Evaluaciones psicoeducativas
Psychoeducational Evaluations
Evaluaciones psicoeducativas
Psychoeducational Evaluations
Psychoeducational Testing for Learning Disabilities
All the tutoring isn’t helping.
You’ve spent hundreds (maybe even thousands) for study aids, software, workbooks, tutors, doctors, and speech therapy. Not to mention all the hours using all of them. But grades aren’t getting any better. Sure…school and tests should be challenging, but not impossible. You, your child, and teachers are frustrated and feel like you’ve run out of options.
Psychoeducational testing could be the answer.
A psychoeducational evaluation assesses strengths and weakness in academic subjects (like reading, math, and writing), learning style, as well as visual and auditory attention, processing, concentration, and memory. This information helps determine whether a child or an adult has learning disorders that would qualify as learning disabilities, or if academic problems are related to another mental health condition.
A psychoeducational evaluation empowers you.
Detecting a learning disability can help you make decisions about schools, college, and academic placement. It also means that educators can develop a comprehensive and individualized educational plan based on areas of strength and weakness. These educational plans also let students access special interventions and accommodations during classroom tests, projects, and homework.
Psychoeducational testing isn’t just for children and teens.
Often advanced high school students, college and grad students, and professionals have undiagnosed learning disabilities. This can make taking high stakes standardized exams (e.g. FSAs, EOCs, PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP/IB/Cambridge exams, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, GRE, and professional licensure board examinations) extremely difficult and discouraging after several attempts. Identifying learning disabilities in adults can help them secure extended time on these exams so they can perform their best. It can help them make inform choices about college majors and careers to pursue. These assessments also help employers provide tools and support needed for success in the workplace.
Click the image above to read the Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Psychoeducational Evaluations article.
Click the image above to read the Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Psychoeducational Evaluations article.
A psychoeducational evaluation empowers you.
Detecting a learning disability can help you make decisions about schools, college, and academic placement. It also means that educators can develop a comprehensive and individualized educational plan based on areas of strength and weakness. These educational plans also let students access special interventions and accommodations during classroom tests, projects, and homework.
Psychoeducational testing isn’t just for children and teens.
Often advanced high school students, college and grad students, and professionals have undiagnosed learning disabilities. This can make taking high stakes standardized exams (e.g. FSAs, EOCs, PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP/IB/Cambridge exams, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, GRE, and professional licensure board examinations) extremely difficult and discouraging after several attempts. Identifying learning disabilities in adults can help them secure extended time on these exams so they can perform their best. It can help them make inform choices about college majors and careers to pursue. These assessments also help employers provide tools and support needed for success in the workplace.
Don’t continue to struggle with learning disabilities.
Our team of licensed psychologists in Miami, FL, can conduct these psychoeducational evaluations for children (age 6+) and adults in English and Spanish. As former teachers and psychologists that worked for Miami-Dade County Schools, they have extensive knowledge of eligibility and requirements for academic accommodations required by Miami-Dade County Schools, local private schools, the College Board, Law School Admission Council, Association of American Medical Colleges, HR departments, and other similar organizations.
This evaluation includes:
- Background & information gathering session with the licensed psychologist and the parent(s) or adult client
- 2 – 4 sessions of 2 – 4 hours each for test administration, depending on the client’s age and length of breaks
- 2 days to score, process, and analyze test results
- 20 – 30 minute call for follow-up questions
- 5 – 7 days to write the final report
- 90-minute Feedback session with parent(s) or adult client to review results and recommendations
Total Time for completion = 15 working days*
*After completion of test administration. Rushed reports are available, subject to an additional fee.
Please Note:
- The same intelligence test cannot be repeated within 12 months. If you or your child is being re-tested, please let us know which IQ test was previously administered in advance. Failure to do so will lead to the invalidation of the results of our psychological evaluation.
You probably have more questions about our psychoeducational testing.
Here are some of the most common questions that people ask us about our psychoed evaluations.
How old should my child be for psychoeducational testing?
Our doctors require that a child be at least 6 years-old for psychoeducational testing. Before age 6, there’s a higher likelihood of false-negative and false-positive results. False-negative results suggest that a kid doesn’t have a learning issue when they really do! On the other hand, false-positive results suggest that a kid has a learning issue when they really don’t. No wants that either of those scenarios.
How much does psychoeducational testing cost?
At our office, the cost of psychoeducational testing is $2900 USD. It’s comparable to the prices at other local practices and local teaching clinics where doctoral students are still learning to perform these evaluations.
We’re also able to able to have your report completed within 15 business days as opposed to others that can take much longer.
There’s a $300 USD non-refundable scheduling fee for the psychoeducational testing to cover the time spent in preparation for the testing session.
