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Assessment and Evaluation Types

 

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

A FBA is an evaluation in which information is gathered about concerning behaviors, such as hitting or not staying in one’s seat at school. It is rooted in the theory that all behavior serves a function or purpose, all behavior is predictable and all behavior is changeable. This evaluation is conducted in the beginning sessions of ABA Therapy.

MCPAP Clinic (MA Child Psychiatry Access Program)

MCPAP consultations are provided at no cost to physicians. MCPAP evaluations are provided for youth with any type of health insurance. The state of MA is divided into 3 areas, each of which has a team of psychiatric providers. In addition, each area has a resource specialist to assist families in locating services near their home, if needed. The MCPAP Clinic has also been expanding to provide services in other areas, such as providing expert consultation for providers working with a youth in a crisis with an autism diagnosis and/or an intellectual disability. 

For more information, please discuss MCPAP with your child’s pediatrician, and/or visit the MCPAP website.

Neuropsychological Evaluation

A neuropsychological evaluation is an in-depth evaluation of how the brain functions in different areas, including reading, paying attention, reasoning, problem-solving, memory, IQ, and social-emotional skills.  The testing evaluates strengths and weakness, identifies any concerns related to learning and behavioral health, and makes specific recommendations for needs both at home and at school. Obtaining health insurance approval for this evaluation can be challenging. Prior authorizations are needed.

Here are some agencies that provide neuropsychological evaluations and accept some MassHealth products:

Here are some agencies that accept a wider variety of health insurances:

Occupational Therapy Evaluation

Occupational Therapy Evaluations look at a person’s sensory integration and fine motor skills to determine the need for additional support. Sensory integration is how the brain receives, processes and responds to information from the body’s senses.  Sometimes a person’s brain can over-respond or under-respond to one or more of the senses.  Occupational therapists provide sensory-based therapy in the form of play to help people process information from their senses to develop a more organized and well-developed sensory system. Occupational therapists also help people develop their fine motor skills so that they can improve in tasks such as writing and getting dressed.

Caregivers should speak with their child’s pediatrician if they have concerns about their child’s fine motor skills or sensory issues. If a caregiver and PCP decide that a child needs an occupational therapy evaluation and perhaps ongoing services, there are multiple options, some of which can be pursued together:

For children under 3 years old:

The parent and PCP can discuss if a child might be eligible for and able to benefit from Early Intervention services; please see Education and School Related Services for more information.  

If a child has turned three years old and is not yet 22 years old or older:

They may meet criteria for services through their school system; see Education and School Related Services for more information. 

Caregivers can seek an occupational therapy evaluation in their community from:  

 For more information about sensory issues, please see:

Physical Therapy Evaluation

Caregivers should speak with their child’s pediatrician if they have concerns about their child’s gross motor skills (ex. not walking at a certain age, difficulty managing stairs). If a caregiver and PCP decide that these are areas of concern, then the caregiver should seek out a physical therapy evaluation. There are multiple options, some of which can be pursued together:

For children under 3 years old:

The parent and PCP can discuss if a child might be eligible for and able to benefit from Early Intervention services, please see Education and School Related Services pamphlet for more information.  

If a child has turned three years old and is not yet 22 years old or older:

They may meet criteria for services through their school system, please see Education and School Related Services pamphlet for more information.

Caregivers can seek a physical therapy evaluation in their community. Some agencies that provide it include:

Psychiatrists/Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Families should contact their child’s pediatrician to discuss if psychiatric medication is needed, and if so, ask for a referral to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Please note that most agencies require youth to have individual therapy at the same agency. 

Psychiatrists, Nurse Practitioners and Therapists in the Community:

Here are some agencies in the Worcester area that offer individual therapy and/or psychiatric services:

  • Arbour Counseling, Worcester, 508-799-0688 (therapy and psychiatry)
  • Behavioral Healthcare Services, Worcester, 508-753-5554
  • Boston Neurobehavioral Associates, Worcester and other locations, 508-979-5557.
  • Community Healthlink, Worcester and Leominster, 508-860-1000 (therapy and psychiatry)
  • Cornerstone Behavioral Health, multiple locations, 508-791-3677 (therapy and psychiatry)
  • Counseling and Assessment Clinic of Worcester (508) 756-5400 x100 (therapy and psychiatry)
  • Family Continuity Program, Worcester and Whitinsville, 508-488-5093 (therapy and psychiatry) 
  • LUK, Inc, Worcester, Webster, Boylston,and Fitchburg  978-829-2222 Centralized Referral (therapy and psychiatry)
  • Harrington Hospital Behavioral Health, Charlton & Southbridge, 508-765-9167
  • MSPCC (MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), Worcester, 508-753-2967
  • Multicultural Wellness Center, Worcester and Fitchburg, 508-752-4665 x3 Intake (therapy and psychiatry)
  • New Beginnings Wellness Center, Worcester, 508-754-1141 (therapy and psychiatry)
  • Revidas, Worcester, 508-304-7499 x 0 (to leave a voicemail).
  • You, Inc., Worcester, Southbridge and Milford, 855-496-8462 or email at centralreferral@youinc.org (therapy and psychiatry). 

Families may also use an on-line tool to assist in locating individual therapists or psychiatrists who are located close to their home and accept their health insurance. Families can search by including criteria such as specialties, gender, ages of children with whom they work, and languages spoken.

  • Psychology Today: Locate Individual Therapists. 
  • Psychology Today: Locate Psychiatrists and Prescribers.
  • The William James INTERFACE Referral Service, is a mental health and wellness referral Helpline available 9am to 5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 8am to 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays (excluding holidays), at 888-244-6843 (toll free). This is a free, confidential referral service for residents of participating communities.  Callers from these communities are matched with licensed mental health providers from our extensive database, on average, within 2 weeks of their call to INTERFACE. Each referral best meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller.

Speech and Language Evaluation

Speech and Language Therapists use play to help people develop their ability to talk and use other language skills such as receptive language and nonverbal cues. Caregivers should speak with their child’s pediatrician If they have concerns about their child’s speech and language skills. If a caregiver and PCP decide that a child needs a speech and language evaluation and perhaps ongoing speech and language services, there are multiple options, some of which can be pursued together:

For a child of any age:

First, a parent and the PCP should discuss if a child would benefit from an audiological evaluation, which is a full speech and language evaluation in a soundproof booth. Please see the Audiological Evaluations section in the Other Medical Specialists or Concerns pamphlet.

For children under 3 years old:

The parent and PCP can discuss if a child might be eligible for and able to benefit from Early Intervention services. Please see the Education and School Related Services pamphlet for more information. 

If a child has turned three years old and is not yet 22-years-old or older, they may meet criteria for services through their school system. Please see the Education and School Related Services pamphlet for more information. 

Caregivers can seek a speech and language evaluation in their community. Some agencies that provide it include: 

Speech: Assistive Technology for Communication:

Autism Speaks has an overview of types of Assistive Communication, which can enhance speech for a person with any level of speech ability.