Clients are often interested in learning how cognitive and emotional functioning interact to affect academic performance.

SEEKING TEST ACCOMMODATIONS

Often, adults are requesting an evaluation to get updated test results because they are applying for test accommodations on high-stakes tests such as the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, Praxis, etc. These accommodations might include:

  • Extended time on tests (e.g., 50% or 100% extended time)

  • Distraction-reduced testing environment

  • Use of an alternate test format (e.g., audio recordings of text, typing instead of handwriting)

  • Extra breaks during testing

If warranted, the results of the evaluation can be used to support an application for accommodations.

COE Completion

A Certification of Eligibility (COE) form is used to provide verification of an individual’s use of accommodations either in college or in the workplace. The form must be completed and signed by an authorized professional representing one of the following:

  • Office of disability services at the examinee’s college or university

  • Human resources office at the examinee’s place of employment

  • Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) office in the examinee’s state of residence

NOTE: The COE form cannot be completed and signed by the person who conducted the evaluation. 

Academic Evaluations for Adults

Academic evaluations are individualized to meet your specific needs and include the assessment of:

  • Basic reading skills

  • Reading fluency

  • Reading comprehension

  • Spelling

  • Written mechanics (punctuation and capitalization)

  • Written syntax

  • Written formulation

  • Math computation

  • Math problem solving (word problems) 

Evaluation-Based Recommendations

As part of the testing, you will receive recommendations for use at school, at home, or in the workplace, as well as the option of post-assessment services aimed at the implementation of those recommendations.

Language Assessments

Our academic evaluations (regardless of age) always include assessment of aspects of spoken language as well. This is because spoken language and written language have very strong relationships with each other. Thus, one’s receptive language (understanding of spoken language) can influence his/her/their understanding of written language (reading comprehension). One’s expressive language (ability to express oneself in spoken language) can influence his/her/their ability to express themselves in written language (ability to write). These evaluations can include the assessment of:

  • Vocabulary knowledge

  • Word retrieval (i.e., how well someone can call up the words they know from memory)

  • Syntax

  • Formulation

  • Listening comprehension

Assessment of Relevant Cognitive Processes

These evaluations can include the assessment of:

  • Auditory memory

  • Visual memory

  • Visual processing speed

  • Phonological awareness (manipulating sounds within spoken words)

  • Visual-motor integration

  • Visual discrimination

  • Perception of spatial relationships

  • Attention

  • Word retrieval

  • Executive functioning

TYPES OF TESTS

Different types of tests are chosen to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Some examples include:

  • Timed vs. untimed testing

  • Multiple-choice vs. fill-in-the-blank vs. open-ended responses

  • Spoken vs. written expression

  • Listening vs reading comprehension

  • Handwriting vs. typing vs. speaking

  • Auditory vs. visual memory

  • Recall vs. recognition of informationEvaluations for adults are individualized but often take approximately five-to-six hours to complete. This is usually done over two days.