LD/ADHD Assessment FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a learning disorder (LD)?
What is ADHD?
The LD/ADHD Assessment Process at SHAC
How long will an assessment take?
How much does the assessment cost, and does my student health insurance cover the cost?
Who finds out the results?
When should I start the process?
I was tested and diagnosed with LD/ADHD in the past. Do I need to be tested again?
Can I be treated medically for ADHD at SHAC without getting tested?
Accommodations & Documentation
What type of accommodations are available for students?
What are the required documentations for learning disabilities?
Questions about Learning Disorders
What exactly is a learning disorder?
A learning disability can be best described as an inability to acquire or relate specific information; it is not a form of mental retardation or intelligence impairment. Learning disabilities can exist in various areas, such as math, reading, or writing. Some students may have combinations of these disabilities or have these disabilities in combination with social/emotional adjustment problems. Accommodation plans try to help compensate for specific deficits. Click here for common signs of a learning disorder.
What exactly is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood and can persist through adolescence and into adulthood. Currently, the causes are unknown. A person with ADHD has a chronic level of inattention, impulsive hyperactivitiy, or both such that it compromises daily functioning. Note: A person with ADHD can have primarily inattentive symptoms and little hyperactivity/impulsivity. The symptoms of the disorder must be present at levels that are higher than expected for a person's developmental stage and must interfere with the person's ability to function in different settings (e.g. in school and at home). A person with ADHD may struggle in important life areas, such as peer and family relationships and school or work performance.
Assessment Process Questions
How long will an assessment take?
After submitting your assessment application materials, students can have an intake with a psychologist within 1-2 weeks. The counselor will answer questions, review the application materials, and discuss your academic history, current life stresses, strengths, and weaknesses.
Testing depends on your availability and your counselor's availability. Once you are assigned to a counselor, generally it should take 7-10 weeks to complete an assessment.
How much does the assessment cost and does my Student Health Insurance cover the cost?
In the community, assessments cost upwards of $1,500. The Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) offers a discounted price of $500 to a limited number of PSU students.
Although assessments in the community cost more, for many students, this option is more effective in the long term. Advantages include short wait time for an appointment, great appointment availability, and faster turn-around time for test results. SHAC can make recommendations for outside referrals.
Your PSU insurance may cover the cost of the assessment, both within SHAC and with an outside provider, but there are exceptions. It is wise to check with your Aetna Student Insurance Representative, Christi Ziegler, at (503) 975-4292 prior to starting your assessment.
Who finds out about the results?
Your evaluation is confidential. Only you will be informed of the results unless you sign a release of information and request the information be sent to a third party.
When should I start the process?
SHAC recommends that you start the process earlier rather than later. We cannot guarantee that you will be tested quickly since our space and resources are limited.
I was tested diagnosed with LD/ADHD in the past. Do I need to be tested again?
Although learning disorders and ADHD are lifelong issues, the impact they have on current functioning changes over time. Therefore, your documentation needs to reflect the current status of your functional limitations, and explain why you need specific accommodations. You will likely need to update documentation more than three to five years old. If you have questions regarding eligibility for accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at (503) 725-4150.
Can I be treated medically for ADHD at SHAC without getting tested?
Psychiatrists at SHAC (and many in the community) do not prescribe medication to treat ADHD unless a thorough, current assessment has been done to establish a clinical diagnosis. Students can obtain this documentation through an assessment at SHAC or an assessor in the community.
If a student has been assessed or treated for ADHD in the recent past, he or she should submit this documentation to SHAC Medical Records (Attn: Assessment coordinator). Once SHAC has received your documentation, the Assessment Coordinator and/or Clinical Director will review it. Students will be sent a letter, indicating whether this information is sufficient.
Accommodations & Documentation Questions
What type of accommodations are available for students?
Contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at (503) 725-4150.
What are the required documentations of Learning Disabilities?
People are often confused about the necessary information to document ADHD in order to receive academic accommodations. Disability documentation must verify the disability's nature and extent in accordance with current professional standards and techniques and clearly substantiate the need for the student's specific accommodation requests. Documentation should validate the need for services based on the individual's current functioning level in the educational setting. This page introduces the requirements that the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) set. Contact the Disability Resource Center at (503) 725-4150 or check out their website for specific requirements.
