Diagnostic Evaluations
Brainworks Behavioral Health performs comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations assessing for Reading, Writing, and/or Math Disorders (Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and/or Dyscalculia). These comprehensive evaluations typically include aspects of neuropsychological testing in order to gain a complete understanding of the client and to aid in diagnostic specificity.
Brainworks Behavioral Health uses a comprehensive battery of tests to determine if your child has a specific learning disorder and/or other cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Test results are combined with an in-depth interview with parents, classroom observation, input from teachers, therapists, tutors, doctors, and others familiar with you or your child’s medical and academic situation, so that we can make tailored individualized recommendations.
We conduct evaluations for public and private school settings as well as Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE’s).
How Evaluations Can Help
Evaluations typically include measures designed to assess a child’s intellectual capability, or IQ, academic skills, cognitive/neuropsychological functioning (visual/verbal memory, attention, executive functioning, motor), social and emotional skills, and speech and language skills.
Results help us determine the underlying processes that impact a child’s performance in school and other contexts. When a child starts school, a learning disorder can be difficult to distinguish from behavioral and emotional problems, especially if a child becomes frustrated when trying to complete assignments. Therefore, our evaluations help parents and professionals better understand behavioral, emotional, and social challenges that may arise as a result of underlying challenges that present in academic settings.
Research
Research indicates that as many as 30 percent of children have a learning disorder, which can impact performance in reading, math, writing, and/or nonverbal skills. Learning disorders often occur in children who have normal or higher-than normal intelligence but may have difficulty receiving, effectively using, processing, storing, or responding to information (verbally and visually).
Some Children With A Learning Disorder May Have Difficulty With:
Frequent frustration with schoolwork or avoiding academic tasks.
Difficulty following instructions or completing assignments on time.
Problems retaining information, even after repeated exposure.
Declining self-esteem due to academic struggles.
Noticeable gaps between effort and performance across subjects.
Who We Treat
Testing Accommodations
High Stakes Testing
Testing Accommodations
Students may be eligible for accommodations under the Americans with Disability Act Amendment Act (ADAAA) when an individual has a disability that is associated with significant functional limitations that interferes with their functioning and ability to take tests. For example, students may be found eligible for extended time of tests or an environment with reduced distraction, multiple breaks, etc when the an attentional disorder, learning disability, or anxiety disorder is present (and/or when a documented history of the disorder is also available). These types of evaluations can be lengthy and it is imperative that family members bring in documentation of previous testing, academic records, and transcripts beginning in grade school that demonstrate presence and history of the disorder. San Diego BrainWorks will direct you as to what documents you will need for the evaluation.
In many cases, a recent and comprehensive evaluation is required as part of the application process to help determine a person’s eligibility for accommodations. Brainworks Behavioral Health can assist you in this process by providing the necessary testing information. It is important to keep in mind that neither a diagnosis of a disability, previous history of receiving classroom accommodations, nor recommendations for testing accommodations automatically lead to testing accommodations, as it must be associated with functional limitations. Neuropsychological testing should be completed approximately 6 months to 1 year prior to taking the high stakes exam.
How To Get Extended Study Time
What Brainworks Behavioral Health must be provided with
What you’ll need
Extra resources for more information about testing requirements:
ACT: actstudent.org/regist/disab/
LSAT: lsac.org/jd/lsat/accommodated-testing
MCAT: students-residents.aamc.org/mcat-exam-accommodations/take-mcat-exam-accommodations
Schedule an Appointment
To learn more information about BrainWorks Behavioral Health, verify your insurance coverage, or schedule an appointment for you or your loved one, complete the form below and we will get back to you in 24 hours. We respect your privacy and hold all information discussed in strict confidence.