Evaluations
Evaluations are more than just a snapshot in time; they're a roadmap for a student's future success. Our strategies are tailored to provide a foundation for ongoing growth and development.
What is a Comprehensive Evaluation?
A comprehensive evaluation is a process guided by a school psychologist to understand a student’s functioning as it relates to learning.
Each evaluation Dr. Ashley Ehrhardt conducts is personalized and holistic, exploring a student’s unique strengths and challenges across different areas of their life. This allows her to not only answer the referral question, but to offer recommendations for parents, educators, and other providers. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration throughout the evaluation process in decision-making and in discussing assessment results.
While each evaluation is unique, Dr. Ehrhardt uses evidence-based approaches to assess a student’s cognitive functioning, processing abilities, executive functioning, academic skills, and social and emotional functioning.
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The assessment of cognitive functioning consists of an investigation into a set of brain-based skills required for the acquisition of knowledge. Areas of cognitive functioning typically include thinking and reasoning using language, problem solving through visual perceptual skills, holding, and manipulating information for immediate use, the approach to novel problem solving and the speed and accuracy of information processing
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Processing ability assessment involves a more in-depth analysis of specific skills within the neurocognitive set, such as expressive and receptive language skill development, auditory and visual processing abilities, learning and memory, and the efficiency and speed of information processing.
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Executive functioning skills are primarily housed within the frontal lobes of the brain. The assessment of these skills investigates a student’s ability to attend to the input of information, effectively plan, think flexibly, sequence behavior, inhibit responses, and initiate tasks.
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The assessment of academic skills guides understanding of which academic areas are impacted by a breakdown in one or more neurocognitive functions. This information guides additional targeted testing if needed.
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Social emotional functioning is assessed as part of each evaluation to help understand a student’s mood and behavior in different settings. This includes an extensive and detailed intake interview with parents to review their child’s developmental history as well as current concerns and information collected from teachers and other providers.
Comprehensive Evaluation elements
What to Expect
1
Contact & Consultation
After contacting Dr. Ehrhardt, the first step is a consultation to discuss concerns, the process, billing, and other details to determine if we are a good fit to work together
2
Questionniare & Paperwork
Then, you'll complete a developmental questionnaire, informed consent paperwork, and release of information forms through a secure online portal.
3
Observation
For young children, a school observation may be scheduled to evaluate how a child functions in a classroom setting before scheduling testing sessions.
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Testing
A convenient testing schedule is set for one of Dr. Ehrhardt's three office locations in the Chicago area (Roscoe Village, Elmhurst, and Westmont/Oak Brook). Appointments are available on weekdays and weekends, typically in three-hour blocks. The schedule remains flexible and may require adjustment.
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One-on-One with Parents
After the first testing session, Dr. Ehrhardt conducts an interview with parents. This is a unique sequence of sessions. Most psychologists begin with an intake interview before starting testing, but she believes that interacting with a student before interviewing their parents allows for a more thorough conversation.
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Additional Data Collection
Following the intake interview, additional data is collected through testing, speaking with teachers, and coordinating with private providers, if appropriate.
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Report & Recommendations
After testing has been completed, Dr. Ehrhardt writes a formal report that summarizes the results of the assessment, and includes recommendations for next steps. This is shared following the feedback session.
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Feedback Session
Finally, a collaborative feedback session with parents is scheduled. All test results and conclusions are explained in detail, and parents are provided space to ask questions.
Contact Dr. Ehrhardt
Experience the expertise of Dr. Ashley Ehrhardt and take the first step towards unlocking your child's potential.