Assessment Services
Dr. Veed has extensive experience conducting Diagnostic and Neuropsychological Evaluations for children, teens, and adults.
A Diagnostic Evaluation is used to determine what the most appropriate diagnosis is to explain a client's difficulties. This may be necessary if the client's problematic symptoms do not fit prototypical presentations or if there is a question between several diagnostic labels that may describe the symptoms. In addition to a clarified diagnosis, any Diagnostic Evaluation Includes clear, specific, evidence-based recommendations for treating and/or accommodating the problem.
A Neuropsychological Evaluation is used to determine a client's cognitive abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Cognitive abilities include many things including IQ, verbal or visual-spatial intelligence, attention, memory, problem solving, planning, and processing speed. Understanding a client's unique constellation of abilities can help tailor school and other environments to help them be successful. In addition, cognitive and neuropsychological abilities are very stable as children develop and a Neuropsychological Evaluation can provide valuable information for years after it is conducted.
What is the process of having an Evaluation done?
Every evaluation begins with an initial consultation during which client (and parents) meet Dr. Veed and provide basic background information. The primary purpose for this meeting is to agree on what questions the assessment needs to answer. It is also a chance to begin gathering information for the assessment and lay out the steps going forward. After this, assessment is tailored to the particular questions being addressed and may involve diagnostic interviews, completion of questionnaires by the client and other important parties (e.g., parents, teachers), face-to-face testing sessions, observation in classrooms or at home, and consultation with other professionals (e.g., previous counselors, psychiatrists, pediatricians, school team). After all procedures have been completed, results are scored, synthesized, compiled, and presented to clients (or parents) in a debriefing session designed to answer the initial evaluation questions as soon as possible (typically within a week or two of the completion of assessment procedures). Finally, a comprehensive report of the evaluation is provided to the client once the cost for the evaluation has been paid in full. It may take between 1-2 months to complete the final written report. This report is the official record of the assessment and includes results, conclusions, and recommendations. It includes valuable, valid information for years or even decades after the evaluation is conducted.
Does my child have ADHD or Anxiety or both?
This is probably the most common question we address through assessment and it is one of Dr. Veed's areas of specialty. A thorough assessment can help to determine the causes underlying functional difficulties such as dropping grades, poor classroom behavior, difficulty completing homework, or strong emotions related to academic tasks or other tasks that require attention or focus. Reading about psychiatric diagnoses such as ADHD or Anxiety Disorders can lead to the feeling that your child has some of everything! This is when an expert assessment is needed. A thorough Diagnostic Evaluation can clarify what the underlying issue is and what can be done about it.
Why does my child seem intelligent but perform poorly in school?
There are many different reasons that can contribute to children under-performing - ADHD, Anxiety, Bullying, Depression, Family Discord/Stress, Giftedness, Learning Disability, Oppositional Behavior, Substance Use - just to name a few (in alphabetical order!). Sometimes, the cause is clear - a child tells his parents that he is afraid when taking tests (Anxiety) or a teen clearly struggles with Math but no other subjects (Learning Disability). Often, however, the problem is less clear or multiple causes are combining to create the observed difficulties. In these situations, a Diagnostic Evaluation can be invaluable to determining what is causing the problem and (more importantly!) what can be done to help a child succeed.
What are my child's strengths and weaknesses?
This is one of the most valuable questions that a good assessment can help to answer. Every child is different and has a unique constellation of strengths and weaknesses. As parents we know our children very well, but may not have the perspective to impartially judge their relative strengths and weaknesses compared to thousands of similar aged peers. This is where psychological assessment comes in. A thorough Diagnostic or Neuropsychological Evaluation can help answer key questions of where your child's strengths and weaknesses lie. A successful evaluation can help you plan for a future that accentuates your child's strengths and helps them learn to accommodate or overcome their weaknesses.
A Diagnostic Evaluation is used to determine what the most appropriate diagnosis is to explain a client's difficulties. This may be necessary if the client's problematic symptoms do not fit prototypical presentations or if there is a question between several diagnostic labels that may describe the symptoms. In addition to a clarified diagnosis, any Diagnostic Evaluation Includes clear, specific, evidence-based recommendations for treating and/or accommodating the problem.
A Neuropsychological Evaluation is used to determine a client's cognitive abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Cognitive abilities include many things including IQ, verbal or visual-spatial intelligence, attention, memory, problem solving, planning, and processing speed. Understanding a client's unique constellation of abilities can help tailor school and other environments to help them be successful. In addition, cognitive and neuropsychological abilities are very stable as children develop and a Neuropsychological Evaluation can provide valuable information for years after it is conducted.
What is the process of having an Evaluation done?
Every evaluation begins with an initial consultation during which client (and parents) meet Dr. Veed and provide basic background information. The primary purpose for this meeting is to agree on what questions the assessment needs to answer. It is also a chance to begin gathering information for the assessment and lay out the steps going forward. After this, assessment is tailored to the particular questions being addressed and may involve diagnostic interviews, completion of questionnaires by the client and other important parties (e.g., parents, teachers), face-to-face testing sessions, observation in classrooms or at home, and consultation with other professionals (e.g., previous counselors, psychiatrists, pediatricians, school team). After all procedures have been completed, results are scored, synthesized, compiled, and presented to clients (or parents) in a debriefing session designed to answer the initial evaluation questions as soon as possible (typically within a week or two of the completion of assessment procedures). Finally, a comprehensive report of the evaluation is provided to the client once the cost for the evaluation has been paid in full. It may take between 1-2 months to complete the final written report. This report is the official record of the assessment and includes results, conclusions, and recommendations. It includes valuable, valid information for years or even decades after the evaluation is conducted.
Does my child have ADHD or Anxiety or both?
This is probably the most common question we address through assessment and it is one of Dr. Veed's areas of specialty. A thorough assessment can help to determine the causes underlying functional difficulties such as dropping grades, poor classroom behavior, difficulty completing homework, or strong emotions related to academic tasks or other tasks that require attention or focus. Reading about psychiatric diagnoses such as ADHD or Anxiety Disorders can lead to the feeling that your child has some of everything! This is when an expert assessment is needed. A thorough Diagnostic Evaluation can clarify what the underlying issue is and what can be done about it.
Why does my child seem intelligent but perform poorly in school?
There are many different reasons that can contribute to children under-performing - ADHD, Anxiety, Bullying, Depression, Family Discord/Stress, Giftedness, Learning Disability, Oppositional Behavior, Substance Use - just to name a few (in alphabetical order!). Sometimes, the cause is clear - a child tells his parents that he is afraid when taking tests (Anxiety) or a teen clearly struggles with Math but no other subjects (Learning Disability). Often, however, the problem is less clear or multiple causes are combining to create the observed difficulties. In these situations, a Diagnostic Evaluation can be invaluable to determining what is causing the problem and (more importantly!) what can be done to help a child succeed.
What are my child's strengths and weaknesses?
This is one of the most valuable questions that a good assessment can help to answer. Every child is different and has a unique constellation of strengths and weaknesses. As parents we know our children very well, but may not have the perspective to impartially judge their relative strengths and weaknesses compared to thousands of similar aged peers. This is where psychological assessment comes in. A thorough Diagnostic or Neuropsychological Evaluation can help answer key questions of where your child's strengths and weaknesses lie. A successful evaluation can help you plan for a future that accentuates your child's strengths and helps them learn to accommodate or overcome their weaknesses.
