How will Dr. Norman Wells test my child for autism, ADHD, or a learning disorder?
Child evaluations are most informative when they provide a holistic picture of a child’s strengths and challenges throughout development and across different settings, such as home and school. Dr. Norman Wells will work with you to gather information about your child in different ways, including interviewing parents and teachers, observing your child’s social skills and behavior at school, direct standardized testing with your child, and social, emotional, and behavioral questionnaires completed by caregivers and teachers. Dr. Norman Wells may also request your permission to speak with other professionals who have worked with your child in the past, including mental health therapists, speech-language therapists, or occupational therapists. Your child will participate in 2 to 6 hours of direct psychological testing. Depending on the purpose of the assessment, this testing may assess your child’s cognitive abilities, attention and executive function, social communication skills, or academic skills.
What does the evaluation process entail?
Parent/caregiver interview covering your child’s early development and your current concerns (telehealth 60-90 minutes). Please let me know if you would prefer to receive a list of questions before the interview. You are also welcome to share written notes with me.
Share copies of any previous evaluations your child has participated in and a copy of any IEP/504 plan, via the secure portal link.
Parents/caregivers and teachers complete social, emotional, and behavioral questionnaires online. Children age 11 and older also complete questionnaires.
Teachers and other providers will be interviewed by phone, with your permission.
School observation.
Testing with your child in the office - usually 2-3 appointments lasting between 90 and 120 minutes each.
Two weeks after all above steps are completed, we will meet for a feedback session and you will receive an electronic copy of a comprehensive report with scores, diagnoses if applicable, and recommendations for school, parenting, and treatment (if needed).
Please note that the entire process typically takes 4-6 weeks to complete, from the initial interview to feedback session. The process may take longer if we need to reschedule an appointment or if a caregiver or teacher needs more time to complete the questionnaires.
How Can I Prepare My Child for Testing?
For younger children, you can tell your child that they will be meeting with a teacher who will play with them, ask about their feelings, and do different puzzles with them. If your child is older, you can explain that they will be meeting with a doctor who helps with school, friends, or dealing with feelings (tailor to your child’s experiences). You may share that the purpose of the testing is to learn more about their unique strengths and challenges, or how their brain works, so that adults can best support them. Encourage your child to share openly about concerns and to try their best on the “puzzles” or testing activities.
On the day of testing, please try to ensure that your child is well rested and well fed. For children under age 5, testing is always completed with a parent present. For children age 5 and over, you may stay in the room during testing if you wish, or leave the office. Many children seem to give their best effort when they are meeting individually with the psychologist. The office does not have a waiting room, but there are chairs and a restroom available just outside the office door. You are welcome to leave the office building and there are many shops and cafes in the neighborhood. Please do not leave the Fairhaven neighborhood, in case your child needs to end the appointment early.
Some children are hesitant to participate in testing or show behavior problems when they are overwhelmed. I experienced working with kids with behavioral challenges, as well as reluctant teens, and am almost always able to help kids feel comfortable and participate in testing. Please let me know if your child is particularly reluctant to participate in testing or has a history of significant behavior challenges in public, so that I can plan to best support them.