Services
Multi-Disciplinary and Multi-Option Evaluations and Screenings
Clients come to A Total Approach for many different reasons and over the years we
have refined our "diagnostic" procedures to a variety of options, which we keep changing
to adapt to diversifying needs.
An Evaluation is a Signature of our Work
The reports are meant to give the family adequate definition and explanation as to the findings during the evaluation session, as well as having them "see" their child's (student's) strengths and weaknesses at this one snapshot in time.
Each written report is reviewed by another person to ensure quality, flow, clinical deduction analysis, as well as language and grammar. We make use of normed and standardized questionnaires to understand the child's functioning over different environments, so we could gain as best clinical picture as we can to add to the evaluative data.
It's Not Just About Diagnosis or Reporting Numbers
To us it is not about diagnosis or simply reporting the numbers (though this is also included), but it is more about the essence of the child (student) and having a holistic view of their occupational, physical and speech, emotional and social functions throughout the day and night. It is about being practical and highly developmental in our approach with regards to finding the right place to start a treatment program and building the just right challenge from that point.
Test scores are not only analyzed in terms of their score outcome, but also the child's participation and energy level at the time, as well as other weaknesses that may have caused the child (student) to not perform adequately at the task at this moment in time.
The Evaluation/Mini-Evaluation Process
- Call our office at 484 840 1529 to indicate your interest and evaluation request.
- Our front office manager will return your call to complete an initial intake sheet with preliminary information, assisting us to make the correct decision as to who to direct your need to.
- The family will then receive a call from the appropriate therapist to gain more information as to the nature of the evaluation / mini-evaluation required.
- The family will be given options to choose from and be asked to call us at their convenience once they have decided which option to take. No decision has to be made immediately and we usually refer to our website for additional clarification, if needed.
- Once the family calls back, we will schedule an appropriate date of evaluation.
- The family will receive a packet in the mail clarifying the date and type of evaluation to be performed, as well as different questionnaires to complete. We encourage families to complete these forms over time, and not do them all in one sitting. This could be overwhelming and result in contradicting information.
- We request that families bring our questionnaires as well as any recent evaluations completed by their school districts, neuro-psychologists, developmental pediatricians, counselors, developmental optometrists etc. to the evaluation session. Families do not need to send these back prior to the scheduled date.
- We enjoy having the parent of the child (student) in the evaluation session with us, so we could collaborate and dynamically assist each other and maximize our time together.
- Parents know their children better than we do and in some occasions, especially with older students, parents do choose the option not to be present.
- In the case of a comprehensive evaluation, the therapist will complete the report after the visit, which is then reviewed by another therapist. This process could be up to 3 weeks.
- The family has time to read this report before the scheduled consultation session and prepare their questions or need for clarification
- A follow-up consultation to review the evaluation report or mini-evaluation findings is scheduled on the date of the evaluation / mini-evaluation.
- During the consultation session different treatment options will be made available and no decisions are made at this meeting. The families contact A Total Approach at their convenience once they have researched the options and their family needs for all their children.
