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What to Expect When Your Child Needs an Evaluation (ADHD, Autism, and More) | Ep. 178
Description
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Samantha and Lauren explain the child evaluation process for concerns like ADHD, autism, anxiety, and learning differences. They normalize parents’ nervousness about labels and judgment, emphasizing that evaluations don’t change a child but provide baseline understanding, shared language, and access to resources.
They describe signs that may warrant discussion with a primary care provider, encourage trusting instincts, and outline steps: talk to a pediatrician or school staff, get referrals (developmental pediatrician, psychologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, specialty clinics), and prepare for long waitlists.
They explain typical multi-visit evaluations, forms to complete, what to bring, observation and standardized testing, parent involvement, and the feedback report with diagnoses, strengths, challenges, and recommendations, noting that support is needed even without a diagnosis.
00:00 Welcome and Listener Feedback
00:54 Why Evaluations Feel Scary
02:40 When to Seek an Evaluation
07:55 First Steps and Referrals
10:12 Insurance Costs and Waitlists
13:10 Services Without Diagnosis
15:16 What the Evaluation Looks Like
16:28 Forms and What to Bring
20:09 Testing Observation and Parent Role
26:35 Results Recommendations Next Steps
30:20 Wrap Up and Get Help
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Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/