Are psychoeducational evaluations covered by my insurance?
No. For psychological testing to be covered by insurance it has to be considered “medically necessary”. Medical necessity is established when:
- A doctor or mental health professional have done an evaluation but there are still specific diagnostic question(s) that cannot be answered through further interviewing, history-taking, or an adequate trial of evidence-based treatment (e.g. therapy, medication, etc.);
or
- You’ve tried evidence-based treatment (e.g. therapy, medication, etc.) for long enough but it’s been unsuccessful or hasn’t resulted in expected progress.
AND
- The selected psychological tests are targeted to the specific diagnostic question(s).
- The answer to the specific diagnostic question(s) will lead to specific recommendations and actionable steps that are likely to directly impact clinical management and treatment.
- Some tests of a psychoeducational evaluation are covered by health insurance, but the educational tests used to determine if a learning disability exists are not usually covered.
Psychological testing and assessment is not covered under the following circumstances:
- The testing is being conducted primarily for educational (including learning disabilities), vocational, or legal purposes.
- The testing is primarily for the purpose of qualifying for services that are covered under applicable state or federal special education laws.
- The testing is being conducted primarily to make or confirm a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that can reasonably be made or confirmed via interviewing, history-taking, and collateral contact/data collection.
- The testing is to figure out the right dosage of medication.
- It’s been less than 1 year since the last, most recent evaluation.
You’re probably wondering how some psychologists accept insurance for these evaluations or how the insurance company knows if the educational tests are done/not done.
Psychologists who accept psychological testing insurance need to get pre-authorization from the insurance company before testing starts. They complete and submit a form that explains why they think testing is needed, what’s been tried before that hasn’t worked, a list of tests they plan to administer, and the estimated number of hours it will take to complete testing. Psychoeducational evaluations are some of the longest so when the insurance company gets a request for a large number of hours, they look over these requests carefully. If the psychologist did a good job justifying the need for testing, the insurance company will approve the authorization for testing, minus the time needed to administer, score, and interpret the educational tests. Here’s the problem: those are the tests needed to diagnose learning disabilities. So usually, the psychologists will bill you separately for this and you’ll pay out of pocket anyway.
If you decide to do a private psychoeducational evaluation, you have a few options to offset the cost.
#1 Use your health/flex savings account (HSA/FSA) if you have one.
#2 Have your out-of-pocket expense for the evaluation applied to meet your plan’s annual deductible faster. We can give you the medical receipt (superbill) to do this.
#3 If your insurance plan has out-of-network benefits, you may be eligible to get a percentage of the cost reimbursed by your insurance company if you’ve already met your annual deductible. We can give you a special receipt called a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company. If you chose this method, the insurance company can’t pick and chose what parts of the evaluation they will or won’t cover as explained above because a) the evaluation is already completed, and b) it was done by an out-of-network psychologist.
Why is psychoeducational testing expensive?
In Miami-Dade County, you can expect to pay somewhere between $1800 to $5000 for a psychoeducational evaluation. We realize that’s a huge and expensive range, especially when insurance may not cover any of the costs. Even with technological advances, psychoeducational testing remains time-consuming and very labor intensive. Here’s a breakdown of the number of hours it takes to complete one of these:
- 60 to 90-minute Initial interview to gather clinical history
- 4 to 6 hours of test administration
- 1 to 2 hours to score testing and analyze results
- 3 to 4 hours of report writing and proof-reading
- 1-hour Feedback session to review results and answer questions
That’s about 10 to 15 hours. Most charge $200 to $250 per hour for testing, which means a fair price in Miami-Dade is somewhere between $2000 to $3750.
What are the benefits of doing a psychoeducational assessment privately?
#1 Time
By doing a private psychoeducational assessment, you won’t have to wait for the school district’s Response to Intervention (RTI) process to identify your child should be tested, which can take 2-3 grading periods (50-75% school year). You also won’t have to wait for the understaffed school district’s school psychology department to get around to your child, which can take an additional 60 days. With a private evaluation, you’ll have a full report within 14 days of completion of testing. This means your child doesn’t fall further behind in school.
#2 The Right Support
Unlike the psychoeducational testing done by the school district, our reports are comprehensive. This means you’ll get a detailed report that includes results, explanations, and diagnoses. You’ll also receive recommendations and accommodations so you know exactly what next steps to take.
#3 Optimized Performance
Is your child more alert and focused in the morning or just the opposite? Say your child gets sleepy or has a stomachache during the evaluation. Our team can schedule testing on a day, at a specific time of day, or to stop testing and reschedule the remainder of the testing for another day when your child is more alert, focused, and feeling better. School psychologists don’t have this luxury.
