DSM Diagnostic Assessments
DSM Diagnostic Assessments
Many parents seek a DSM diagnosis to clarify their child’s needs. Having a DSM diagnosis might allow the child to obtain additional services and support through insurance upon a diagnosis.
Common DSM Evaluations & Diagnosis
Our DSM diagnosis evaluations are based on an educationally related need, not a solitary medical need.
AUTISM
An autism evaluation is a comprehensive assessment that helps identify whether your child may be on the autism spectrum. This evaluation looks at your child’s communication, social interactions, and behavior patterns to provide a clear understanding of their strengths and challenges. The goal is to gather valuable insights that can guide support and intervention strategies tailored to your child’s unique needs.
ADHD
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a common condition that affects how children focus, behave, and learn. It can make it challenging for them to pay attention, sit still, and follow through on tasks, but with the right support, they can thrive.
DYSLEXIA
Evaluations for Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia help identify specific learning difficulties your child may be experiencing in reading, writing, and math. These assessments provide insights that guide effective interventions, allowing your child to thrive in their learning environment.
LEARNING DISABILITIES
Learning disabilities are often identified once a child is in school. The school may use a process called “response to intervention” to help identify children with learning disabilities which includes testing and evaluation to make a diagnosis.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL / BEHAVIORAL
A behavioral or social-emotional educational evaluation is an assessment conducted to understand a student’s emotional well-being, behavior, and how these factors impact their ability to succeed in school.
DSM DIAGNOSTIC ASSESMENTS
How Do We Assess?
INITIAL CONSULTATION & CLINICAL INTERVIEWS
A meeting with a psychologist or specialist to discuss concerns, behaviors, and the student’s history. Interviews will be an in-depth discussion with the student and parents to gather detailed information about symptoms and their impact on daily life.
BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATION
Direct observation of the student in different settings (e.g., school, home) to identify behavior patterns.
Standardized Questionnaires
Parents, teachers, and the student complete questionnaires that assess attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Full psycho-educational Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of the student’s cognitive abilities, academic skills, and any co-occurring learning disabilities focused on the diagnostic area of concern.
FEEDBACK & RECOMMENDATIONS
The evaluator provides a detailed report with findings, DSM diagnosis, and tailored recommendations for support and interventions.
Outcomes of a DSM Diagnosis Evaluation
As you navigate the ups and downs of your child’s behavioral and social-emotional journey, remember that your love and support are invaluable. By understanding their needs and advocating for them, you’re already taking critical steps to help them thrive. You’re not alone—many parents share this journey, and together, we can celebrate our children’s unique gifts.
DIAGNOSIS CLARITY
The evaluation may provide a clear diagnosis helping you understand what your child is experiencing. This clarity can be a relief, as it names the challenges and opens the door to support.
COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
You will receive a detailed report summarizing the evaluation findings. This document will include insights from various assessments and observations, offering a full picture of your child’s behaviors and strengths.
Recognizing Strengths & Challenges
The evaluation will highlight not only the challenges your child faces, such as attention issues or impulsivity but also their unique strengths, like creativity and the ability to hyperfocus on interests. This balanced perspective can help you celebrate their gifts while addressing their needs.
Personalized Recommendations
You’ll get tailored strategies and interventions designed specifically for your child. This may include suggestions for classroom accommodations and practical tips for managing behavior at home, making it easier for you to support them daily.
Identifying Co-occurring Concerns
The evaluation may also reveal any additional learning disabilities or emotional challenges. Understanding these can help you advocate for the right resources and support for your child.
Collaborative Action Plan
Together with educators and specialists, an action plan will be created to ensure your child receives consistent support at home and school. This collaboration fosters a sense of teamwork and shared responsibility in your child’s growth.
How Do We Begin?
To begin the evaluation process, contact our office to schedule an initial consultation. We’ll take it from there!
Typical evaluations take about four weeks to complete, and the great news is that there’s no wait—so you can start getting the support your child needs right away. We’re here to make this journey as smooth as possible for you and your family. If you have any questions or need assistance, just let us know!
Questions & Answers
DSM Diagnostic Evaluation FAQs
The evaluation typically includes an initial consultation, standardized questionnaires, behavioral observations, and interviews with you and your child. We’ll assess your child’s strengths and challenges to get a complete picture.
The entire evaluation process usually takes about four weeks, from the initial consultation to the final feedback session. We’ll keep you informed at every step along the way!
Yes, during the evaluation, your child will participate in various assessments designed to measure attention, behavior, and learning styles. Our team will ensure that the testing environment is comfortable and supportive.
That’s perfectly okay! The evaluation will provide valuable insights, regardless of the outcome. We’ll help identify any other learning or behavioral challenges and suggest appropriate support and strategies.
Absolutely! The evaluation can be performed virtually, as all our psychologists are trained to conduct assessments online. This flexibility allows you to choose a convenient setting for your child.
After the evaluation, we’ll provide a detailed report with findings and recommendations tailored to your child’s needs. We’ll schedule a feedback session to discuss the results and explore next steps together.
- Support Strategies:
- Structured Routines: Establish consistent daily routines to provide comfort, predictability, and a sense of security.
- Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate small successes to boost your child’s confidence and motivation, showing them that effort and progress is what matters.
- Clear Communication: Use simple, direct instructions can help your child understand what is expected of them, reducing frustration for both of you.
Children with ADHD have SUPERPOWERS:
– Creativity: Many children with ADHD have a unique way of thinking that allows them to see the world differently. Their imaginative ideas can lead to amazing creativity.
– Hyperfocus: When your child finds something they are passionate about, they can dive deep into it, often achieving incredible results. This intense focus is a gift that can lead to remarkable achievements.
– Energy and Enthusiasm: Their zest for life can be infectious, bringing joy and excitement to those around them.
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- Build Strong Partnerships: Building strong partnerships with teachers and professionals can make a significant difference. Together, you can create individualized support plans that cater to your child’s unique needs.
- Consistent Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with educators to monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed.Keep the lines of communication open with your child. Talk about their strengths and challenges, reinforcing that they are not alone in this journey.
As you navigate the ups and downs of an educational diagnosis, remember that your love and support are invaluable. By understanding your child’s diagnosis and its implications, you’re already taking important steps to help your child thrive. You’re not alone—many parents share this journey, and together, we can find ways to celebrate our children’s unique gifts.
What Our Clients Are Saying
"Cornerstone was such a blessing to our family. She gave us the information we needed and a plan to follow to help our son. We are eternally grateful."
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"After many years of having IEPs and never understanding why my daughter struggled, I now understand! With Cornerstone, I finally have answers and truly understand what is going on with my daughter."
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"This evaluation was thorough and gave us the information we needed to advocate for our child."
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Meet Dr. Christy Bock, Psy.D, LEP
Christy brings a wealth of experience as a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #3063) and a seasoned school psychologist for over 25 years. Growing up with dyslexia, Christy knows firsthand how tough learning difficulties can be. As a mother of six with special needs children, she truly understands the struggles parents face in supporting their kids’ unique needs.
Since founding Cornerstone in 2008, Christy and her team have performed countless Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) across the state. She has served as an expert witness in court and co-created an Educational Custody Evaluation to aid special needs students in custody cases.
Under her leadership, Cornerstone has expanded nationwide, providing essential support to schools and families across the country.
Schedule a free clarity call to speak with a licensed educational psychologist about what is going on with your child.
We are here for you and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our incredible team is distributed throughout California and are available to meet with you and your child in-person or virtually to complete our educational assessment(s).
When your child is struggling and despite their effort, they are still struggling academically, a psychoeducational evaluation might be the answer. The psychoeducational evaluation answers the “WHY” to why your child is struggling. By taking a comprehensive dive into your child’s
cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and processing skills, we are able to understand and address all learning difficulties and specifically look at areas of concern like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, to name a few. A psychoeducational evaluation helps pinpoint the exact areas your child struggles and gives you a roadmap towards intervention.
Does your child struggle academically, have difficulty focusing, show signs of learning challenges despite effort and support or exhibit social-emotional and behavioral issues, an educational assessment can provide the “WHY” behind these concerns and can help lay out a roadmap to intervention.
Our process begins with scheduling a clarity call where you can discuss your frustrations and concerns. Based on this discussion, we match you with the most suitable team member to start the evaluation.
We understand the urgency and are ready to begin testing right away, moving at a pace that suits your needs. Throughout the process, we keep you informed and updated. Once the evaluation is complete, we present the results in a clear and understandable meeting, providing you with actionable recommendations.
An evaluation with Cornerstone can move at the pace you want. Most of our families want to move quickly, and we love to jump in and complete the evaluation as quickly as you need. The typical timeframe is 3 to 4 weeks, but it can be quicker if needed.
Our evaluations are conducted by licensed evaluators and can help support the need for accommodations, a 504 Accommodation Plan, or even an IEP. Often, schools prefer to conduct their own evaluations for an IEP, but the evaluation through Cornerstone can lay the framework for displaying the need.
An educational assessment provides a thorough understanding of your child’s strengths and challenges. It offers actionable recommendations for tailored interventions, which can improve academic performance, enhance emotional well-being, and address behavioral issues. Without an evaluation, most parents are guessing as to what area to focus intervention but with a full evaluation, you know EXACTLY where to focus so time and money are saved.
The cost of an educational assessment varies depending on the type and scope of the evaluation. Please contact us for specific pricing and to discuss your needs.
Typically NO, but we are able to provide a Superbill that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement, and some parents are able to have the evaluations covered by insurance, but typically they are not covered. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) you are able to pay for the evaluation through HSA funds.
Scheduling an assessment is easy. Simply contact us via phone or email to set up a free clarity call. During this call, we’ll discuss your concerns and determine the best evaluation plan for your child.
Our evaluators are licensed with extensive experience conducting educational assessments and providing expert recommendations in and out of the schools. They are trained to work with children of all ages and learning profiles as well as adults.
Yes, we have bilingual psychologists, speech pathologists as well as occupational therapists. We have assessors who are bilingual in multiple languages. Please reach out with your language needs.
YES! Assessments can be completed virtually, as all Cornerstone evaluators are trained in virtual administration, which has become an increasingly popular and in-demand assessment method.