Comprehensive Psychological Evaluations

We offer a variety of assessment and intervention services for individuals. Our assessment process differs depending on the specific concern and may change as our team learns more about the client. If you are interested in an autism spectrum disorder evaluation, please visit the School Psychology Clinic.

About the Psychoeducational Evaluation Process

First, contact us

If you believe your child may benefit from an evaluation at the UGA School Psychology Clinic, first contact the clinic and speak with the clinic coordinator. The clinic coordinator is available to answer questions, explain the process, discuss the referring concern, and make appointments.

Leading up to your appointment

After you have made an appointment, we will send you a packet of information with a confirmation of the appointment, information about the evaluation and payment options, directions to our clinic, and a parking pass. Rating scales for parents and teachers to complete may be sent via traditional mail, email, or a combination.

The graduate student clinician assigned to your child's case will contact you one to two weeks prior to the appointment. He or she will ask more in-depth questions in order to ensure that we address all of your concerns during the evaluation and to answer any questions you may have about the evaluation.

After your appointment

We conduct a feedback session about two weeks after the evaluation. This is also when we share the results of the evaluation along with any diagnoses. The most important part of our evaluation process is determining what steps might be taken to assist you and your child in overcoming any behavioral or academic challenges he/she may be encountering in or outside of school. Thus, a major component of the feedback session and the report to be provided to you will be a set of recommendations to help address these challenges. The official psychoeducational report will be mailed to you after the feedback session.

The evaluation process differs depending on the specific referral concern and occasionally will change as our team learns more about the client throughout the assessment.

ADHD Evaluations

We will likely ask that your child arrive unmedicated, but that you bring the medicine with you. We will administer several measures while the child is off-medication and then resume testing once the medicine has taken effect.

An IQ test specifically designed for children/teens to measure general cognitive abilities
A broad achievement test to measure academic abilities in all areas
Review of previous evaluations, grades, test scores, etc.
Measures of visual and/or auditory sustained attention
Measures of executive functioning
Child observation (either in school or in clinic)
Measures of social-emotional and behavioral functioning
Child and parent interviews

Behavioral Concerns

An IQ test specifically designed for children/teens to measure general cognitive abilities
A broad achievement test to measure academic abilities in all areas
Review of previous evaluations, grades, test scores, etc.
Child observation (either in school or in clinic)
Measures of social-emotional and behavioral functioning
Child and parent interviews

Intellectual Disability Evaluation

An IQ test specifically designed for children/teens to measure general cognitive abilities
Follow-up cognitive measures (i.e., a second full length IQ test, an abbreviated IQ test, a nonverbal IQ test, and/or measures of specific cognitive processes)
A broad achievement test to measure academic abilities in all areas
Review of previous evaluations, grades, test scores, etc.
Measures of adaptive functioning
Social-emotional and behavioral screeners
Child and parent interviews

Specific Learning Disability Evaluation

An IQ test specifically designed for children/teens to measure general cognitive abilities
A broad achievement test to measure academic abilities in all areas
Narrow-band tests in the academic area of concern (i.e., reading, writing, math)
Review of previous evaluations, grades, test scores, etc.
Social-emotional and behavioral screeners
Child and parent interviews

Clinicians

Ashley Harrison, PhD

Dr. Harrison graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in clinical psychology. Harrison was trained in behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapies and specializes in child-focused assessment and treatment. More specifically, she has extensive experience conducting ASD diagnostic evaluations using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.

Chitra Pidaparti, PhD

Dr. Pidaparti obtained her doctorate in educational psychology from Indiana University Bloomington in 2000. She is a licensed psychologist and has extensive training and expertise in diagnostic assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you accept insurance?: No, unfortunately, we do not have the ability to accept insurance. We accept payment via check, credit card, or cash. You can pay online prior to your appointment or with our accountant on the morning of the appointment.
How much does an evaluation cost?: We charge a flat fee of $1,300 for each full psychoeducational evaluation.
Will my child's school accept your results?: Typically, both private and public schools accept our results and use our reports in educational planning. However, every school/district is different and we cannot guarantee that the school will follow through on all of our recommendations or any diagnoses that we make. Should you have any difficulties or the school as for additional measures, we will do our best to assist you in addressing the school's needs.
Why does it take an entire day to complete the evaluation?: Our evaluations are very comprehensive and thus take a substantial amount of time. We often try and complete the evaluation in one full day for the convenience of our clients. However, for younger children, we will often split the evaluation into two days. Local families not concerned with traveling to Athens may have this option as well. Scheduling will depend on the individual case and your clinician's availability.
I think my child just has a learning disability in reading. Why can't you just give them assessments of reading? Why do they need to have all these other tests?: To make sound diagnostic decisions it is necessary to rule out all possible explanations for the presenting problem. In order to prove that a learning disability exists, we have to establish your child's level of functioning in other academic areas, as well as cognitive processes. In all of our evaluations, we aim to be as thorough as possible.

Contact Us

For more information about the School Psychology Clinic, our services, or to make an appointment, call 706-542-4265.