#4 Attention to Detail
Our team is able to take more time assessing your child and analyzing the results. In fact, they’re able to complete a full set of psychological tests (aka a battery of testing) which most local school districts’ school psychologists no longer have the time to do or aren’t trained to administer and interpret (e.g. neuropsychological testing for ADHD).
A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation and report (like ours) is required to get accommodations on high stakes standardized exams (e.g. FSAs, EOCs, PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP/IB/Cambridge exams, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, GRE, and professional licensure board examinations).
Will Miami-Dade County Public Schools accept a private psychoeducational testing?
Yes, they will as long as the psychoeducational evaluation is performed by a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida. You can check whether a professional has an active license using this link.
What do I tell my child about why they are taking this test?
For younger children, we recommend that you don’t tell your child anything about the test until a day or so before their appointment so they don’t get nervous. Avoid saying that it’s a test or mentioning anything about “passing or failing”. It’s important that you remain calm, too, because your child will know something’s up if you’re anxious. If they ask, tell them they’re going to meet with Ms. Erika who will be helping you make important school decisions so that he or she can do their best in class or so you can provider better help with their homework. That’s it – keep it simple!
Older children realize that they’re struggling in school so it’s best to be upfront with them. Explain these meetings will help you (parents), their teachers, and counselors understand what’s going on academically and get them the help they need so they can do their best in school.
What will my child be asked to do during psychoeducational testing?
Testing will involve some of the following:
- Answering questions out loud or on the computer
- Building designs and completing puzzles
- Answering riddles
- Memory games
Can I be in the room while my child is being tested?
Sorry, no, you can’t be in the room. Here’s why:
- The results are more accurate when the testing environment closes approximates the school environment.
- How your child behaves in your absence provides important information that is part of the evaluation.
- The testing questions and materials are highly confidential and the licensed psychologist has an ethical responsibility to maintain their confidentiality.
But if you’re very curious about testing, consider doing one yourself! We have many parents that decide to get tested too after realizing they experience(d) similar struggles as their children and could benefit from accommodations in the workplace.
How can I prepare my child for testing?
Make sure your kiddo gets a good night’s rest and a healthy, well-balanced meal before testing. Avoid them staying up late, watching scary movies, having caffeine, or deviating from their normal routine. That’s all the prep he or she needs.
What is the best time of day to test my child?
It really depends on your child. Just grown-ups, some kids are alert in the morning while others are at their best later in the day. We can start testing as early as 9 AM and the latest start time we offer is 4 PM.
What tests are used in your psychoeducational evaluations?
It depends on the areas of academic difficulty. In addition to lengthy clinical history and a review of academic records, you can expect the following types of tests to be administered:
- IQ test
- Achievement test
- Neuropsychological tests of visual and auditory attention, concentration, short and long-term memory
- Behavioral and emotional scales to parents, teachers, and the student
All of this takes about 4 to 6 hours on average and meets the requirements of most public and private schools as well as universities for academic accommodations.
Consumer Alert!
Do not pay for an evaluation that takes less time or fails to incorporate any of the tests mentioned above. It will not meet the requirements for you to receive academic accommodations. You will be wasting your time and money.
Will the psychoeducational evaluation give diagnosis, recommendations, etc.?
Yes. Our evaluations address the client’s clinical history, explain all the test administered and results, draw conclusions that integrate the clinical history and test results, provide any applicable diagnoses, and offer recommendations and next steps to follow through with.
Can psychoeducational testing get me accommodations on SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE, MCAT, etc.?
Yes, if the results of the evaluation indicate that you would benefit from accommodations in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act. Some of these standardized exams (e.g. LSAT, MCAT, FL Bar) require specific tests beyond what we normally administer. Our team is aware of these requirements and have access to and experience administering these tests.
I need this evaluation fast. What are your rush fees?
We can usually complete most evaluations in 15 business days. This is enough time in most cases. However, we can accommodate you if you need the evaluation completed in a faster timeframe, subject to a rush fee based on the expedited timeframe you request. Please call our office to get an estimated rush fee.
How long are psychoeducational evaluations good for?
About 3 years on average. It’s really up to the organization that’s using your evaluation’s results. We’ve seen some places want an evaluation no older than 1 year and others that accepted an evaluation that was 5 years old.
Are you qualified to do psychoeducational testing?
Yes, our doctors have all licensed psychologists in the state of Florida. You can verify their licenses with Florida’s Department of Health using this link. They have a comprehensive understanding of the school system’s requirements for accommodations of learning disabilities on FSAs and EOCs, as well as that of the the College Board (AP, PSAT, SAT), Law School Admission Council (LSAT), Association of American Medical Colleges (MCAT), professional licensure boards, HR departments, and other similar organizations.
Call or schedule a Consult to learn more and get pricing for this evaluation.
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