What is a Neurodevelopmental Screening?
Screenings are most helpful when there is a very focused question, such as:
Screening Process
Intake Meeting: All screenings begin with an initial parent meeting to discuss your child’s development and your concerns. We also discuss any school or treatment options being considered. At Mind Matters, parent meetings are currently being offered via telehealth.
Observations and Testing: Depending on the need, we may observe your child at school (or at home via telehealth). Additionally, we may provide brief assessments of cognitive, academic, language, and/or visual-motor skills. (Testing occurs at our offices). Usually, parents and teachers are asked to complete behavior rating scales as well.
Feedback/Written Report: We discuss results with parents via a phone or in-person consultation. Then, we provide a brief written report for you to share with your child’s health providers.
Limitations of a Screening
Parents/clients need to be aware of the limitations of a screening. Because screenings only assess areas of functioning related to the focused question, there are likely to be some unanswered questions remaining after the screening. Screenings may result in a diagnosis, but not always. We can always roll a screening into a full evaluation if that would be helpful for your child. However, this can end up extending the time frame for the assessment, as clinicians usually book a few months ahead.
If you have more than one question about your child, or you think you may need a more thorough picture, please consider a comprehensive evaluation.
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Areas of Focus For Neurodevelopmental Screenings
Developmental Screenings
are for parents of younger children (age 5 and under) who have questions about their child's development, and are wondering whether they need support. Questions may relate to cognition, intelligence, language, motor or social skills (including questions about Autism).
Autism Screenings
are for parents wondering if their child is on the Autism Spectrum. Signs might include delayed or unusual language, differences in socializing, repetitive behaviors, sensory differences, and/or powerfully intense interests.
Dyslexia Screenings
are for parents who are wondering whether their child has dyslexia due to a strong family history. Or they may show early "red flags." (E.g. problems with pronunciation or rhyming, difficulty learning symbols like colors, shapes, or letters or difficulty learning to read and spell).
Developmental Screenings are for parents of younger children (age 5 and under) who have questions about their child’s development, and are wondering whether they need support. Questions may relate to cognition, intelligence, language, motor or social skills (including questions about Autism).
Autism Screenings are for parents wondering if their child is on the Autism Spectrum. Signs might include delayed or unusual language, differences in socializing, repetitive behaviors, sensory differences, and/or powerfully intense interests.
Dyslexia Screenings are for parents who are wondering whether their child has dyslexia due to a strong family history. Or they may show early “red flags.” (E.g. problems with pronunciation or rhyming, difficulty learning symbols like colors, shapes, or letters or difficulty learning to read and spell).
Behavioral Screenings
are for parents of children who are struggling with behavior at home and/or at school. Parents may wonder if their child school environment suits them, or whether internal factors (e.g. attention, language, anxiety) contribute to the behavior.
ADHD Screenings
are for parents who are wondering whether their child’s struggles with attention and/or restlessness indicate an underlying condition like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Kindergarten Readiness Screenings
are for parents wondering whether their child is ready to begin kindergarten. For example, they may feel their child needs more time or support to develop readiness skills. Likewise, a screening can be particularly helpful for a child with a summer birthday as parents weigh whether to wait another year for kindergarten.
Behavioral Screenings are for parents of children who are struggling with behavior at home and/or at school. Parents may wonder if their child school environment suits them, or whether internal factors (e.g. attention, language, anxiety) contribute to the behavior.
ADHD Screenings are for parents who are wondering whether their child’s struggles with attention and/or restlessness indicate an underlying condition like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Kindergarten Readiness Screenings are for parents wondering whether their child is ready to begin kindergarten. For example, they may feel their child needs more time or support to develop readiness skills. Likewise, a screening can be particularly helpful for a child with a summer birthday as parents weigh whether to wait another year for kindergarten.
Neurodevelopmental Screening Fees
- The fee for the initial parent meeting at Mind Matters is $450 and is due at the time of service.
- Additional fees depend on the extent of services provided.
- The total cost (including the initial meeting) usually ranges from $3600-$4200. An estimate will be provided at the initial consultation based on your family’s needs.
- Mind Matters offers a limited number of fee adjustments for screenings, based on family household size & total income.
Next steps
Schedule a Neurodevelopmental Screening today in the San Francisco Bay Area
It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, so at Mind Matters, we make starting the process as simple as we can. Here are the steps:
- Message our Client Care Coordinator so she can get to know more about you and your child, answer any questions, and help you find the right match. Or, call us at 415-598-8378.
- Explore our licensed clinical & educational psychologists and decide which best suits your child’s needs.
- Start the screening process so that you can better support your child.
Other Services Provided by our Psychologists In San Francisco & Berkeley
We know that every child’s life experiences are different. That’s why we offer a range of services including psychoeducational evaluations, IQ testing, autism testing, and parent guidance consultations to help better support and understand your child.