Frequently Asked Questions
How should my family prepare for Testing Day?
Getting a good night’s sleep the night before testing day is important! Please try to keep your child from staying up very late, watching scary movies, having caffeine the night before, or deviating from their normal routine.
Try to have your child eat a good breakfast.
Medications should be taken as usual on the testing day unless otherwise discussed with your clinician.
You can bring a water bottle and/or snack for energy throughout the day.
Please make sure all paperwork is completed.
Please be prepared to pay for half of the testing cost at intake.
Please DO NOT tell your child what time testing will finish. Sometimes kids get focused on a certain time and cannot attend appropriately to testing in the afternoon.
Please DO NOT bring any iPads, tablets, etc. Please silence your cell phone.
From start to finish the evaluation process can look like the following:
Intake Interview
Testing Session
Feedback session
The Intake Interview is scheduled via telehealth and lasts about 60-90 minutes. Dr. McDonald will spend time talking with you and your child, gathering history and information.
Testing happens on a separate day. On the day of testing, your child can bring a water bottle and snacks with them. Dr. McDonald will leave the room whenever they need a snack break. We will take breaks throughout the testing day, but a lunch break happens around noon. You will receive a call/text in the afternoon when we’re close to finishing.
After testing is completed we will schedule a Feedback Session in which we will discuss findings and address any questions the family or individual has.
What does the evaluation process look like?
Testing typically takes place over the course of one day. In some situations, we may need to break testing into 2 days. If this is the case, every effort will be made to tell you either at intake or at the end of testing. Sometimes, depending on how testing is going, we may need to break things up on shorter notice.
How long does testing take?
Testing includes a variety of activities like:
Answering questions out loud and on the computer
Building designs & completing puzzles
Reading, writing, spelling, and math
Drawing
Memory “games”
What happens during testing?
After we finish for the day, we’ll set an appointment for you to come back to review the results and the draft report with me. I’ll explain what everything means and we’ll discuss the recommendations made. This is a therapeutic and collaborative process designed to help you get the most out of the results you receive.
What happens after testing is complete?
Will I receive any paperwork?
After our feedback consultation, Dr. McDonald will send you your completed report.
