Evaluations that lead somewhere: answers, support, and a plan from one team
Autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), neuropsychological, and academic evaluations for kids and teens, ages 18 months to 18, led by licensed psychologists. Testing happens at Black Bear Academy in North Center or at the downtown office of our sister practice, the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care (CCNC).
What can an evaluation tell you?
Diagnosis
Whether your child meets criteria for autism or ADHD, and whether screening points to a learning difference.
Profile
How your child thinks, learns, communicates, and regulates, in their own profile of strengths and needs.
Support
What kind of support will actually help, from therapy to classroom accommodations.
Documentation
Concrete documentation for a 504 plan or an individualized education program (IEP), and for school and provider conversations.
Testing and evaluations we offer, and how we approach them
A child does not have to attend the school to be evaluated. Neuropsychological testing is available for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and children with visual impairments.
Autism testing and diagnostic evaluation
A comprehensive look at social communication, play, sensory profile, and development to answer whether your child meets criteria for autism. Child-friendly testing, gold-standard measures, and a plan attached to the result.
ADHD testing and evaluation
An assessment of attention, executive function, and behavior across settings, with input from home and school. Rule in or out attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), separate it from look-alikes, and recommend supports that fit.
Neuropsychological testing
A deeper look across cognition, memory, language, learning, and social-emotional functioning for complex or layered questions. One connected profile of your child, interpreted by a licensed psychologist.
Academic testing and assessment
Testing across reading, writing, and math to map where a child is performing and what instruction will move them forward. Clear achievement data, tied to teaching and accommodations that target the gaps.
Specific learning disorder screenings
Focused screenings for learning differences, including dyslexia and dyscalculia, with documentation for school plans. Pinpoint the specific skill gaps so instruction and accommodations can target them.
Occupational, speech, and feeding therapy evaluations
Evaluations of sensory processing, articulation, language, or feeding difficulties to set therapy goals, completed by our clinical therapy staff. Each measures where your child is now, then builds the right therapy plan.
Second opinions
A fresh, independent review when a prior evaluation left you with more questions than answers. We review the existing records, test where needed, and give you a clear, honest read.
Not sure which you need?
Tell us what you are seeing and we will help you choose the right evaluation before you commit. Many families start with a short call.
How does an evaluation work?
An initial meeting
We meet with your family to talk through your concerns and what you want to learn.
Testing
Testing with a licensed psychologist, or with our clinical therapy staff for occupational therapy (OT), speech, and feeding evaluations. Usually scheduled within about two weeks.
A results conference
We review the findings, recommendations, and your child's plan in plain language. With your permission, we share findings with your school team and other providers.
Led by licensed psychologists
Evaluations are led by licensed psychologists. Black Bear Academy is owned and led by Dr. Lori G. Tall, PsyD, a licensed psychologist and the school's Executive Director. Her work spans the school, the clinic, and the sister evaluation practice, the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care (CCNC), which means the team interpreting your child's results understands exactly what support is available next.
For referring professionals: see our For Professionals page to refer a family for an evaluation. We follow up soon and coordinate with a signed release.
Meet the team →How coverage works for evaluations
Coverage for testing varies by plan, so we check before scheduling. When your plan covers it, the evaluation is billed to insurance. A child does not have to attend the school to be evaluated.
Coverage varies by plan. We confirm yours at intake.
Check insurance and billing →Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and UnitedHealthcare through Northwestern. Cigna PPO for testing only, through the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care (CCNC).
May apply. We provide a master bill you can submit to insurance, a flexible spending account (FSA), or a health savings account (HSA).
Coverage for testing varies, so we check before scheduling.
Questions families ask about evaluations
Where can I get ADHD testing for my child in Chicago?
Black Bear Academy offers ADHD testing for children and teens. A licensed psychologist looks at attention, executive function, and behavior across settings, with input from home and school. Testing takes place at Black Bear Academy in North Center or at the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care (CCNC) office downtown. It is usually scheduled within about two weeks and ends with a results conference and clear next steps.
How do I get my child tested for autism in Chicago?
Start with the contact form or call (773) 244-0700. After an initial meeting, a licensed psychologist looks at your child's social communication, play, sensory profile, and development, then meets with you to explain the results and next steps. Your child does not need to attend the school to be tested.
Do you do neuropsychological testing for kids and teens?
Yes. Neuropsychological testing looks at thinking skills, memory, language, learning, and social-emotional functioning, and a licensed psychologist interprets the results. It is available for ages 18 months to 18, including children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired. Our clinicians are in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and UnitedHealthcare through Northwestern, and Cigna PPO is accepted for testing through the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care (CCNC). Coverage varies by plan.
Does my child have to attend the school to be evaluated?
No. A child does not have to attend the school to be evaluated. Evaluations are open to every Chicago-area family.
How long does it take to get an appointment and a report?
Testing is usually scheduled within about two weeks. The number and length of sessions, and the timing of the written report, depend on the evaluation, and we talk them through at your initial meeting. Every evaluation ends with a results conference to review findings, recommendations, and your child's plan.
What does the testing itself look like?
It starts with an initial meeting with your family to talk through concerns. Testing is then led by a licensed psychologist, or by our clinical therapy staff for occupational therapy (OT), speech, and feeding evaluations, and is designed to be comfortable for your child. It can include multiple sessions and breaks. The process ends with a results conference to review recommendations and your child's plan.
Who leads the evaluation?
Evaluations are led by licensed psychologists. Black Bear Academy is owned and led by Dr. Lori G. Tall, PsyD, a licensed psychologist and Executive Director. Testing happens at Black Bear Academy in North Center or at the downtown office of the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care (CCNC).
Will we get documentation we can use at school?
Yes. An evaluation produces concrete documentation for a 504 plan or an individualized education program (IEP), and for school and provider conversations.
We already had an evaluation elsewhere. Can you help?
Yes. We offer second opinions: a fresh, independent review when a prior evaluation left you with more questions than answers. We review the existing records, test where needed, and give you a clear, honest read.
Is an evaluation covered by insurance?
Coverage for testing varies by plan, so we check before scheduling. Our clinicians are in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and UnitedHealthcare through Northwestern, and Cigna PPO is accepted for testing through CCNC. Send any insurance question through our contact form.
What ages do you evaluate?
Kids and teens, ages 18 months to 18. A child does not have to attend the school to be evaluated.
Where does testing happen?
At Black Bear Academy in North Center or at the downtown office of the Center for Comprehensive Neurobehavioral Care (CCNC).
Where to go from here
An evaluation is the start of a plan. These pages cover the support that often comes next.
Start with a real plan
Request an evaluation or book a short info call first. A team member will follow up soon.