Our Process
Our practice is devoted exclusively to neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluation for children, adolescents, and young adults.
By focusing solely on assessment, every aspect of our practice—from the initial consultation through the feedback conference—is designed to provide thoughtful diagnostic clarification, evidence-based recommendations, and a deeper understanding of each child’.
Early Childhood (2-5yo)
Evaluations may focus on developmental progress, early learning, language, social communication, autism-related concerns, and school readiness.
School Age (6-12yo)
Evaluations may address academic difficulties, attention, learning disorders, executive functioning, developmental concerns, and educational planning.
Adolescence & Young Adulthood (13-21yo)
Evaluations may focus on complex learning profiles, diagnostic clarification, transition planning, executive functioning, and preparation for future educational or vocational goals.
1. Initial Consultation
The evaluation process begins with an initial consultation to understand the concerns, history, and goals that prompted the referral.
During this conversation, we will ask about:
• Your child’s developmental and medical history
• Current concerns and areas of strength
• Educational experiences
• Previous evaluations or interventions
• Questions you are hoping to answer
This consultation helps determine whether our evaluation offerings are appropriate and allows the assessment plan to be tailored to the child’s individual needs.
2. Review Background Information
No two children are alike, and no two evaluations should be identical. Prior to the testing appointment, Dr. Harris will request and review relevant documentation and shared information. This may include:
• Medical records
• School documentation
• Previous psychological or neuropsychological evaluations
• Therapy reports
• Teacher questionnaires, when appropriate
This information helps ensure that assessment results are interpreted within the context of the child’s experiences rather than viewed in isolation.
3. Comprehensive Assessment
The evaluation itself involves a series of standardized assessments selected specifically to address the referral questions. Depending on the child, assessments may measure:
• Cognitive and intellectual functioning
• Academic achievement
• Attention and executive functioning
• Learning and memory
• Expressive and receptive language
• Cognitive efficiency
• Social skills
• Adaptive functioning
• Emotional and behavioral functioning
There is no single testing battery that is appropriate for every referral question. Throughout the evaluation, attention is given not only to performance outcomes, but also to how a child approaches tasks, solves problems, communicates, manages challenges, and demonstrates strengths.
4. Integration & Interpretation
The most important part of an evaluation occurs after testing is complete. Our experience and clinical judgement allows us to interpret assessment results within the context of behavioral observations, records reviewed, and information collected from parents and other professionals.
A comprehensive evaluation transforms individual data points into meaningful answers to questions like:
• What factors are contributing to current challenges?
• What strengths can be leveraged to help?
• What diagnoses or explanations best fit the child’s presentation?
• What recommendations are most likely to support progress?
5. Feedback Conference
Dr. Harris meets with your family to discuss results and recommendations. Together, we walk through testing results to ensure meaningful understanding of the data and its implications. This allows you (and your child!) dedicated time to ask questions, ensure understanding, and collaborate on next steps.
Our goal is for families to leave feedback conferences feeling empowered to support their child and advocate across settings.
6. Comprehensive Report
Following the feedback conference, families receive a detailed written report that integrates all components of the evaluation. The report includes:
• Background information and referral concerns
• Assessment findings, including strengths and weaknesses
• Clinical interpretation
• Diagnostic impressions, when appropriate
• Individualized recommendations
The purpose of the report is not simply to document results. It is to provide a practical framework that families, schools, and healthcare providers can use to support the child. Reports are written with both clinical precision and accessibility in mind, ensuring that complex findings are understandable and meaningful.
Neurodevelopmental Concerns
Families and providers may seek evaluation when there are questions about:
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Delays in developmental milestones
• Social communication concerns
• Intellectual development
• Adaptive functioning
A comprehensive evaluation can clarify whether a child’s developmental profile is consistent with a neurodevelopmental diagnosis and identify the supports most likely to promote growth.
Attention & Executive Functioning
Attention difficulties can arise from many different factors. Evaluation may help clarify:
• Whether symptoms are consistent with ADHD
• How attention affects learning and daily functioning
• The impact of specific executive functioning factors on functioning
• How attention difficulties interact with other developmental or learning concerns
Understanding the broader cognitive profile is essential because attention-related difficulties rarely occur in isolation.
Learning & Academic Concerns
Evaluation may be appropriate when children experience persistent academic challenges, including:
• Difficulty learning to read
• Problems with expressing their ideas through writing
• Challenges with foundational mathematical skills
• Uneven academic performance
• Challenges despite educational support
The evaluation helps identify the nature of the difficulty and supports educational planning and intervention.
Medical & Neurological Conditions
Children with complex medical histories may benefit from evaluation to understand how these factors affect development and functioning. Evaluations may address questions related to:
• Genetic conditions
• Neonatal complications
• Chronic medical conditions
• Treatments with known cognitive impacts, such as chemotherapy
Assessment can provide information about current functioning and help guide educational, medical, and therapeutic decision-making.
Complex Diagnostic Questions
Some children present with concerns that do not fit neatly into one category. A comprehensive evaluation can help clarify:
• Why previous interventions have not produced expected progress
• Whether multiple diagnoses may be contributing
• How different areas of functioning interact
• Which explanations best account for your child’s presentation
These evaluations require careful interpretation of developmental history, clinical findings, and assessment results.
