Psychological tests are used to clarify a person's strengths and weaknesses in terms of how they think and how they learn. I use these tests to learn about a person's different abilities including:

• the ability to focus attention and concentrate
• to use and understand language
• to understand visual and auditory information
• to remember (memory functions)

I am also interested in reading, writing and math abilities. I use tests to be able to compare a child's performance to other children of the age.

I have a particular interest in how a child's struggles with learning can impact how a child feels about him or herself.

I do provide diagnoses of learning disabilities and ADHD (Attenion Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) when appropriate.

While I prefer not to label children, there are four situations in which I have found it to be necessary to do so:

• To obtain reimbursement from health insurance companies. Health insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for acadmemic services, however they sometimes will provide reimbursement for psychological and neurological problems such as ADHD, depression or anxiety.
• To access services from schools and other systems. Sometimes results of psychological testing can be useful for opening the door to obtaining services for a child through the school system.
• A proper diagnosis informs treatment. When parents first consult me, I do not know what it is exactly that a child needs and testing can provide clarity.
• To provide education. Once parents have a diagnosis or a lable they can read and learn and therefore understand more about their child.

Suggested web sites for reading:

www.judithglasser.com/publications/need-testing.pdf

See www.wrightslaw.com for information about legal issues connected to learning disabilities, ADHD and educational systems.

See CHADD for information about ADHD.

LDonline is a great site about learning disabilities.