Comprehensive Psychological Assessments

Dr. O’Donnell’s convergence approach to analysis integrates qualitative normative data and quantitative observations of a child’s individual style and temperament. Drawing from evidence-based research and using current assessment tools and practices, Dr. O’Donnell builds on the pragmatic importance of always seeking knowledge about a child’s strengths in order to understand and better approach assisting with observed weaknesses. Dr. O’Donnell provides assessments for children and adolescents ages 4-16 years for the following purposes:

• ADHD
• Autism Spectrum
• Behavioral/Emotional/Mood Difficulties
• Executive Functioning Challenges
• Giftedness and Intellectual Assessments (IQ)
• School Readiness and Admissions Testing
• Learning Disorders
• Neuropsychological Assessments (Cognitive/Academic/Behavioral ramifications due to seizures, concussions, mild TBI).

Does My Child Need An Assessment?

Many parents who seek psychological assessments have been advised to have their child evaluated by a psychologist due to social, behavioral, developmental, and/or school problems. Children who experience learning and behavioral problems in the academic setting represent the highest number of referrals. After prior medical and counseling approaches have not sufficiently explained a child’s behavior, psychological assessments can provide diagnostic clarity regarding a number of problems. It is important to consider differentiation of brain-behavior relationships in a developing child, which is both a qualitative and quantitative endeavor, and requires knowledge and familiarity of the range of normal variations to each age level of child development.

Referral questions –

Schools often need psychological data, and/or a diagnosis, to determine if accommodations are needed.

• Do you want to understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and learning differences?
• Is your child inattentive, disorganized, hyperactive, unmotivated, impulsive; do they struggle with homework, and/or easily frustrated?
• Does your child seem bright, but lacks academic performance and is not achieving in school?
• Does your child have unexplained developmental delays with motor skills, language skills, social skills, or emotional maturity?