How CDL Evaluations are Different

Evaluations prepared by CDL's professional staff are decidedly different:

• Our evaluations are extremely COMPREHENSIVE. Because neurological challenges tend to coexist, all areas of cognitive, academic, neurodevelopmental, and social, emotional, and behavioral functioning are assessed. Many times we evaluate students who have a previous diagnosis of an Attention-Deficit Disorder but, even after diagnosis and some initial treatment, are still experiencing problems in school because all of their challenges have not been identified and addressed. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary to completely address the student's needs.

• Our evaluations are INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED to address the challenges presented by student and parents and to answer their specific questions. While a core battery of testing instruments is generally administered, additional tests are selected that address various problem areas.

• Our evaluations provide IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK of findings. After the questionnaires and rating scales completed by the student, parents and teachers have been reviewed, and testing has been completed, parents and students are given verbal feedback on the same day as the evaluation.

• Our evaluations identify the student's STRENGTHS, which we believe is an essential part of the evaluation process. It is these strengths that are often used to compensate for challenges. For example, students who have dyslexia often also have poor written language skills, but very good oral language skills. Their strength in oral language may be useful in compensating for their challenges in reading and written language.

• Our evaluations provide SPECIFIC STRATEGIES to manage the student's challenges. This is a critical emphasis for our psychologists. For example, if the breakdown in reading is phoneme awareness, specific strategies for remediation of a deficit in phoneme awareness are provided. Approximately two-thirds of our written reports address specific strategies for managing challenges.

• Our evaluations serve as a ROADMAP for helping students who struggle in school. While our psychologists provide diagnoses because these diagnoses are often necessary to obtain services or treatment, they also provide extensive descriptive information about the student. It is our desire that families leave the clinic with a thorough understanding of the student's learning profile and not just a set of "number" or "scores" and/or a "label" of a disorder.

• Our evaluations provide HOPE for parents and students that the student's challenges can be managed and that school success will increase. The evaluation process itself is geared to be therapeutic by its immediate feedback, focus on the student's strengths and recommendations for specific strategies to manage challenges.

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