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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of private pay vs. insurance?

There are pros and cons to both. Private pay comes with less restrictions allowing for a more comprehensive and effective evaluation, but will be more out-of-pocket. Insurance companies limit the type of tests conducted, restrict the number of hours of evaluations, and often do not screen their providers. Therefore, quality of services may not be optimal or comprehensive. Many insurance companies require disclosures of information to be approved for an evaluation and diagnoses are indefinitely listed in your record which may impact eligibility for certain services or in certain occupations (e.g. U.S. forces, etc.). Additionally, many insurance companies require that you have gone through many services prior to being evaluated, which can waste crucial time. However, obtaining evaluations through your insurance will come at a lower cost out-of-pocket.

What are the steps of the evaluation process?

Because each child is different, the evaluation process may vary, but assessments generally occur in the following order:

  1. Begin with an initial 15-minute call to assess if SDYP is the right fit for you

  2. A 60-90 minute initial telehealth meeting with parent(s)/guardian(s) to gather historical information. This may include a brief meeting with the youth as well.

  3. An in-person testing session (this can last from 2-4 hours depending on number of tests)

  4. Follow-up telehealth session to gather any remaining information (duration may vary) and collaboration with other providers or teachers

  5. Feedback session to go over the results of the evaluation, provide education, and discuss recommendations

How do I prepare for my testing session?

Gather previous evaluations, such as IEP, 504 Plan, relevant medical records, etc. to bring to your appointment. We recommend getting a good nights sleep the night before, and eating a balanced meal prior to testing to avoid any impact tiredness or hunger may have on concentration. Testing can take several hours, so bringing snacks and water are encouraged.

Are evaluations done remotely (telehealth) or in-person?

Most of the evaluation process is conducted via telehealth. However, the testing session is often completed in person to gather information that is not easily observable over telehealth. SDYP is dedicated to ensuring the safety of in-person sessions by frequently sanitizing, using plexiglass dividers, requiring masks and only having one family in the office at a time.

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