Psychological Testing for Your Child



What is Psychological Testing?


How much will testing cost?


Is the cost covered by insurance?


What should I tell my child about the appointment?


What happens after the testing?




What is Psychological Testing?
Psychological testing refers to the battery of tests administered to evaluate the intellectual, learning, emotional and/or behavioral functioning of your child. Children are typically referred for an assessment by their parents, pediatrician, or school for evaluation of:

• Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without Hyperactivity)
• Learning disabilities
• Giftedness
• Learning/processing problems
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Emotional disturbances (depression, anxiety, mood disorders)
• Psychological factors associated with medical conditions
• Disruptive behavior disorders
• Parent-Child relational problems
• Social problems

The test battery varies depending upon the referral question(s), and can include a structured interview, assessment of intellectual capability, learning/processing measures, measures of attention and memory, academic achievement measures, projective measures, self-report surveys, parent and teacher checklists, and a school observation.

Testing sessions are scheduled during the morning when most children function at their best. One or two testing sessions may be scheduled, depending on your child’s age and number of tests/measures being given.

Your psychologist can answer any questions that you may have regarding specific names of tests that will be administered to your child during testing.


How much will testing cost?
Psychological testing involves administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests; it also requires the psychologist to prepare a written report and meet with parents to review the results. The cost for a full assessment is determined by the total number of hours required by the psychologist(s) to complete the full evaluation process from testing time with your child to results review session with you, at the rate of $150/hour.

Typically, a full assessment will range from $1500 to $2150. A partial payment of $600 is required on the day of testing, with the balance due at your results review appointment. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card.


Is the cost covered by insurance?
Many insurance companies do not cover psychological testing, and those who do will typically only reimburse a portion of the costs. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance company to determine benefits. When you call them, ask the following:

• Is the cost of psychological testing covered?
• Is there a deductible?
• What portion will be reimbursed?
• Is a referral needed from a primary care physician?
• Is pre-authorization required?

If your insurance company requests a list of the tests being administered, we can provide that for you. You will receive a coded billing statement at your follow-up appointment which you may file with your insurance company for reimbursement.


What should I tell my child about the appointment?
Preparing your child for testing will minimize anxiety and encourage cooperation. Before the day of testing, it is helpful to remind the child what the day will be like. Try to avoid calling it “testing,” as this word makes many children anxious. Make sure your child knows they will be meeting alone with the psychologist. Explain that children learn in different ways and that testing will help parents and teachers understand how he/she learns best. The day will include a variety of questions, puzzles, drawings, and stories as well as some school-like tasks like reading and math. While your child will be challenged, he or she will probably have fun with some of the tasks.

On the day of testing, make sure your child is well rested and has eaten a good breakfast. While we do have some snacks and drinks available, feel free to bring any healthy snacks you think your child may like. Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time to allow your child to become familiar with the psychologist and to get settled before starting.

To avoid fatigue, breaks will be taken during the testing to allow your child to use the restroom and have a drink or snack. Children also often like to talk with their parent(s) during the breaks.

For children under 9, we require parents to remain in our lobby for the duration of the testing. It is at your discretion to remain or run errands if your child is over 9, but please make sure that the office has a number at which you can be reached immediately in case of illness or other difficulty.


What happens after the testing?
Approximately two weeks after the testing, you will return to the office without your child for a results review and discussion. (If your child is to come with you, your psychologist will let you know; teenagers are usually expected to come, though.) This results review appointment typically takes 90 minutes. At this appointment, your psychologist will review the testing results, discuss recommendations, and answer any questions you may have.

A written report is provided at the results review session or within one week of that appointment. The report provides a written record of the testing that was completed, and provides specific recommendations so that parents, educational staff, physicians, and other professionals working with your child can coordinate a treatment plan that will enable your child to succeed.

You may be asked to sign a release so that the report can be sent directly to certain professionals. Reports are generally not sent directly to schools, as we have found that it is typically more helpful for parents to hand-carry a copy of the report directly to the school personnel who need to see the results and recommendations.

go back to FAQs