Expert Evaluations · Ages 3+

Clarity for your child.
Answers your family
can actually use.

We provide thorough neuropsychological evaluations — with clinical depth, a genuinely warm process, and recommendations you can put to work immediately. Most families schedule within 2–3 weeks.

We evaluate for

ADHD & Attention Learning Differences Anxiety & Mood School Accommodations IEP / 504 Documentation

Schedule a Free Consultation → See our evaluations ↓

Teresa working with a child during an evaluation at Hope Ave Therapy

2–3 wks

to your first appointment

4–6 wks

from intake to full report

★★★★★

“We had an incredible experience… Teresa is warm, collaborative, and she made the process feel easy and safe.”

— Parent of a teen client

Hope Ave — Assessment Services

Our assessment services.

Choosing the right evaluation can feel overwhelming. For most families, the Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment gives the clearest answers, because it looks at attention, learning, behavior, and emotion together. Not sure where to start? Schedule a free consultation and we'll guide you.

Recommended

Whole-Child Evaluation

Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment

Best for first-time testing, or concerns in more than one area

Our most complete evaluation, and the format we use for ADHD evaluations and three-year re-evaluations. Ideal for first-time testing or when concerns span more than one area, such as attention, learning, emotions, behavior, or inconsistent school performance.

Assesses All Major Domains

Cognitive: IQ, reasoning, information processing
Academic: reading, writing, math achievement
Executive Function: attention, working memory, organization
Social–Emotional–Behavioral: mood, anxiety, self-concept, relationships

School-Focused

Psychoeducational Assessment

Best for understanding how a student learns

Designed to understand how a student learns. Often used to explore learning disabilities, processing weaknesses, or academic underperformance despite real effort. Results support IEPs, 504 plans, and classroom accommodations.

Common Referral Reasons

Suspected dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia
Inconsistent academic performance despite effort
Processing weaknesses flagged by teachers or tutors
504 or IEP eligibility documentation

Focused Assessment

Targeted Evaluation

Best for one specific, well-defined question

A shorter evaluation for one specific, well-defined question, rather than the full battery. Common uses include a single-domain update, college disability office documentation, or a follow-up after treatment.

Common Uses

ADHD clarification or medication decision support
Executive function or academic achievement update
College disability services (DSO) documentation
Follow-up after therapy or intervention

Independent Evaluation for School Disputes

Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)

Best when you disagree with the school's evaluation

When a family disagrees with a school's evaluation, they have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation, often at the district's expense. Ours are conducted independently, meet IDEA standards, and are written to hold up in a team meeting or due process hearing.

What's Included

Full neuropsychological battery — cognitive, academic, social-emotional
IDEA-compliant report with eligibility analysis
School meeting attendance — your evaluator presents findings directly
Coordination with school teams, attorneys, and advocates

Pricing is discussed during your free consultation. We provide out-of-network superbills, and many families receive partial reimbursement through PPO plans.

Not sure which evaluation fits your needs? We'll help you find the right starting point — no pressure, no commitment.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Meet our assessment team.

Every evaluation at Hope Ave is overseen by a licensed psychologist, and every clinician on the team takes the time to understand the whole person — not just the scores.

Teresa LacksLEP

Director of Assessment · Licensed Educational Psychologist

Teresa is a Licensed Educational Psychologist with more than ten years of experience conducting and interpreting evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults in Massachusetts public and private schools. Her evaluations go beyond test scores: she interviews the people who know a client best — teachers, counselors, healthcare providers, and parents — to build a well-rounded picture of strengths, challenges, and the environments where a person thrives. Her findings have supported diagnoses including ADHD, anxiety and depression, dyslexia and dyscalculia, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental and communication disorders.

April ValeteEdS, LEP, NCSP

Licensed Educational Psychologist

April is a Licensed Educational Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist who has worked with children, adolescents, and adults across public schools, residential and community programs, and hospitals. She holds a Master’s and Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from Tufts University and a bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Her approach is collaborative, holistic, and client-centered, aimed at helping clients feel understood while building skills in executive functioning, emotional regulation, and self-advocacy.

