PsychCare offers many different types of assessment and evaluation services. This list provides a brief overview of each type – clicking on the links at the end of each paragraph will take you to a page with more in-depth information about that specific type of evaluation. At the bottom of this page is a table that provides some comparative information about the different types of evaluations.

Comprehensive Evaluation

This is our most in-depth evaluation, and is designed for children through young adults (usually ages 21 and younger). It provides information about learning, brain functioning (for example, attention, how information is processed), and social and emotional functioning (including information about mental health concerns). If needed, this type of evaluation can also screen for autism spectrum disorders, to see if an autism-specific evaluation is recommended. This type of evaluation is sometimes called a psychoeducational evaluation, neuropsychological evaluation, psychological evaluation, or high-stakes testing evaluation. If you are seeking testing accommodations, a comprehensive evaluation is usually what is required; but, this type of evaluation is recommended for people under 21 regardless of whether they need test accommodations or school-based interventions. Additional optional services to go with the Comprehensive Evaluation: behavioral observations of a child in specific environments, assistance with IEP meetings. More information about Comprehensive Evaluations here.

Diagnostic ADHD Evaluation

This evaluation is for people of all ages. It measures whether the person has Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (formerly known as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD). More detailed information about Diagnostic ADHD Evaluations here.

Differential Diagnosis Evaluation

This evaluation is for people of all ages, and focuses on a specific question that a client or their doctor has. For example, a psychiatrist may request a Differential Diagnosis Evaluation to determine whether a person’s symptoms are due to ADHD or Bipolar Disorder, or a client may want to understand more about their own experience, and whether their symptoms are due to obsessive-compulsive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. This type of evaluation may be appropriate for a younger person for whom there are no concerns about learning or cognitive processing, but for whom there are emotional diagnoses or mental health concerns. More detailed information about Differential Diagnosis Evaluations here.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation for Adults

This evaluation is for adults only. (For children, a Comprehensive Evaluation is necessary to determine whether an autism evaluation is needed.) This evaluation measures whether the person has Autism Spectrum Disorder. More detailed information about Adult Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluations here.