Prior to the Intake/First Appointment: Forms will be sent to you (usually via email) prior to the first testing appointment. If possible, please have them completed and sent in advance via mail or scan/email. Please also have copies of reports from previous psychological, educational, psychiatric, neurological evaluations or any other records (e.g., school) that you feel may be relevant to the current evaluation. If your child has undergone any type of psychological or psychoeducational evaluation within a year of the current evaluation, please send the report via mail or scan/email prior to our meeting. Otherwise, you may bring the documentation with you to the first testing appointment.
Informing Your Child: Most children associate “doctor” with the unpleasant experience of medical procedures (e.g., shots). As a result, please have a brief and developmentally appropriate conversation with your child before the evaluation and let them know that this doctor is different and does not give shots or conduct other unpleasant invasive procedures. Let them know that the purpose of this evaluation is to gain a better understanding of how they learn best so that we can make school/getting along with others/managing their behavior, etc. easier for them. Also, please let them know that they will be engaged in some activities which they may find enjoyable such as playing with blocks, looking at pictures, and talking. There is no failing anything. We are just trying to understand their strengths and weaknesses which we all have.
Waiting: Depending on the emotional and/or behavioral status of the child, parents/caregivers may be asked to wait in the waiting area while their child is being evaluated. Parents/caregivers are typically not in the examination room as your child may become distracted by your presence. We also want to evaluate your child’s behavior independent of family factors which may impact their problem solving and overall behavior. If at all possible, please do not bring siblings or other relatives as that may also interfere with your child’s attention and persistence.
Rest: To ensure your child’s optimal performance, it is important that your child is well rested. To the best of your ability, please insure that your child has slept well the previous night. A child who is overly tired may not be able to perform their best, resulting in test scores that may underestimate his/her true abilities.
Breakfast/Lunch: Provide a high protein meal for your child to help maintain even focus and concentration. Your child should not consume any caffeinated beverages or foods high in sugar content prior to the evaluation sessions. Both caffeine and sugar can induce brief periods of heightened alertness followed by fatigue which may also produce flawed results.
Medication: Your child should take their medication(s) as indicated unless otherwise discussed with this examiner. For example, if your child is taking attention-enhancing medication (e.g., Ritalin, Strattera, Adderall, etc.), it may be helpful to test certain skills on and off medication in order to evaluate efficacy. This will likely take place during the latter testing session (i.e., second or third testing appointment) and will be discussed in advance.
Informing Your Child: Most children associate “doctor” with the unpleasant experience of medical procedures (e.g., shots). As a result, please have a brief and developmentally appropriate conversation with your child before the evaluation and let them know that this doctor is different and does not give shots or conduct other unpleasant invasive procedures. Let them know that the purpose of this evaluation is to gain a better understanding of how they learn best so that we can make school/getting along with others/managing their behavior, etc. easier for them. Also, please let them know that they will be engaged in some activities which they may find enjoyable such as playing with blocks, looking at pictures, and talking. There is no failing anything. We are just trying to understand their strengths and weaknesses which we all have.
Waiting: Depending on the emotional and/or behavioral status of the child, parents/caregivers may be asked to wait in the waiting area while their child is being evaluated. Parents/caregivers are typically not in the examination room as your child may become distracted by your presence. We also want to evaluate your child’s behavior independent of family factors which may impact their problem solving and overall behavior. If at all possible, please do not bring siblings or other relatives as that may also interfere with your child’s attention and persistence.
Rest: To ensure your child’s optimal performance, it is important that your child is well rested. To the best of your ability, please insure that your child has slept well the previous night. A child who is overly tired may not be able to perform their best, resulting in test scores that may underestimate his/her true abilities.
Breakfast/Lunch: Provide a high protein meal for your child to help maintain even focus and concentration. Your child should not consume any caffeinated beverages or foods high in sugar content prior to the evaluation sessions. Both caffeine and sugar can induce brief periods of heightened alertness followed by fatigue which may also produce flawed results.
Medication: Your child should take their medication(s) as indicated unless otherwise discussed with this examiner. For example, if your child is taking attention-enhancing medication (e.g., Ritalin, Strattera, Adderall, etc.), it may be helpful to test certain skills on and off medication in order to evaluate efficacy. This will likely take place during the latter testing session (i.e., second or third testing appointment) and will be discussed in advance.
Services |
Company |
Offices in NYC & Northern NJ |
Dr. Bilginer has offices in UWS, midtown Manhattan, and Bergen County NJ. She offers consultations, neuropsychological evaluations, psychoeducational evaluations, post-concussion evaluations, gifted and talented evaluations, personality and psychological assessments, forensic neuropsychological evaluations, and expert witness testimony.
© DR. BILGINER COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.