What to Ask Before You Choose Someone to Evaluate Your Child
When a parent calls me for the first time, they've often already spent weeks researching providers. They've read websites that all sound a little alike, asked friends who had very different experiences, and maybe been handed a list of names by a pediatrician without much explanation of how those names differ.
It's a lot, and it's happening at a moment when you're already worried about your child.
So this is the guide I'd want a friend to have before choosing anyone to evaluate their child, including us. It covers who does what (a psychologist, a school psychologist, a neuropsychologist, and a pediatrician each answer slightly different questions), the practical questions worth asking any practice, and the situations where we're not the right fit.
A good practice will be glad you asked. And I'd much rather you find the right person than just work with us by default.
First, who evaluates children?
This is where a lot of the confusion starts. Several kinds of professionals assess children, and they're all going to be answering slightly different questions.
Licensed psychologist (PhD or PsyD): Best for in-depth evaluations for ADHD, autism, learning differences, and emotional or behavioral concerns, using standardized testing. They can provide a diagnosis and a detailed report, though scope and depth vary a lot from practice to practice.
Pediatric neuropsychologist: Best for children whose concerns are tied to a medical or neurological condition, such as seizures, brain injury, genetic conditions, very premature birth, or effects of cancer treatment. A neuropsychologist is a psychologist with additional specialized training in brain–behavior relationships, often hospital-based and often with longer waits.
School psychologist: Best for deciding whether a child qualifies for special education services or a 504 plan. It's free through your public school district, and it's usually focused on eligibility rather than diagnosis, so it's less likely to explore emotional factors in depth.
Developmental-behavioral pediatrician: Best for young children, medical questions, and medication. They're physicians who can diagnose, and they often work alongside a psychologist for detailed testing.
Psychiatrist: Best for a quick diagnosis and medication management. Psychiatrists typically don't do extensive standardized testing.
Therapist or counselor: Best for ongoing support and treatment. They may screen or raise concerns, but usually don't provide in-depth diagnostic testing.
None of these options are nessesarily better than one another. They're simply tools for different jobs. A school evaluation, for example, can be exactly the right first step for some families. It's free, and sometimes it answers the question well enough to get supports in place for your child while you consider next steps.
The goal is to match the professional to the question you're asking.
Questions worth asking any practice
These are the questions I'd ask if I were on your side of the phone call. For each one, I've also shared what a helpful answer tends to sound like, and how we'd answer it, so you have a point of comparison.
1. Who will be with my child during testing?
In some practices, a licensed psychologist does all of the testing. In others, a trained technician (often called a psychometrist) gives the tests while the psychologist interprets the results and writes the report. Both models can produce good evaluations. You deserve to know which one you're getting.
How we would answer: Your child works directly with one of our doctorial-level psychologists, either Dr. Beaulac or myself.
2. What's included and what will it cost?
Some practices charge one fee for everything. Others bill testing, scoring, report writing, and feedback separately, which can make the final cost hard to predict. If you're paying without insurance, you're entitled to a written Good Faith Estimate before services begin.
How we answer: We charge one flat fee of $4,200 covering the intake, testing, scoring, records review, conversations with your child's school or providers, the written report, and a feedback session. While we're out-of-network with insurance, we can provide a superbill for potential reimbursement depending on your OON benifits. We also hold a small number of reduced-fee spots each year. You can learn more about our professional fees on our FAQ page, or explore our more detail post on the topic, what testing costs and how insurance works.
3. How long will it take to get answers?
There are two timelines here to consider. The first is how long until you can start, and the second is how long from testing to results. Ask about both. Waitlists for child evaluations across the Portland–Vancouver area can be long, so it's also worth asking whether there's a cancellation list you can be added to.
How we answer: After a free 15-minute phone consultation, we’d start with a virtual parent intake, then two testing sessions. The feedback meeting is about four weeks after testing, and the written report typically follows within 48 hours. Availability changes month to month, so we'll give you a straight answer on the first call about how soon we’d be able to get your child in for testing. If you have a deadline, like an IEP meeting or an SAT registration, let us know and we’ll try our best to make get your child in as soon as we are able.
4. Will you look at the whole picture, or answer one question?
Some evaluations are designed to answer a single question, like "Does this child have ADHD?" or "Is this dyslexia?" A focused evaluation like that can be a helpful starting place, and for some children it's enough.
But for a lot of kids, it isn't just one thing. Attention, anxiety, learning, and social development tend to overlap, and each one can change how the others look. That's often why a plan built around a single diagnosis only goes so far. A child might start ADHD support and focus better in class, yet still dread every writing assignment or fall apart at home. When the usual strategies don't work, or help in some areas while your child keeps struggling in others, it usually means part of the picture hasn't been seen yet.
How we answer: This is the part of my work I care about most. Our evaluations are comprehensive by design. We look at thinking, learning, attention, emotional health, and social development together, because that's usually where the answers are. Doing that well also takes time, so we intentionally keep our caseload small. It lets us get to know each child, find the piece that's been missing, and make sure the support your child gets fits who they are.
5. Will the report work for my child's school?
A report is only as useful as what it lets you do. If you're hoping for an IEP or a 504 plan, the report needs specific, practical recommendations written for your child rather than a generic list of strategies. For testing accommodations on the SAT, ACT, or AP exams, it also needs documentation that meets the testing board's standards.
It helps to know going in that schools are required to consider an outside evaluation, but they aren't required to adopt every recommendation in it. A clear, well-supported report makes that conversation much easier. If you've already had a school evaluation and disagree with the results, you may also be able to request an Independent Educational Evaluation at the district's expense. We've also written more about choosing between an IEP and a 504 plan and requesting SAT and ACT accommodations.
