For nearly 20 years, Beyond Communication has been known for producing comprehensive, insightful evaluations that lay the foundation for getting kids the support they need to make meaningful educational progress.
What do we test for?
BC is a team of specialists in language, literacy, and learning. Our evaluations can identify, describe, and lay out intervention plans for any of the following.
- Language Disorders or Language-Based Learning Disabilities
- Dyslexia
- Dysgraphia
- Social Communication Skills
- Communication challenges related to Autism
- Challenges related to Hearing Loss or Auditory Processing Disorder
- Challenges with Reading Comprehension
- Challenges with Written Expression
- Dyscalculia
Who are the evaluators?
The BC team includes 2 different types of evaluators: Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants (LDTCs).
Our SLPs are all experts in language and literacy. Some parents are surprised to find that they’ve been referred to a team of SLPs for a reading evaluation! Reading and writing are language skills, so SLPs are ideal professionals for deeply analyzing a child’s challenges with literacy and identifying conditions like Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. Our SLPs hold specialty certifications as Dyslexia Interventionists and Wilson Dyslexia Practitioners. An evaluation with an SLP at BC can focus on all or some of these communication skills:
- listening comprehension
- verbal expression
- phonological processing
- auditory skills
- social communication skills
- reading
- writing
We think about your child’s language, literacy, and communication skills from a comprehensive perspective. Our assessments and analysis go far beyond the limits of the usual standardized tests, focusing on real-world challenges and practical forms of support. The recommendations in our SLP evaluations include considerations for building and supporting spoken and written communication skills not just in intervention sessions, but also in the classroom and in daily life.
Our LDTCs offer educational testing across the domains of reading, writing, and math. Testing with an LDTC can be a critical step in determining eligibility for an IEP or identifying the right components of an appropriate educational program. Our LDTCs are experts in learning disabilities such as Dyslexia and Dyscalculia. They have extensive experience as classroom teachers as well as Child Study Team members, so they craft practical, real-world recommendations that speak directly to your child’s school team.
You may have noticed that there’s overlap between the skills of our SLP and LDTC staff! Don’t worry if you’re not sure which professional is right for you. Every evaluation starts with a thorough intake process during which we will help you identify exactly which service will best meet your needs.
What tests do you give?
It all depends on your child and their individual story. We always say, every evaluation begins with a question. (Or a bunch of questions!) Some families ask for an evaluation because they want to know if their child has a communication or learning disability. Others have known about their child’s diagnosis for a long time but need guidance in making a big decision like choosing a program for the next phase of their child’s school life. Often, families come to us after they’ve had other evaluations that have covered some bases but left something critical unanswered.
We respond to every situation with a fully personalized evaluation plan. One of the reasons we are able to be so individualized in our approach is that we invest robustly in our collection of leading-edge test instruments, so we have a wide range of tools to choose from. Your child’s evaluator will choose the right combination of assessment instruments to gather the critical information, answer your questions, and establish the groundwork for impactful interventions.
How much will this cost?
We offer several pricing options to make our services available to as many families as possible. All of these services can be booked with an SLP or LDTC.
Comprehensive Evaluation: $3600
This package is for clients with complex questions about the educational needs of their school-aged child (typically grades 2-12). Your child is a good candidate for a Comprehensive Evaluation if they have needs across multiple domains (e.g. spoken communication, reading, writing, social skills) and you feel you need substantial guidance in planning their educational programming and/or intervention services. The student and clinician will have 5-6 hours of direct testing time in our office. Also, the clinician will conduct a record review of all available, relevant records. The clinician will likely administer parent and/or teacher rating scales to assist in collecting data. The evaluator will write a comprehensive report which outlines all findings and recommendations for appropriate programming moving forward. You and your evaluator will have 2 follow-up meetings to ensure a full understanding of the findings and address all questions.
Targeted Evaluation: $1900
The Targeted Evaluation can be a great start when questions are being asked for the first time about a child’s language or learning. It is also appropriate for situations in which a student has undergone recent testing at school or with an allied professional but needs limited, specific examination of a particular issue within language or learning. Our most popular Targeted Evaluation is the Dyslexia Diagnostic Evaluation, though this service can be focused on any of the areas within our staff’s expertise. The student and clinician will have approximately 3 hours of direct testing time in our office. Also, the clinician reviews the current IEP (if applicable) and any recent, relevant evaluations. The clinician may decide to administer parent and/or teacher rating scales to assist in collecting data. The client and their evaluator will have 2 follow-up meetings to ensure a full understanding of the findings and address all questions.
Consultation: Hourly fee
We often hear from parents that they feel they need help figuring things out for their child but they don’t need another evaluation or more therapy. Sometimes, you need a fresh set of expert eyes to read over your child’s IEP and talk with you about it. Perhaps you had a big evaluation (or a few) and you really don’t know what to do next with all that information. You might even be new to all of this and wondering if your child even needs one of these evaluations or services. It’s totally ok to know you need something but not know what that is. We hear that all the time.
Consultation services are totally flexible. You pay only for the time you use. Very often, an hour or two of expert input makes all the difference for parents who are searching for their next steps.
Classroom Observations: Hourly fee
Sometimes, as a part of an evaluation, it’s critical for the evaluator to see the child in their natural environment at school. Often, the classroom observation provides critical insights that put all of the evaluation findings into context and clearly illuminate the best next steps. A classroom observation can be added to any evaluation. All classroom observations are billed at an hourly rate, as these can vary widely in the amount of time needed to complete the job.
Can I use my insurance for this?
No. Our Comprehensive and Targeted evaluations, classroom observations, and consultations are educational services and are not billable to insurance.
Can you do a district-paid Independent Evaluation?
Absolutely. We have everything a district needs to get the evaluation board-approved. We work directly with district staff to handle all the logistical arrangements.
I know I need something but I don’t know what I need!
You’re in good company. Most clients feel this way when they first reach out to us. The good news is, you can book an initial call with one of our expert staff for no charge. We’ll listen to your child’s story and help you understand your options. Parents tell us all the time that they learned more in their first free call with us than they’d figured out through months or years of previous struggle. These highly informative, free initial calls are just one way our team goes beyond.
