What is assessment?

Psychological assessment or testing is a comprehensive evaluation of an individual’s intellectual, academic, socio-emotional, and/or behavioral functioning.  Such an evaluation typically consists of a clinical interview with the child and parents, administration of standardized tests (e.g., intelligence test, achievement test, measures of phonological processing, a test of visual-motor integration), careful behavioral observation of the child during testing, and collection of parent and teacher ratings about the child’s functioning.

As mentioned earlier, if you consent to this, Dr. Puncochar may obtain additional information from other providers (e.g., therapist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, school psychologist, learning specialist…).

Common assessment questions

  • Why is my child struggling academically?

  • Does my child have dyslexia?

  • Is my child gifted?

  • Why does my child experience so much anxiety?

  • Does my child have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

  • Why does my child misbehave at school?

  • Does my child process things more slowly than others?

  • What are my child’s emotional difficulties?

  • Why is my child so disorganized?

  • How can I best support my child’s academic functioning?

  • Why is doing homework such a struggle for my child?

  • How can I best support my child’s emotional needs?

  • Is my child’s functioning typical for his/her age?

  • What are my child’s unique strengths, academically and psychologically?

The assessment process

1) Call 615-370-4977 or complete the Secure Online Inquiry Form to schedule the assessment and parent interview
During your phone call with Dr. Puncochar, you can provide initial background information about your child and discuss your primary testing questions.  If psychological assessment is appropriate to address your questions, a parent interview and assessment appointment can be scheduled at that time.

2) Parent / Caregiver Interview
Before the actual testing sessions with your child, Dr. Puncochar will meet with you to learn more about who your child is and to obtain in-depth background information regarding your child’s development and social, emotional, adaptive, and academic functioning.  You will be asked to complete an online history form (via a secure link emailed to you after you schedule your parent interview) prior to this one-hour appointment.

3) Testing
Assessments are completed over the course of two to four mornings (5 to 8 hours total). Please pack a snack for your child, as testing takes a lot of energy!  Parents can stay in the waiting area throughout the testing or leave and return later to pick up their child (depending on the child and situation).  Please note that the exact duration of testing varies from child to child.  When children have difficulty remaining engaged in the testing process (e.g., due to fatigue or difficulties focusing) or when the testing data indicate the need for follow-up testing, Dr. Puncochar may ask you to return for additional testing on a different day.  It is good to keep in mind that testing is intensive and that most children are tired afterward.   Please make sure your child goes to bed on time the night prior to the assessment.  In addition, if your child is typically on medication, please ensure that they take their medicine on the day of testing.

4) Verbal preliminary feedback session and written report
Approximately four weeks after completion of testing (provided that all completed parent and teacher questionnaires have been received by our office), a parent feedback session is scheduled during which parents receive preliminary verbal feedback. This appointment, which lasts 60-90 minutes, consists of a dialogue between you and Dr. Puncochar about the testing results.   During this dialogue, Dr. Puncochar explains the findings and asks parents for their feedback about these findings given their understanding of their child.  During this meeting, parents will also be provided with specific recommendations and tools to support their child in light of these findings. A complete written report generally follows within two weeks of the parent feedback session.