Frequently Asked questions

FAQ General

• What is the Learning Lab @ Lesley?
  The Learning Lab @ Lesley is an interactive assessment and learning service for children, adolescents, and adults with academic and social challenges.   At The Learning Lab we explore reasons and propose solutions in a collaborative and caring manner. We provide comprehensive
  evaluations that reveal how a child learns and what parents and professionals can do to facilitate growth and promote confidence.  We offer a clear understanding of individual learning styles and definitive diagnoses as appropriate of Learning Disabilities, Gifted/LD, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, and other conditions that affect learning or behavior. We also evaluate the social and emotional issues that get in the way of learning.
• What is the connection between the Learning Lab & Lesley University?
  The Learning Lab @ Lesley University is a special center at Lesley University dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities.  Aligned with Lesley University’s mission of educating our finest teachers, The Learning Lab is dedicated to supporting students, parents, and teachers in the classroom every day using the most up-to-date assessment strategies and hands-on expertise in the classroom. Neuropsychology is a strong presence here at Lesley University, and speaks to the high level of expertise available at Lesley University to both teachers-in-training and seasoned educators. Aligned with Lesley’s mission of educating our finest teachers, The Learning Lab is a University resource dedicated to supporting students and their teachers in the classroom every day.
• Do you provide legal advocacy?
  While we are committed to providing services that help the family and the school work together as a team, we do not provide advocacy or legal services.
• Fees and Scholarships
  Fees vary depending on the type and level of services requested, and is available upon request.  A small scholarship fund provided by generous donors helps us defray the cost of services to qualified clients who might not otherwise be able to afford our services. Please inquire. 

FAQ Assessment

• What is a Neuropsychological/ Educational Evaluation?
  A neuropsychological evaluation is comprehensive, and professional standards demand assessment of cognitive and academic abilities, and a range of other important skills that are individual to your child.  We are committed to providing an exceptional clinical service. This evaluation combines neuropsychological and educational testing which includes: tests of attention, a detailed analysis of learning strengths and weaknesses, and assessment of intellectual capability, achievement, and emotional factors that may impact learning and social development. The testing generally takes two half-days to complete.
• What is the parent’s role in the evaluation process?
  As a parent, your part in the evaluation will include: completing all the forms provided by our office, generating a specific list of questions that you would like us to answer, getting copies of recent testing from the school and other agencies prior to our sessions with your child, working out payment issues with your insurance company or school, bringing your child on time to the appointments at the Learning Lab.
• What can I expect at the testing sessions?
  On the days of testing your child can expect to meet briefly with one or more members of our professional staff and his/her parent(s) to go over the reasons for the testing. One staff member will then take the child into our testing lab, while parents continue their discussion with a second staff member. Your child should know if you plan to stay in our area during the testing, or if you will leave and come back (either is acceptable to us). Your child can expect to have one or more breaks during the session, and should feel comfortable bringing and eating snacks or drinks. He or she should also expect to work hard, but to have a bit of fun with us.
• Should my child take medicine when being tested?
  If your child is taking medications, these should be taken as usual on the day of testing. Also, please let us know if your child has any allergies.
• How long does it take to receive the report?
  Generally, it takes 4-5 weeks from the date of the testing for you to receive the written Evaluation Report.  In that time, our staff of Neuropsychologists decipher and analyze the data gleaned from the testing, collaborate with school and other professional involved in your child’s life, revisit documentation from previous testing and current school performance - - all of which enables us to craft a whole person narrative about your child.  Building upon all of this information, our clinicians ultimately work to provide the most comprehensive list of tailored recommendations and referrals which speak directly to the specific challenges in your child’s learning.
• What is included in the report?
  The report will present a break down of each of the assessment tools utilized in the battery of tests, how your child scored and what that means in terms of his/her other relative strengths and weaknesses, as well as when compared with his/her peer group.  A detailed analysis will be presented in each of your child’s main areas of functioning including cognitive, academic and social and emotional functioning.  Included in this presentation is a summary of Verbal Comprehension and Language Processing, Attention, Working Memory, and Executive Functions, Learning and Memory, Sensory-Motor Functioning, Reading Accuracy, Fluency, and Comprehension, Written and Oral Language, and Mathematics.  Taking all of this information together, any relevant diagnostic information will be delivered in plain and easy to understand language. There will then be an extensive section devoted to recommendations and referrals based on these findings.  Parents have found that this section is the most helpful in terms of planning strategies which enable their children to become as successful as possible.
• Is there an opportunity for follow up?
  Once you receive the report, you should take as much time as you need to read it over and formulate any questions that arise.  After you have read the report we can set up an appointment for you to go over the results if you wish (a 45 minute follow up session, in person or via phone, is included in the cost). We will be happy to answer any questions at that time, or to note any changes that need to be made in the final copy of the report. We will also discuss how to share the results and the recommendations. 
   
  What are the Goals of The Learning Lab?
  You can expect the Learning Lab staff to start on time, actively involve you in the assessment process, and generate a report that you understand and that helps answer your questions. You can expect us to make specific suggestions for supporting your child at home and in school. If necessary, we will make appropriate referrals to other professionals or agencies that can provide services your child needs, but which we do not provide (e.g. medication, vision or hearing tests, etc.).
• What happens in the case of Missed Appointments?
  Please notify this office 24 hours in advance if for some reason you must cancel a scheduled appointment. Unless there is an unavoidable emergency or illness that prevents you from canceling, you will be billed $125 for a missed appointment.  Your insurance company will not reimburse you for missed appointments.
• Insurance and Flexible Spending Accounts
  The initial cost of a comprehensive evaluation can seem daunting, and we understand this well.  As professionals, and parents ourselves, we are committed to providing the highest quality evaluation and an excellent value.  Our mission is to provide an evaluation that you and your child will benefit from for years to come.  We continually hear form parents “My child’s assessment here at The Learning Lab was worth every penny.”  This being said, most parents find that their insurance does reimburse the cost of a neuropsychological evaluation, either the majority of the cost or full cost.
• We will provide you all of the written documentation needed to submit a claim to your insurance or your flexible medical spending plan.  At your appointment, you will receive d a receipt that details the services provided and the costs.  Insurance companies require specific code numbers to process a medical claim.  Your receipt will include the appropriate CPT procedure codes and Diagnostic Codes needed. Our clients have successfully received reimbursement from mot major health carriers such as BCBS, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, and most others.