This evaluation is designed for children and teens whose concerns do not fit neatly into one diagnostic category. It may be appropriate when a child is experiencing a combination of emotional, behavioral, developmental, or neurological symptoms, such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, tics, Tourette syndrome, mood changes, difficulties with emotional regulation, or other signs of neurodivergence.

The goal is to better understand the factors contributing to your child’s difficulties and determine whether one or more diagnoses may be appropriate.

The evaluation typically includes:

A detailed interview with parents or caregivers
A review of developmental, medical, educational, and family history
An interview and behavioral observation of the child or teen
Selected standardized tests and questionnaires based on the concerns presented
Input from teachers or other providers, when helpful and with parent permission
A review of relevant school, medical, or treatment records

Unlike a full neuropsychological evaluation, this assessment uses a focused selection of measures rather than an extensive battery of cognitive and academic testing. The specific tests used are chosen based on your child’s symptoms and the questions the evaluation is intended to answer.

After the evaluation is complete, parents receive a written report summarizing the findings, any relevant diagnoses, and recommendations for treatment, school, and home.

What to Expect During Your Child’s Evaluation

During the evaluation, I will observe not only how your child responds to questions and activities, but also how they manage frustration, correction, redirection, limits, transitions, and boundaries.

At times, I may intentionally provide a direction, interrupt a preferred activity, correct a behavior, establish a limit, or ask your child to complete something they would rather avoid. These interactions are a purposeful part of the evaluation. They help me understand how your child responds when expectations are placed on them and what type of support they require.

Your child may become upset, frustrated, resistant, or dysregulated during the appointment. Some distress can provide useful clinical information. However, the evaluation does not permit unsafe, destructive, or highly disruptive behavior to continue without intervention.

Parents and caregivers are expected to actively assist when needed to maintain safety and protect the office environment. This includes responding promptly if your child:

hits, kicks, bites, spits, or attempts to hurt someone;
throws toys, testing materials, furniture, or other objects;
climbs or stands on furniture;
damages or attempts to damage office property;
repeatedly knocks items over or clears items from surfaces;
runs from the room or creates another immediate safety concern.

Allowing a child time to calm can sometimes be appropriate. However, waiting silently while unsafe or destructive behavior continues is not an acceptable regulation strategy in the office. I may intervene directly, provide firm redirection, remove materials, end an activity, ask the caregiver to assist, or pause or discontinue the appointment if safety cannot be maintained.

My responses may be more direct or structured than your child is accustomed to. This is not intended to shame, frighten, or punish your child. It is intended to establish safety, assess their response to reasonable adult boundaries, and understand what happens when limits are maintained.

Please let us know before the appointment if your child has a history of significant aggression, property destruction, elopement, severe reactions to limits, or difficulty remaining safely in an office setting. Advance information allows us to determine whether additional planning, staffing, environmental modifications, or a different evaluation format may be necessary.

The goal is to understand your child accurately while maintaining a safe and workable environment for your child, your family, the clinician, and others in the office.

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Neurodevelopmental and Emotional Health Evaluation