How long will testing take?

Length of testing depends on the needs of the client. An IQ test alone takes 1-2 hours. For diagnostic testing, 2-4 sessions are required and each session will range from 1-2 hours.

How should I prepare my child for testing?

There is no preparation needed for testing. It is best to tell your child that they are meeting with someone who is similar to a teacher to do some tasks and determine their strengths and weaknesses or “how they learn best.” With young children/ pre-school age, you may wish to tell them that we will be doing some fun activities in which they will be answering some questions, working with blocks and puzzles, and looking at pictures.

Please do not tell your child that the psychologist will be deciding if they are going to Kindergarten or getting into a particular school! That is ultimately not the decision of the psychologist.

A special note about admissions testing: we have encountered parents who put lots of pressure on children and on us for outcome of testing results for admissions. This makes for a negative experience for all. We are professionals and do our best to get the best from the child but we ask that you take pressure off and find acceptance and happiness through your child’s unique abilities and strengths, even if they do not meet admissions criteria. We are always available to answer questions about the results and increase your understanding.

We were bummed last year to learn that parents had their child tested by multiple psychologists within weeks/ months of each other, to try to improve their scores. Often the child will tell us! When you apply to a school like the Scholars Academy, you are attesting that this has not occurred. In addition, we have to attest that we do not believe a child has been formally prepped or re-tested. We will alert the school if we have information to support this having occurred.

What happens if I need to cancel my appointment?

The time for your child’s testing session is reserved specifically for them! If you need to cancel or re-schedule, you should do so by calling the psychologist as soon as you become aware of the need. Testing sessions are blocked often in 2 hour blocks and those times cannot be filled when enough notice is not given. Re-scheduling will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Repeated cancellations will result in not being scheduled for testing sessions. No-show clients (those that do not show or call) will not be contacted to re-schedule.

Will my insurance cover testing?

We do not accept insurance reimbursement for psychological testing. In addition,  Educational testing (that is not part of a full diagnostic evaluation) and testing for Kindergarten admission or Gifted Admission is NOT covered by insurance, no matter which insurance provider you use. Insurance does not pay for elective educational testing where there is no clinical diagnosis. If you want to use insurance, we will refer you to practices who file. We do not provide super bills for psych testing.

What days and times are available for testing?

Availability varies according to client’s needs. Most younger children perform best in the mornings. Scheduling online if available or emailing us is the best way to quickly secure an appointment slot.

How soon will I receive results?

Generally, if testing consists of an IQ test alone, results are provided within 1 week or sooner. For full diagnostic evaluations or psychoeducational evaluations, results are typically provided within 2-3 weeks. If you have a tight deadline, please let the psychologist know when scheduling to ensure testing and results can be completed in that timeframe.

What types of payment can you receive?

Payment can be made by cash, check, debit/credit card. A fee will be added for processing credit cards or through our readers who charge fees. We prefer check, cash, Venmo or Zelle for payment.

Why is testing so expensive? 

Psychological testing is a specialized service that requires specific training and expertise. In particular, working with young children providing testing requires experience, additional time, and care. Testing protocols are also expensive. For every hour spent testing face-to-face there are additional hours for the psychologist to score, interpret, and write reports/follow up.