A diagnostic evaluation is a systematic process to assess and identify the underlying causes of a problem, condition, or issue. We provide diagnostic evaluations to help you know whether you have a specific mental health diagnosis and the nature and sometimes roots of that diagnosis. Some people come in having suspected they have a diagnosis that has never been realized, while others come in feeling like the one they have been given is incorrect or has changed.
Our services cover many diagnostic evaluations, and we can tailor your testing to your specific goals and questions. The following provides an overview of these services.
Reasons to Get a Diagnostic Evaluation
Here are some common reasons for a diagnostic evaluation:
Mental Health Assessment
We conduct diagnostic evaluations to assess mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These assessments often involve clinical interviews, standardized questionnaires, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This type of assessment aims to describe a diagnosis and the particular symptoms the person has contributing to the diagnosis.
Learning Disability Diagnostic Evaluation
In education, diagnostic evaluations are used to identify learning disabilities in students. These assessments help determine if a child has dyslexia, dyscalculia, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and can inform appropriate interventions and accommodations. Learning disability assessments can also help adults get accommodations at work, make career choices, and learn coping strategies to overcome challenges and enhance strengths.
Diagnostic Evaluation for Developmental Delays
We offer diagnostic evaluations for children to assess developmental delays and disorders, including autism spectrum disorders. Early diagnosis can be crucial for early intervention and support. These can also evaluate for speech or language disorders. Each person with a developmental delay is unique, so just knowing a diagnosis is not enough. Diagnostic evaluations lead to very specific conclusions that can help with planning.
Psychological Diagnostic Evaluation
We often use diagnostic evaluations to assess personality traits, cognitive functioning, and emotional well-being. This can be important for understanding individual strengths and challenges, making treatment recommendations, or designing career or social goals. These differ from mental health diagnostic assessments because the goal is to dig deeper and understand more qualitative measures and any diagnosis is less important.
Occupational Diagnostic Assessments
We conduct diagnostic evaluations to assess an individual’s physical, cognitive, or sensory abilities to determine their capacity to perform specific tasks or functions in daily life or work. Similarly, we conduct these evaluations to help individuals identify their strengths, interests, and aptitudes, guiding them toward suitable career choices. Occupational assessments can be helpful in executive coaching.
Educational Placement
We use diagnostic evaluations to determine appropriate educational placements for students with disabilities or special needs, such as special education programs or individualized education plans (Individual Educational Plans). These assessments can also be used for students going to college, graduate school, or trade school to get formal accommodations or to learn coping strategies.
Diagnostic Evaluation Process
Here are some key steps in our diagnostic evaluation services:
Diagnostic Evaluation Information Gathering
The first step involves collecting relevant information about your problem or challenge. This can include having you list symptoms, describe behaviors, and provide historical information. We may ask permission to talk to important people in your life as part of this process. It is vital that we learn from you about your experiences, challenges, strengths, and history so that we can tailor the rest of the assessment.
Diagnostic Evaluation Tools
Depending on the exact questions you want answered, your diagnostic evaluation will include a variety of standardized and normed assessment tools such as questionnaires and psychological tests. We then pair those tools with all the information we gathered in your interview and observations we made about possible symptoms. This process is highly scientific. These tests have been used on thousands of people with and without certain diagnoses, so your results can be objectively assessed and compared.
Data Analysis and Formulating a Diagnosis 
After collecting all the necessary data, it is analyzed to identify patterns, trends, or anomalies that may provide insights into your underlying issues. This often involves statistical analysis and interpretation.
Based on the data analysis, a diagnosis or assessment is made. The DSM-5 list matches your symptoms to potential diagnoses.
Recommendations and Next Steps
Following a diagnosis, recommendations are often provided. These could include treatment options in healthcare, intervention strategies in psychology, or suggested improvements in engineering and other fields. We can help you communicate the diagnostic evaluation results to others, such as your spouse, work, or friends. In many cases, diagnostic evaluations are not a one-time process. They may involve ongoing monitoring and adjustments based on the effectiveness of interventions or treatments.
Follow-Up Diagnostic Evaluations
In some cases, it may be helpful for you to come back for another assessment to measure the effectiveness of the changes you made, accommodations you got, or treatment you received. These follow-ups are usually shorter and more targeted. This can also be helpful if you consider a change, such as pursuing a new job or career, returning to school, or changing your social life.
Diagnostic Evaluations in Our Work
A diagnostic evaluation is a systematic and methodical approach to understanding and addressing problems or issues by collecting and analyzing relevant information. This process can lead you to make more informed decisions and actions. It can be quite helpful if you’ve been previously diagnosed and want to be sure that you continue to have the diagnosis, want to know how the diagnosis may have changed or evolved, or are wondering if you have a new one. No matter what, you will receive a report that makes suggestions based on your symptoms.
Importance of Diagnostic Evaluations
The importance of getting a diagnostic evaluation can be summed up in four ways:
- Accurate Diagnosis: Diagnostic evaluations help identify a problem’s root cause. A proper diagnosis is the first step towards effective treatment or intervention, whether it’s a medical condition, a learning disorder, a mental health issue, or an organizational problem. Once a diagnosis is made, healthcare professionals, educators, or experts can develop tailored treatment or intervention plans. This ensures the approach is targeted and suitable for the specific condition or issue. This can be critical to managing mental health and improving overall well-being.
- Monitoring Progress: Diagnostic evaluations also provide a baseline against which progress can be measured. Professionals can periodically reevaluate whether the chosen treatment or intervention works and adjust as needed. This ensures that individuals can make informed choices about their health, education, or other aspects of their lives.
- Preventing Misdiagnosis: Without accurate diagnosis, there’s a risk of misdiagnosis, which can lead to ineffective or even harmful treatments. These assessments help reduce these risks and ensure the right condition is addressed.
- Access to Services: In education, an assessment may be necessary for a student to access special education services or accommodations. It ensures that individuals with specific needs receive the support they require.
Our Work
We provide diagnostic evaluations and other general services, such as Personality evaluation, or specific specialties, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. They can also be provided as a stand-alone service. We would happily discuss what a diagnostic evaluation might do for you. Please contact us any time.
