come up. Dr. Davidson loves connecting with families and working with them as the children grow!