This article summarizes a variety of views on why and when to seek an assessment, as well as the utility of different types of tests. Questions for parents to consider in the process of making such decisions are listed. Links to additional articles on assessment and its implications for educational advocacy and planning are also included. In addition, links to information on the most recent versions of the popular individually administered tests are provided.
Dr. Tali Shenfield provides information and insights about gifted assessments and offers a free comprehensive online gifted screening test to help parents determine whether a formal gifted assessment is recommended for their child.
Alpha Omega Publications offers home-school families diagnostic tests for both the upper and lower levels of LIFEPAC Math and Language Arts. Placement tests are provided for 1st through 8th grade as well as 7th through 12th grade.
Arizona Child Psychology PLLC provides comprehensive gifted testing and evaluations of children and adolescents, ages 3 through 18. They are a member of SENG and custom tailor each assessment to the specific needs of the child.
The mission of the Belin-Blank Center is to empower and serve the international gifted community through exemplary leadership in programs, research, and advocacy. Through several initiatives including: The Acceleration Institute, The Belin-Blank Center identifies gifted, talented, and artistic learners; provides assessment, counseling, and consultation services; increases awareness and use of acceleration; and facilitates the professional development of educators and administrators.
Beljan Psychological Services specializes in pediatric neuropsychology. They provide an array of diagnostic and treatment services including assessment, consultation, psychotherapy, neurocognitive therapy, reading intervention, and forensic evaluation. Associates are trained in an array of specialties, including learning disabilities, executive function disorders, depression, anxiety, gifted identification, and family counseling. Dr. Paul Beljan is an expert in evaluating and understanding gifted children and their common misdiagnoses, as well as authored and co-authored several books and publications about giftedness and misdiagnosis.
CNLD in Ann Arbor, Michigan provides services such as assessment, therapy, intervention, and advocacy for twice-exceptional children and children with other educational concerns.
Center for Talent Development (CTD) at Northwestern University is dedicated to helping academically talented students, age 3 through grade 12, realize their full potential. Through assessment, advanced enrichment, and accelerated programs, CTD’s unique Pathways approach helps students develop the knowledge and skills they need to become bold, creative achievers and contributors. The Pathways approach allows students to focus on a particular subject or explore different fields and interest areas. CTD offers programming at every grade level, as well as resources for parents to support their children’s growth and services for educators and schools to promote best practices and supplement local offerings.
The Center for the Gifted, located in Philadelphia and led by Dr. Suzanne Schneider, was established in 1983 to meet the needs of gifted people of all ages. Services include counseling and psychotherapy, gifted identification, vocational interest testing and guidance, and workshops and publications focusing on the needs of the gifted population.
The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. They work to deliver the highest standard of care, advance the science of the developing brain, and empower parents, professionals, and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.
Christine Fonseca is a licensed educational psychologist, critically acclaimed author, and a nationally recognized speaker on topics related to educational psychology, mental health, giftedness, and using storytelling to heal past wounds. As a trauma-impacted survivor, Christine believes in the power of storytelling as a key to healing past wounds. Christine’s critically acclaimed titles include Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students, The Caring Child, Letting Go: A Girl’s Guide to Breaking Free of Stress and Anxiety, and the action-packed Young Adult series, the Solomon Experiments.
Educational therapist and GATE specialist Cindy Hansen specializes in the needs of the gifted and high potential community by assisting adults and children to embrace and fortify their complex learning profiles. She offers assessments for focused intervention in addition to educational therapy, case management and records review. Cindy serves families in the Western Ventura and Southern Santa Barbara counties of California.
Dr. Stuart has spent over 25 years in environments with gifted individuals and has received special training in the treatment of gifted children and adults. She is committed to offering quality support and attention for their often misunderstood, unique emotional needs.
Dr. Dahlgren specializes in gifted and talented evaluations, testing for the AAP (Advanced Academic Program), private school admissions evaluations, and kindergarten readiness assessments. She also conducts pschological and educational tests to assess attention, learning, emotional, or psychological problems that may keep children from working to their full potential in school.
Eileen Escarce, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.N. offers psychoeducational diagnostic assessment, gifted (IQ) testing, parent coaching, and psychotherapy for individuals, parents and children, and families. Her specialties include child psychology and school psychology.
Dr. Ellen Littman is a clinical psychologist licensed in New York State, with a focus on high IQ adults and adolescents and specializing in identifying and treating complex presentations of ADHD. Dr. Littman has been recognized by the American Psychological Association as a pioneer in the identification of gender differences in ADHD, with special expertise understanding issues affecting women and girls with ADHD. She also has advanced training in trauma, eating disorders, self-harm, and crisis intervention.
