Does my child have a disability?
Dr. Hale provides diagnostic clarification regarding a range of conditions impacting children, adolescents and young adults.
Examples include: Learning Disorders (including Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Communication Disorder, Language Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Developmental Delay and Intellectual Disability.
She also recognizes the limitations of diagnostic labels and the critical importance of illuminating each unique landscape within which a diagnosis or disability may occur.
Is my child gifted?
Dr. Hale evaluates children, adolescents and young adults whose learning and social-emotional needs intersect with intellectual ability, academic aptitude and/or artistic ability that is well beyond their physical age and same-grade peers.
Dr. Hale’s practice serves students with a diverse range of strengths, talents and developmentally-advanced capabilities. She also works with adolescents and young adults who are preparing for careers as elite athletes, dancers and musicians.
Dr. Hale is well-versed in national standards for Gifted and Talented education in addition to state regulations governing Gifted and Talented programming.
Is my toddler or preschooler developing on time? Are there any delays that we need to get help for now?
Dr. Hale has specific expertise in developmental assessment and intervention planning for young children, including the early identification of vulnerabilities related to autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Dr. Hale is a strong advocate for young children receiving targeted interventions that are well-matched to an accurate understanding of their developmental needs.
She also places a high value on empowering parents as advocates and on celebrating children’s developmental successes, progress and resiliency.
Is there something different about how my brain works? Could I have an underlying problem that is holding me back? Would I benefit from certain accommodations and/or supports in college or graduate school?
Dr. Hale’s evaluations provide an avenue for older students to gain an appreciation for how they learn, process information, problem solve and cope with the many demands of growing up and becoming an independent adult.
She has extensive experience addressing the unique needs of this age-group, fostering students’ self-advocacy and outlining detailed recommendations to support transitions from high school to college and beyond.
What are my/my child’s strengths?
Dr. Hale is committed to conducting comprehensive evaluations that systematically uncover, measure and define areas of strength, competency and resiliency. Her recommendations are informed by strength-based assessment results and an in-depth understanding of how a child or young adult’s strengths can be fostered to further support academic, social-emotional and vocational success.
Is my child making progress? Are the interventions we have in place working? What other interventions are needed?
Dr. Hale’s evaluation process includes an extensive review of records and interviews with school and community providers in order to understand the history of how problem areas have developed and been addressed over time. She carefully assesses trajectory of progress across varied domains.
Dr. Hale’s evaluations emphasize meaningful and research-based recommendations that are directly linked to a child’s uniquely nuanced profile of strengths and challenges.
We’ve had evaluations before, but something is still getting in the way of our child’s success. What are we missing?
Dr. Hale’s evaluations are comprehensive, thorough, thoughtful and informed by the latest research and best practice standards.
Because of the breadth and depth of her assessment expertise across multiple domains of development and functioning (e.g., cognitive problem solving, executive function, learning, processing speed, fine motor, memory, social competency, language, emotional wellbeing, resiliency), she is able to decipher the underlying vulnerabilities that interact in complex ways to create obstacles to children’s growth and success.
Dr. Hale is equally invested in using neuropsychological, psychological, developmental, language and academic assessment measures to identify strengths and break down the barriers that prevent those strengths from shining through.
Is it “normal” for me/my child to feel or behave this way? Is this challenge typical for this age?
Dr. Hale uses a developmental framework for assessing concerns. Her evaluations explain what abilities, behaviors, challenges and/or symptoms fall within or outside of what research tells us is typically expected for a certain stage of development.
Dr. Hale’s evaluations also include an analysis of the disconnects, disparities or gaps in various abilities or skill-sets and how these gaps may contribute to frustration, avoidance, problem behaviors and/or anxiety.