COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS FOR CHILDREN & TEENS
Driven by science, grounded by compassion.
Services include:
Neuropsychological Evaluations
Therapy
Legal
Executive Function Coaching
(learn more)
Overview
When children and adolescents experience difficulty in learning or show signs of developmental or behavioral issues, the most important first step you can take is an appropriate evaluation. The reason is simple: Once you understand what the problem may be, you then know what to treat. With a better understanding of a child’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the right tools and interventions, children can realize their potential and get back on track to success with school, friends and life. That’s the philosophy behind The Pediatric Consultation Center & Associates (PCCA). We specialize in comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluations that pinpoint the factors that may be interfering with a child’s development.
We use evidence-based neuropsychological tools to gain a 360-degree view of your child before making recommendations that set pathways for your child’s future success. Our approach is driven by science, grounded in compassion, and fueled by a deep commitment to help children feel good about themselves and enjoy their lives as fully as possible.
Connections
to appropriate resources,
plus ongoing follow-up
Individualized
recommendations focused
on each child’s strengths
Evidence-based
approach to diagnosis
and interventions
Comprehensive evaluations
of potential development
and behavioral issues
“Our ultimate goal is the same as yours: To help your child maximize his or her potential and live a full, happy life.”
Why Choose Us
Parents often want to know why they should work with The Pediatric Consultation Center & Associates, the subtext being “Why should we entrust our child to you?” and, just as important, “Can you really help us?”
We understand your concerns and hope to put you at ease. We’ve outlined below what we believe are the strengths of PCCA. But first, let us say this. We do what we do because we love working with children and adolescents and have acquired the professional skills to help them. We have focused our practice on pediatric assessment because we believe that accurate evaluation is the foundation for positive change. When you fully understand what is going on with a child, you have a road map to make the appropriate course adjustments. Although we work to identify each child’s strengths and challenges, we like to concentrate on the strengths—every child has them—and use them to make recommendations that build a pathway to success. Our ultimate goal is the same as yours: To help children maximize their potential and live a full, happy life.
Core Traits
Specialized Expertise
The PCCA team specializes in pediatric assessment, which allows us to put all of our focus and resources toward understanding what is going on with your child. We use an evidence-based approach, which means that all of our tests and techniques are based on proven science. These tests are considered the gold standard in the field. We stay current with the research and continually update our “toolbox” as research and assessment measures evolve. Because we have such an extensive toolbox, our assessments can be highly individualized to your child. In other words, we do not rely on a “one size fits all” approach.
Moreover, just because we are scientific does not mean we speak like scientists. We are skilled in using age- and developmentally-appropriate language to help both parents and children feel at ease. We remain accessible and friendly—not just because it’s our job, but because we like kids (and the ones we see seem to like us back!).
Collaborative
Not only do we take a team approach to assessment, but we also partner with the other professionals who may be involved in your child’s life—from your pediatrician and teachers to therapists and other experts – in order to promote smooth, coordinated care and ongoing communication. We invite feedback and will make adjustments to our recommendations when needed. We have established relationships with many professionals within the community, such as psychiatrists, behavioral specialists, reading tutors, and occupational therapists, and take time in our practice to know providers in the community so we can offer the best fit should your child need a referral for ongoing services.
Many have been part of our referral network for years. But before we even consider working with an individual or a group, we interview them in person, visit their offices, meet their staff, and understand their approach and processes. In fact, we ensure that our network remains fresh and relevant. We also have excellent ongoing relationships with the Chicago and suburban school districts and have become a trusted resource for them, as well.
Comprehensive
Children are complex, and there is never a single answer to a problem. That's why we take the time with your children and look at them through many lenses. The evaluation will be led by a licensed clinical psychologist. We assess your child’s strengths and challenges across multiple domains of functioning. These domains can include intelligence, academic achievement, learning and memory, language abilities, spatial cognition, executive functioning, social cognition, and emotional functioning. We have found that this level of comprehensiveness results in a greater specificity of diagnoses, which, in turn, leads to more targeted recommendations and the most appropriate use of resources.
