Mind and Motion Developmental Centers of GA

From the first appointment to receiving the psychological report with diagnosis and treatment recommendations it could take between 3 - 4 months.

Intake Appointment (one hour): This appointment includes the client as well as their parent or guardian. No formal testing is conducted at this time. A review of the following is conducted during this session: Medical and Family history, Areas of concern, the client’s strengths, and a summary of all previous assessments. A test battery is designed after this initial session based on the client’s

Testing Day (testing hours): Testing may be conducted by a trained testing assistant supervised by the referring psychologist. Typically, parents/guardians are not present during testing unless it is requested. Parents are asked to bring snacks along, as children take one or more breaks during these sessions. Time of testing varies upon individual to individual; it is best to plan on a whole day allotment for testing although it may not take that long.

Feedback appointment (one hour):This appointment is scheduled approximately three to four weeks after the final testing session. The doctor will go over the evaluation with clients and include diagnostic impressions and comprehensive recommendations which are given to the family

No. Many services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy or counseling can start before having completed the psychological assessment. Sometimes, a psychological assessment may not be needed at all.

Early intervention is always the best course in order to prevent later problems. This is especially important if problems are moderate or severe. Typically we see children starting at age two although occasionally developmental evaluations are done before this time.

Typically, we recommend an evaluation every one to two years. Insurance and Medicaid usually only reimburse for one evaluation per calendar year.

One of the main differences is that a school evaluation cannot provide you with a psychological diagnosis. The school district’s evaluation primary focus is to determine eligibility for special education services, thus the culmination of the report is either a yes/no statement regarding whether the child appears to meet the district’s / state department of education’s guidelines for eligibility for special education services as opposed to a more in-depth evaluation. Also, our evaluations culminate in recommendations and referrals for services that are not only available through the school district, but also through private therapists, schools, tutors, and educational consultants in the area. Our evaluations also include sample educational and school accommodations as well.

Mind & Motion offers services to young children, adolescents, and adults. We work extensively with school-age children, but we also see preschoolers at risk for future school difficulties, college students who may need specific accommodations based on learning differences, and adults who may be experiencing job performance difficulties relative to an attention or learning problem. Our referrals come from a variety of sources, including physicians, schools, colleges, corporations, friends, families and clients themselves.

A formal ASD diagnosis, or a medical diagnosis, helps you get the support your family needs, especially within the context of accessing medically necessary therapies and services.

• Insurance Coverage for Therapies: Medically necessary therapies for ASD are often covered by insurance including, but not limited to, speech therapy, ABA therapy, and occupational therapy. 
• Financial Support: A diagnosis is required when applying for social security or disability benefits. 
• Plan for Care: A diagnosis helps identify your child’s support needs. For example, your child might need to develop social communication and self-regulation skills.
• Future Research: The more data we gather through evaluations, the more we can improve services for autistic children and adults.

Check out Autism Diagnosis: The Complete Guide for Parents for more information.

1 in 36 children is diagnosed with autism according to the latest reports.

Here are some reasons why:

• Medical professionals understand autism better. More doctors are trained to test for autism and other developmental and language delays.  
• The definition of autism has evolved in recent years which means that an autism diagnosis covers more conditions to help more people get the services they need.

For more information check out Common autism diagnosis questions: Answers from Dr. Melanie Hsu