Megan CristPsyD

Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology

Megan is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology. She earned her PsyD from William James College and completed an APA-accredited internship at the University of Houston–Clear Lake. Her training includes integrated evaluations of children and adolescents for attention, learning, mood, and developmental concerns, with written reports and family feedback sessions. Her approach is relational and strengths-focused, with particular experience supporting LGBTQIA+ clients and college and graduate students.

Aaron E. KaplanPsyD

Co-Founder & Clinical Director · Supervising Psychologist

Aaron is a licensed clinical psychologist and Hope Ave’s Co-Founder, Clinical Director, and Director of Training. He earned his PsyD from William James College and completed an APA-accredited internship at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Brandeis University Counseling Center. His training includes five years of supervised psychological and psychoeducational assessment, and he provides clinical supervision and oversight for every evaluation at Hope Ave.

“

We partnered with Hope Ave to conduct a neuropsychological evaluation for one of our students — and they made the process seamless from start to finish. Their team accommodated our timeline, stayed genuinely collaborative, and thoughtfully incorporated feedback from everyone involved. The final report was thorough, clear, and immediately actionable, and Teresa met with both our team and the family to walk through the findings together — ensuring everyone left ready to move forward with confidence. For any family navigating this process, Hope Ave is exactly the kind of partner you want in your corner.

— Dean of Students, Boston-area independent school

“

We had an incredible experience with our neuropsych testing at Hope Ave. Teresa is warm, collaborative, and she made the process feel easy and safe. The results of the testing have given our daughter a new understanding of herself in a truly profound way. It has been healing and meaningful for our entire family to go through the testing process.

— Parent of a teen client

Our Assessment Process

Clear steps, a warm approach, and recommendations you can use. Most evaluations are completed in 4–5 weeks.

Step 1 Initial Consultation

A consult with Será or a member of our assessment team to clarify concerns and match the scope of testing to your goals.

We’ll define the referral questions and decide what type of evaluation best fits.

What we cover: current concerns, developmental/educational history, strengths, prior supports, and what you want answers to.
Scope planning: which domains need to be assessed (cognitive, academic, attention/EF, social-emotional/behavioral).
Logistics: who participates (parent/guardian, student, adult client), approximate number of sessions, and scheduling.
Up-front clarity: you’ll leave with a clear plan and next steps.

Tip: If you have prior reports, IEP/504 documents, or school testing, bring or send them before testing.

Schedule a Consultation

Step 2 Assessment Sessions

Testing sessions are paced for comfort and accuracy and typically include cognitive, academic, attention/executive function, and social-emotional measures (as needed).

Our specialist conducts direct testing and gathers information needed to answer the referral questions.

Direct measures: standardized tests (e.g., thinking/learning skills, academic achievement, attention/executive functioning).
Rating scales/interviews: parent, teacher (when applicable), and/or self-report measures for attention, mood, anxiety, behavior, and daily functioning.
Record review: school and prior evaluation documents to integrate context and track progress over time.
Family support: breaks and pacing built in; we’ll tell you what to expect ahead of time.

What helps most: adequate sleep, a normal breakfast, and any glasses/hearing supports. Medications are handled case-by-case, please ask!

Step 3 Analysis & Report

Results are integrated into a clear report with strengths, needs, diagnoses when applicable, and actionable recommendations for school and/or daily life.

Our specialist synthesizes test data, rating scales, interviews, and history into an integrated understanding of functioning.

What the report includes: summary of concerns, results by domain, interpretation, and patterns that explain real-world functioning.
Diagnostic impressions: included when appropriate and supported by the full picture (not just one test score).
Recommendations: specific, prioritized supports (school accommodations/IEP-504 suggestions when relevant, therapy/skill-building targets, and home strategies).

Timeline: Most evaluations (from first testing date through feedback) are completed in 4–5 weeks.

Step 4 Feedback Session

We review the findings, answer questions, and translate results into a practical plan for school supports, accommodations, treatment, or next steps.

This meeting is focused on clarity and usability—making sure you know what the results mean and what to do next.

Plain-language review: we explain key patterns (strengths and vulnerabilities) and how they show up day-to-day.
Action plan: we identify the highest-impact recommendations first.
School collaboration: when relevant, we discuss how to communicate findings to the school team and what supports to request.
Questions welcome: we leave time for “what does this mean for us?” and “what should we do now?”