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Frequently Asked Questions When does a student need a psychoeducational assessment? Students may benefit from an assessment if there is an indication of strong intellectual abilities and/or aptitudes in specific areas that may not have been previously identified or may not be adequately challenged by the educational opportunities currently available. A typical example would be a child who scores exceptionally high on a standardized test, such as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, but is reporting that he or she does not feel adequately challenged. An assessment may help to establish the student’s ability profile as well as to provide challenging, educational recommendations for consideration. Can assessment services help identify disabilities? It is not uncommon for a student to have an uneven profile of abilities. Some gifted/talented students also have one or more disabilities that may interfere with functioning at home and at school. For example, a student may be talented but exhibit a specific learning disability, social difficulties, and/or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We strive to understand the academic, social, and emotional needs of students. This understanding is used to generate recommendations for the educational setting. What information may we obtain from the clinic? This varies depending on what questions parents have about their child. Typically, the assessment will provide a profile of the student’s cognitive and academic abilities and social-emotional adjustment. Special attention will be given to the student’s strengths and weaknesses and how to optimize functioning at school and at home. Our recommendations may include academic enrichment plans, subjectspecific or whole-grade acceleration, suggestions for skill training or disability accommodation, and/or psychological counseling. What are the typical issues addressed? We address a wide variety of concerns in our clinic. Some of the most typical issues include underachievement, social difficulties, self-concept, perfectionism, career choices, depression, anxiety, anger management, and multi-potentiality related to giftedness. We also work with families to address parent-child and sibling relationships. How much do services cost? Fees are determined by a variety of factors. Sliding-scale fees and payment plans are available for qualified individuals and families. This information is available upon request. (The cost for ACC services are partially subsidized by the Belin-Blank Center.) Will insurance cover assessment and counseling? This will depend upon the client’s insurance provider and the services offered.