Answers for Specific Questions About Your Child
Our focused evaluations provide clear answers and next steps without the full scope of a comprehensive evaluation.
What Are Focused Evaluations?
Focused Evaluations are designed to answer one specific question about your child's development, learning, or behavior. Unlike our comprehensive evaluations that assess multiple areas of functioning (which most families ultimately need), these screenings target one particular concern or question with precision and efficiency
While helpful for families with very specific needs, we often find that learning and attention challenges are interconnected, making comprehensive evaluations the most thorough and cost-effective option for most families in the long run.
Focused evaluations are most beneficial when you have one clear question, such as:
A focused evaluation gives you initial insights and directions for support, though does not provide the comprehensive understanding that a full evaluation offers. Think of it as a first step that can be expanded into a more thorough assessment if needed. If you have additional questions after your feedback meeting, focused evaluations can be expanded into a comprehensive evaluation (for an additional fee).
Our Approach to Focused Evaluations
Our screenings follow a streamlined yet thorough process designed to address your specific questions efficiently.
Step 1
Initial Parent Meeting (90 minutes)
We begin with an in-depth conversation to understand your primary concerns and questions about your child. During this meeting, we'll review your child's developmental history and discuss any school or treatment options you're considering. These initial meetings are offered via telehealth for your convenience.
Step 2
Targeted Assessment & Observations
Depending on your specific questions, we may:
Observe your child at school or, in some cases, at home via telehealth
Conduct brief assessments of cognitive, academic, language, and/or visual-motor skills at our office
Ask parents and teachers to complete behavior rating scales or questionnaires
Interview school staff or outside professionals (tutors, psychotherapists, etc.)
Our assessment approach is tailored to your unique concerns, focusing only on the areas most relevant to your questions.
Step 3
Feedback & Written Report
After completing our assessment, we'll discuss the results with you through a telehealth consultation.
You'll receive a brief written report summarizing our findings and recommendations, which you can share with your child's healthcare providers or school.
Reports focus on the specific referral question, with recommendations targeted towards that area of concern. (Our comprehensive evaluations provide a broader, 360 degree view, and more extensive recommendations).
Step 4
Guidance on Next Steps
We'll provide support to help you implement our recommendations, which may include:
Collaboration with your child's school
Specific strategies for home and school
Referrals to appropriate specialists if needed
Suggestions for further assessment if warranted
If results suggest that a more comprehensive evaluation would be beneficial, we can smoothly transition to that process.
Types of Focused Evaluations We Offer
Developmental Screenings
For parents of younger children (age 5 and under) with questions about their child's development. These screenings assess cognitive abilities, intelligence, language, motor, or social skills, including early signs of autism.
ADHD Screenings
For parents questioning whether their child's attention difficulties or hyperactivity might indicate ADHD. We assess attention, impulse control, and activity levels across different settings.
Autism Screenings
For parents wondering if their child might be Autistic. We look for signs such as differences in language development, social interaction, repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivities, and intense focused interests.
Kindergarten Readiness Screenings
For parents wondering if their child is ready for kindergarten, particularly helpful for children with summer birthdays or developmental questions. We assess academic readiness, social skills, emotional regulation, and other important kindergarten skills.
Dyslexia Screenings
For parents concerned about dyslexia due to a family history or early warning signs, such as difficulty with pronunciation, rhyming, learning letters or colors, or challenges with early reading and spelling.
Updates for Prior Evaluations
When your child already had a thorough evaluation a few years ago that described them well, and there are no new questions, a focused evaluation can provide an updated picture of their profile and clarify the support they need at their next school/college.
Efficiency
Address specific questions without the time and expense of a full evaluation.
Benefits of Focused Evaluations
School Support
Get documentation that can help secure initial accommodations at school.
Early Insights
Identify potential concerns early, when intervention can be most effective.
Informed Decision-Making
Gather the information needed to make decisions about treatments, interventions, or educational plans.
Practical Next Steps
Receive concrete recommendations tailored to your child's specific needs.
Pathway to Further Assessment
If needed, focused evaluations provide a foundation for more comprehensive evaluation.
Understanding Limitations of Focused Evaluations
It's important to recognize what a focused evaluation can and cannot provide:
Since we focus on one specific question, we may not identify concerns in areas not directly assessed
Results may suggest, but not always definitively diagnose, conditions like ADHD, autism, or learning differences
Some questions may remain unanswered and require more comprehensive evaluation
If multiple concerns exist across different areas of functioning, a full evaluation is likely needed
We always discuss these limitations during the initial consultation to ensure you choose the assessment approach that best fits your needs.
Who Provides These Screenings?
Our screenings are conducted by licensed clinical and educational psychologists with specialized training in child development, learning differences, and neurodevelopmental conditions.
The same experienced team that performs our comprehensive evaluations conducts our focused evaluations, ensuring quality, expertise and continuity.
Fees
Mind Matters offers a limited number of fee adjustments based on family household size & total income.
Please inquire with our Client Care Coordinator for more information.
→ Initial Parent Meeting
$450 due at the time of service and applied towards the full cost of the focused evaluation
→ Total Focused Evaluation Cost
The total cost (including the initial meeting) usually ranges from $4,200 - $4,800. An estimate will be provided at the initial consultation based on your family's specific needs.
→ Discounts Available:
$100 discount when paying by cash, check, or Zelle
$150 discount for returning clients or siblings of prior clients
Discounts can be combined
*These discounts are only for screenings. We don't discount our other services for siblings or cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A focused evaluation answers a specific question about your child's development or learning. It's typically shorter, more targeted, and less expensive than a comprehensive evaluation. Reports are brief, and just focus on recommendations for the primary question. A comprehensive evaluation assesses multiple areas of functioning and provides a more complete picture of your child's strengths and challenges. Recommendations are made for home and school, addressing the needs of the whole child
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The entire screening process typically takes 4-6 weeks from the initial parent meeting to the final report and feedback session.
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Screenings can suggest the presence of these conditions and provide preliminary insights, but may not always provide definitive diagnoses. In some cases, a more comprehensive evaluation may be recommended for diagnostic clarity. This most commonly occurs when symptoms could be explained by more than one diagnosis (e.g. ADHD or Anxiety).
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For younger children, describe it as playing some activities to help us understand how they think and learn. For older children, let them know that we will ask them to show their academic skills and their problem solving abilities, and answer questions about their experiences and how they view themselves.
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Some schools may provide initial accommodations based on focused evaluation results, but more comprehensive evaluations are typically required for formal support plans like IEPs or 504 plans. We can guide you through this process based on your child's specific situation.
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We offer screenings for children ages 3 and older (children, teens and young adults). For concerns about children younger than 3, we can provide referrals to early intervention specialists.
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We'll provide specific recommendations for next steps, which may include strategies for home and school, referrals to appropriate specialists, or suggestions for a more comprehensive evaluation.
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The SAT/ACT and other testing boards have strict requirements about what areas should be assessed. Thus, given the targeted nature, a focused assessment may not cover all the areas required. Our comprehensive evaluations do include the necessary testing to determine if accommodations may be appropriate, so you may prefer to schedule a comprehensive assessment for that reason. Of course, approval is ultimately up to the testing agencies. If a request is denied, we can help you evaluate whether an appeal is worthwhile and how to proceed.
Wondering About Your Child's Development?
Let's Find Focused Answers Together!
Our focused evaluations provide clarity and direction for parents with specific concerns about their child's learning, behavior, or development.