How we answer: We write reports to be used by schools, pediatricians, therapists, and eventually your child, with recommendations specific enough to act on. With your permission, we're also glad to talk directly with teachers and school staff, something we do routinely with schools across Tigard and Camas.
6. Are you licensed in our state?
This one might seem like a given, but when you live near a state border, it can get tricky, and it's worth checking. For example, a lot of the families we work with live on one side of the Columbia River and work, go to school, or see providers on the other.
Psychologists are licensed state by state, and in general the license needs to match where your family is during each session, not where the psychologist's office is. If you live in Vancouver and see a psychologist in Portland, the in-person testing in Oregon may be fine, but a virtual intake or feedback session while you're at home in Washington would generally require a Washington license too.
While you can certanly ask this on a consutlation call, you can also look up a providers license online. This only takes about a few minutes, and it also shows whether the license is active and whether there's any public disciplinary history. For families living in the PNW, you can search through the Oregon Board of Psychology or the Washington State Department of Health.
How we answer: Dr. Beaulac and I are both licensed in Oregon and Washington, and we see families at our offices in Camas and Tigard. The parts we do virtually, like the parent intake, work for families in either state.
7. What will this be like for my child?
Testing takes hours. A good evaluation is adapted to each child, with activities chosen for their age, but it can still sound like a lot, especially if your child is quiet and anxious in new places, or has so much energy that sitting through dinner is a stretch. If you're wondering how your child is going to get through a formal evaluation, that's a fair worry. Children also notice how they're treated, so it's worth asking any practice:
How breaks work, and whether snacks or a comfort item are welcome
How they help an anxious or shy child warm up
How they handle sensory needs, like lighting, noise, or needing to move
Where you'll be while your child is testing
How they'll explain the results to your child in a way that feels hopeful rather than heavy
Any good practice should help your child feel comfortable enough to open up and show what they can do. That way, the results reflect your child more accurately.
How we answer: Testing is split across two sessions, so no one has to push through it all at once. We go at your child's pace, with breaks whenever they're needed, and snacks are welcome.Many of the activities are hands-on, like puzzles, blocks, drawing, and iPad tasks, along with reading, writing, and math. Some parts will feel tricky, and I let kids know that's expected and that trying their best is what matters.
We also want your child to feel like part of the process, so you might invite them to bring their own questions about how their brain works to share with me. For teens and young adults, we often offer a short session afterward to walk through their results with them directly. There's more in our posts on preparing your child for testing and talking with your child about their results.
What to pay attention to
A few things might give you pause. None of them automatically means a practice is a poor choice, but each one is worth asking about:
A diagnosis seems decided before the evaluation begins. A good evaluation is open to what it finds and doesn't make assumptions or guarantees up front.
The testing seems brief for everything that's going on. A short screening can be a good start, but it won't have time to explore every concern or piece of the picture, let alone how it all fits together.
There's no feedback meeting. A report handed over without a conversation leaves most families with more questions than answers.
Costs are hard to pin down. You should be able to get a clear number in writing before you schedule an evaluation.
They can't tell you exactly who will be working with your child.
Just as telling is how that first conversation felt. Did they listen before they started explaining? Did they seem curious about your child, not just your child's symptoms? Did you come away understanding more than when you started? You're trusting this person with something important, and it's okay to let that first impression count.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a psychologist and a neuropsychologist for a child evaluation?
Both are licensed psychologists who use standardized testing. A pediatric neuropsychologist has additional specialized training in how brain function relates to behavior and learning, and is often the best fit when a child's concerns are tied to a medical or neurological condition such as seizures, brain injury, or a genetic syndrome. For ADHD, autism, learning differences, and emotional concerns, a licensed psychologist who specializes in child evaluations is often well suited.
Can a school psychologist diagnose ADHD or autism?
School evaluations are designed to determine whether a child qualifies for special education services or accommodations. They usually don't provide a clinical diagnosis or explore emotional factors in depth. They're free, though, and can be a good first step for many families.
What questions should I ask before booking a child evaluation?
Ask who will be working with your child, what the fee includes and whether you can get it in writing, how long until you have results, whether the evaluation looks at the whole picture or focuses on one question, whether the report will support school plans or testing accommodations, and whether the psychologist is licensed in your state.
How do I check whether a psychologist is licensed in Oregon or Washington?
In Oregon, search the Oregon Board of Psychology's license lookup. In Washington, use the Department of Health's Provider Credential Search. Both are free and take a couple of minutes.
Do I need a referral to get my child evaluated? Not for a private evaluation with us. Some insurance plans require a referral for reimbursement, so it's worth checking with your carrier.
If you'd like to talk it through
If this post resonated with you, and you think we may be a good fit for your child and family, then I welcome you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. You don't need a referral, and even if you end up choosing to go with a different provider, we’d still love to connect.
We tend to be a good fit if:
Your child is between six and young adulthood, and something isn't adding up at school, at home, or both.
There seems to be more than one thing going on, like attention, anxiety, learning, or social challenges that overlap.
You've already tried a focused or school evaluation and still have questions, or the recommendations haven't helped as much as you hoped.
You need a detailed report that meets criteria for school accommodation, whether that's an IEP, a 504 plan, or SAT and ACT accommodations.
Your child is bright but struggling, and you wonder whether they might be twice exceptional.
If your child is under six, has concerns closely tied to a medical or neurological condition, or needs a court-ordered, custody, or co-parenting evaluation, we're probably not the right fit, and I'm happy to point you toward someone who is. We're also out-of-network for all insurance plans, so if finances are a major concern, we’ll help you get connected to someone who takes your insurance. And latley, if our availability doesn't match your timeline, we'll tell you on the first call rather than let you wait.
Webb Psychological Services provides comprehensive evaluations and therapy for children, teens, and young adults, with offices in Camas, WA and Tigard, OR.