Being tested as an adult for a learning disability can be costly in terms of time, effort, and money. A good report, however, can be invaluable when you want to obtain academic or employment accommodations for a disability.
To be sure that you get the best information possible out of the time and money you spend, it’s important that you research and question the professionals you might hire to test you for learning disabilities and related conditions such as ADHD. It’s a good idea to interview more than one professional before choosing who you want to work with you on an assessment.
Make sure that the person you choose is qualified to assess you based upon state licensing guidelines and the documentation guidelines of the college you are attending or you plan to attend. If you don’t know the documentation guidelines for your college, ask the disability services office (or check their web page) for information regarding what types of testing needs to be done and what types of credentials assessment providers should have.
Having a conversation with a professional you are considering can help you prepare for the assessment process. You can also get information about his/her qualifications, fees, insurance companies he/she works with (if your health insurance covers psychoeducational testing). You’ll have a chance, before you begin a costly process, to discover whether or not you’ll be comfortable working with him/her and whether or not his/her fees, style, availability, etc. will be a good fit for you.
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In what areas do I suspect that I may have a learning disability?
What aspects of my behavior or thinking do I have questions or concerns about?
What information about me do I have that might be helpful to the professional? o strengths and challenges? o o personality or temperament? academic likes and dislikes? o other traits or aspects of my personality?
 What do I want to learn from the evaluation?
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Academic skill areas in which my school performance is low relative to my peers?
What underlying processing problems—such as short-term memory problems or persistent anxiety—may be affecting my performance?
Other questions?
How do I hope to use this information?
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What are your credentials/training in educational testing?
What experience have you had with testing adults/ college students?
How long have you been doing evaluations?
Are you familiar with documentation requirements at area colleges and universities?
What information will you want me to provide?
What types of tests will you use?
Will you evaluate my social, emotional, and/or psychological status?
How should I prepare for the evaluation process?
Will your final report integrate all of the individual tests done so that I have an overall picture of my strengths and needs?
What is the complete cost of the evaluation and report?
How soon can I expect to receive the evaluation results?
When will you review the evaluation results with me?
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Questions to ask yourself: o Is the report clear? o o
Do I understand what the report says and what the professional is telling me?
Does the report answer the questions I hoped it would answer? o Do I understand what the professional is recommending for me based on the test results? o Has the professional given me guidance on what actions I should now take?
If you answer “no” to any of these questions, ASK the professional questions during the review session.
If you think of questions later, follow up by telephone or in person to get information that you need and can understand.
The assessment report you receive is a valuable piece of information. The professional who did the evaluation is only obligated to retain a copy for a few years, so keep your original copy safe. Make sure if a college or employer wants a copy for their records that you retain the original.
Adapted from a 2008 article by Great Schools Inc. http://www.greatschools.net/LD/identifying/specialists-who-evaluate-for-learningdisabilities.gs?content=689