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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Thank you for asking this question, and for all the responses. We paid thousands for a diagnosis from someone recommended by our private school this spring, and ended up asking for our money back (eval report was not timely delivered). I am now trying to find ways forward to see how to help our child without feeling like we are being scammed. In our case it seemed that all the person did was administer tests, and was not actually working as a counselor to help children, and it was clear our child has a high IQ and likely (?) dyslexia and possibly (?) borderline ADHD but maybe not (never got the report) and the sense we received from the tester was it was all geared towards getting our extra time and accommodations in school. This was the third person we’ve tried to seek help from, we tried recommended nutritionist and independently a psychiatrist before the school made a suggestion. So even assuming we can find affordable testing, what are good indicators that the results are trustworthy and the administrators are looking out primarily for the child’s welfare? Do you get second opinions? See,s hard to do when it is so expensive. But the responses here have been incredibly helpful and validating the feeling that this should not be so expensive and alternatives exist…even if we have to wait.[/quote]

I’m so sorry PP. It’s not a good feeling. Against my better judgment I wasted $500 on a “2e consultation” this year and the lady only wanted to refer me to her buddy who does expense “executive function coaching.” Frankly the ONLY person we’ve gotten good advice from with respect to school and accommodations was a former special ed teacher. And they all seemed shocked when I indicated that no, double test time wasn’t actually what I was aiming for. Some of these practioners truly are diagnoses mills to get extended test time and ADHD meds.

In your shoes I’d wonder if the private school is the best place for him. A school that is a good fit for your kid should have ideas on how to accomodate him prior to a clear diagnosis. The challenges ought to be evident (behavioral? reading?) and so they ought to have strategies even without a diagnosis. Even when/if you get a clear dx they are still going to need to step up to support and they can do that before a diagnosis too. If they aren’t I’d worry they just want you to medicate the kid or are slowly counseling you out.

Anyway… one perspective I arrived at that I think has been helpful is to really focus primarily on the content of what the kid needs to learn in school. No matter what else happens, kid needs to learn to read and write. So in your shoes I think I’d focus on a laser beam on the reading/writing and possible dyslexia and go from there. I think if you take that route you’ll be able to access truly specialized experts who can help. [/quote]

Also - if you never got the report, I hope you requested a refund or even did a charge back on your credit card. If that didn’t work, file a complaint to their licensing board. [/quote]

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