Thank you for considering receiving an evaluation through Polaris Psychological, LLC. In preparation for the assessments, you may want to consider the following test-taking strategies:

  • Ensure that you or your child receives a full night of sleep and is well rested prior to beginning the assessment.
  • Ensure that you or your child eats a moderately sized meal prior to the assessment.
  • Snacks and drinks are permitted during the assessment, so please feel free to bring something to snack on. Since most tests involve hands-on activities, please be considerate when choosing a snack.

What to expect:

  • Time is spent at the start of each test-taking session building rapport between the examiner and the examinee. Additionally, some time is needed at the start of the assessment to review the referral concerns, answer questions, and complete a brief intake questionnaire.
  • Testing can be cognitively intensive and breaks can typically be offered on an as-needed basis.
  • Assessments can be broken up into multiple testing days depending on the needs of the examinee. Typically, one day of assessments is limited to three hours, as individuals tend to fatigue after this time, even with multiple breaks.
  • Cognitive assessments can take between an hour and three hours depending on the needs of the examinee.
  • Academic achievement testing typically takes between an hour and two hours depending on the needs of the examinee.
  • Other assessments (e.g., play-based assessments, clinical interview, parent interviews) vary in length.
  • Dr. Tarnoff will provide an estimation for the length of the assessment upon reviewing the referral concerns and the individual needs of each examinee.
  • Following the assessment, Dr. Tarnoff typically takes between three days and one week to write the report and provide it to the examinee or parent. Both electronic and paper copies can be provided to the examinee or parent.
  • Feedback sessions, where Dr. Tarnoff explains the results of the assessment and provides the opportunity for questions, can occur within the office or via a phone call.