Our Services

PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 - 17

Evaluation Services

Academic underachievement (learning difficulties vs. learning disability)
High academic achievement to assess for possible Gifted Eligibility
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Evaluations
504 Plan Evaluations for eligibility consideration of a 504 Plan

Parent Support Services

Parent-Only Consultation

Professional Services

Case consultation with community providers (e.g., public school staff, private school staff, pediatricians, speech/language therapist, tutor)
Topic-specific presentations for school PTA, faculty members, classrooms

Psychoeducational Testing for Academic Underachievement

Distinguishing between a learning difficulty vs. a learning disability requires an experienced professional to conduct an in-depth analysis of several sources of information including

a child’s medical and developmental history
dated school work samples
school records
parent and child verbal reports
teacher input and/or
Psychoeducational Testing

It is also important to understand the difference between private school and public school requirements and procedures to be found eligible for special education services/supports.

Dr. Chiesa has over 20 years of experience conducting evaluations for struggling students at private and public school. She is knowledgeable about Federal, Florida State, and Florida County guidelines as they apply to special education eligibilities. As a member of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the Florida School Association of School Psychologists (FASP), she regularly attends trainings and conferences to ensure she is up-to-date on state laws and the use of the most current and appropriate testing tools to use with children.

If a child attends a public school setting, it is imperative to obtain Multi-Tiered System of Supports/Response to Intervention (MTSS/RtI) data from the school to ensure the Psychoeducational Testing Dr. Chiesa completes is as comprehensive as possible. Dr. Chiesa will help explain MTSS/RtI concepts and help guide parents through the process of obtaining this information.

A helpful resource to help explain more about MTSS/RtI guidelines in the state of Florida is: http://www.florida-rti.org/

Academic Testing

Gifted Eligibility

Services

High Academic Achievement/Gifted Eligibility

Half day session includes joint parent and child interview, and 1-to-1 testing in the office. Dr. Chiesa aims to create a comfortable testing experience for your child. Testing is presented as a series of “thinking activities” and not about “testing to see if you get into the gifted program”.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Dr. Chiesa has been working with children with autism for over 20 years in culturally diverse public and private school settings. She has presented professional conferences such as the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP) on best practices for the Psychoeducational Testing of children, and specifically children with autism. Through a balance of work and play, Dr. Chiesa creates a comfortable testing experience for each child she works with, which allows for the most accurate assessment of the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Professionally, she is committed to and passionate about best practices in the interpretation of Psychoeducational Testing, early identification of ASD, and use of traditional and alternative interventions with children diagnosed as having ASD. Lastly, she seeks to collaborate with schools, community support services, and parents to find ways to meet each child’s specific needs.

Dr. Chiesa believes an accurate diagnosis is essential prior to selecting community-based intervention and treatment options, as well as planning for best educational approaches. To ensure a child is at ease, the child is invited to visit Dr. Chiesa’s office a few days prior to beginning testing. Formal Psychoeducational Testing is broken up over several days to minimize fatigue and keep the child engaged in the process. Formal Psychoeducational Testing includes an in-depth interview with the parents, parent and teacher standardized questionnaires, and 1-on-1 testing with the child. The selection of Psychoeducational Testing administered is based on a child’s age, educational experience, and verbal skills and may include some of the following: intelligence testing, academic achievement, neurocognitive functioning, social/emotional functioning, adaptive functioning, and/or assessment of other areas of concern. After testing, Dr. Chiesa will prepare a written report, including a detailed summary of the child’s history, test results, and customized recommendations. The report findings and recommendations are reviewed with parents. In addition, when possible and if applicable, Dr. Chiesa will provide a written summary of her professional impressions based on direct observation in the community, review of school work samples, school and/or medical records.

Why schedule a Psychoeducational Testing to determine if my child has ASD?

rule in/out other possible medical diagnoses and/or educational eligibilities
help assess a child’s strengths and weaknesses to help make educational decisions for the most appropriate classroom placement. For example: is a child best served in a regular education setting with supports or in a self-contained special education setting?
help determine the severity of a child’s symptoms to help guide community-based treatment and intervention decisions

ASD Services

Parent-Only Consultation

This service is available for those parents who are undecided if a comprehensive Psychoeducational Testing is indicated for their child. Gather your child's school records, work samples, and your questions and schedule a consultation meeting with Dr. Chiesa. Learn about Federal, State, and County laws and guidelines regarding educational eligibilities and services in both private and public schools. Explore options for interventions and community services.