Psychological Testing Services in Calabasas, CA

We provide comprehensive psychological assessments for children, adolescents and adults utilizing neuropsychological tests

What Are Learning Disorders?

Does your child have difficulties with reading or dyslexia, writing or dysgraphia, and math or dyscalculia? Have they struggled to maintain good grades or do well on tests despite their hard work? Do they give up easily on certain subjects over others? If so, a full assessment may be helpful to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses and how to accommodate your child’s weaknesses in the best way.

Learning disorders are a neurological condition that affects one’s ability to acquire, process and retain information. This can interfere with one’s basic academic skills such as reading writing, math and even one’s executive functioning skills such as one’s ability to organize, manage time, reason in abstract and new ways, and pay attention.

Types of Learning Disorders:

·    Reading or Dyslexia: Difficulties with reading words accurately, using phonics to sound out words, or using orthographic skills to learn site words. Difficulties with spelling and reading comprehension.

·    Writing or Dysgraphia: Difficulties with handwriting, spelling, organizing thoughts on paper, and writing strong content.

·    Math or Dyscalculia: Difficulties with understating math concepts, how numbers work, ability to memorize math facts, and how to quickly and fluently complete simple math problems.

It is important to remember, that many children with learning disorders such as dyslexia are also incredibly bright and have many strengths in other areas. They tend to be hardworking, creative, and have amazing ways they work through problems. Many CEO’s and some of the most creative and celebrated minds of our time have been diagnosed with Dyslexia or other learning disorders. Our goal at MindWorks is to help identify those strengths and help find ways to minimize the weaknesses.

What We Evaluate For?

See the comprehensive evaluation section here to learn more but testing usually includes:

·    Cognitive Functioning

·    Attention/Executive functioning

·    Memory

·    Reading

·    Writing

·    Math

·    Fine motor skills and visual motor integration skills

·    Oral language screening

·    Emotional Screening

How Long Does Testing Take?

While testing may only take a few hours with your child, we will be communicating with you, your child, teachers, therapists, psychiatrists, and other service providers for your child (with your permission).  We will take time to prepare and analyze a customized evaluation for your child and their needs. Based on test results, interview insights and findings, you will receive a comprehensive report summarizing and explaining our findings, and providing individualized recommendations for strategic school accommodations and home-support strategies that will strengthen your child’s development. 

On average the full evaluation will take 1-2 weeks of testing (5-6 hours of person-to-person testing broken down between 1-3 sessions) and final feedback where the results will be discussed with you 2-3 weeks after the assessment is completed.

What Is Included In Each Evaluation?

Initial Intake: After our initial consultation, a comprehensive intake will be conducted with the individual (and parent, if needed) to fully understand individual’s needs. These initial series of questionnaires will help create the testing battery that will later be used for the series of one-on-one tests. Contact with doctors, teachers, schools, therapists and psychiatrists (with your permission) are also utilized to help understand the “full picture” of the patient.

Full Review: A full review of psychological, educational and past testing records is conducted.

Observations: An observation of the child at school may be conducted from time to time.

One-on-One Tests: The individual will meet one-on-one with a psychologist in person. During the "testing" appointments, we use the testing battery created in intake to administer a variety of questions, puzzles, word games, pictures and drawings, and stories, as well as some school-like tasks, such as reading and math, to investigate how the student thinks and feels in different settings. Many of our sessions may range from one to four hours, with several short breaks, depending on the individual's energy level. Tests will examine one’s:

• General cognitive and mental strengths and weaknesses including a full IQ test.

• Academic skills in reading, writing, math, oral language and fine motor skills.

• ADHD concerns and full executive functioning skills.

• Memory skills.

• Emotional and behavioral concerns

• Autism/neurodevelopmental skills (if requested)

Evaluation and Interpretation: After the testing and evaluation is complete, the Dr. Salanga will score, interpret, and integrate the information into a comprehensive written report. The report will include background information, test scores, psychologist interpretations, tailored recommendations to better help the individual, and referrals to any needed specialists.

Report and Feedback Discussion: After testing, evaluation, and reports are complete, the Dr. Salanga will meet one-on-one with the individual and/or parent to discuss the report and answer any questions. This feedback may also be given to other professions such as the teacher if desired, and many times Dr. Salanga will meet briefly with the child to go over their strengths and weaknesses as well. A copy of the full report will be given after the feedback appointment is complete.