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How long to get results from intelligence testing?


SKL
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I'm getting annoyed.  My kid went in for intelligence testing on August 18.  Some time later I got a call telling me we needed to set up another appointment for more testing, so that was done September 20.  I haven't heard anything since then, so I called yesterday and asked for an update.  Today the office staff called me back saying the psychologist wants me to make another appointment to talk about the test results.  The earliest I could get was November 6.  (Note that this will be the 4th appointment, since our initial appointment [June 5]  was just to talk about making an appointment for the testing.)

 

I asked if they could just call me and give me the info over the phone, but they said "well we could, but then the insurance wouldn't cover it."  (So far it is all out of pocket anyway thanks to our insurance deductible, but the insurance knocks the fee down compared to the initial billing.)   I'm like, can't she just call me and give me the number so I'll know if she meets the threshold for the school gifted program or not?  School's going to be half over by the time I get this information at the rate we're going.  So the office lady says she will ask.

 

They haven't given me any feedback at all.  Not one word.  Is this normal?

Edited by SKL
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Not in my experience. When DD did her evaluation, we set an appointment to come back for results at the last appointment. I think it was 2 weeks for the appointment and we got the written full report 2 weeks or so later. It took months to get in, but once we did, things moved quickly.

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My kids took the WISC test. The tester phoned me with the results an hour later and patiently waited while I wrote the numbers and percentiles for the sub tests down. I received the detailed report in the mail within two weeks. If we had wanted to apply for the local gifted schools, the tester could have just fax the gifted schools just the scores portion the same day.

 

The follow up appointment was anytime but would have been about a month later as she was fully booked. Our tester was a retired school psychologist working from home though. Insurance paid part of the testing and we used our HSA funds to pay for the rest. The initial discussion was by phone to understand what we were testing for and any quirks to take note of, like my DS12 does not like to talk but is not shy or non-verbal.

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A couple of weeks, IIRC.

 

That was for a full psycho-educational evaluation.

 

First we (DH and I) met with her.

Then DS had two test sessions, a week apart.

DH and I went back to review the results with her (including receiving the written report).

She met with DS to go over the results with him and answer any questions he had

 

So four appointments total. The whole process took a little over two months.

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I always asked for the results of testing in writing prior to the final appointment (well, except for the first time).  It is much better to have time to digest the results and think about what questions you want answered.  This is especially true if you think there might be anything extreme (high or low) going on.

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There's nothing extreme here, I'm just trying to find out if it's 128+ or not.

 

She said she did the WISC, and I thought she implied it was computer graded.

 

I should have just insisted on scheduling the follow-up before leaving on the day she tested.  :/

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She said she did the WISC, and I thought she implied it was computer graded.

Was the WISC the computer version one?

https://www.pearsonclinical.com/psychology/products/100000771/wechsler-intelligence-scale-for-childrensupsupfifth-edition--wisc-v.html/

 

My kids was the traditional Q&A, pencil and paper older version of WISC and the tester could tell me during toilet break roughly where they stand. The paper grading can be done fast by an experienced tester who is already used to reading the score tables.

 

Can you drop by and get a paper copy of the scores? Yours is a center so might not want to release scores over the phone if you call (just in case kids call and pretend to be mom).

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Well I got a call back.  The psych refuses to give me any information.  "Oh I don't have it in front of me right now.  And I really want us to sit down and talk about the whole thing.  It's more than just a number."  Whatever. :thumbdown:

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why not tell the psych that there is a deadline to apply to the gifted program in school and that you need the result before November in order to apply for the program? That should put some pressure on the psych to schedule an earlier meeting.

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Well I got a call back. The psych refuses to give me any information. "Oh I don't have it in front of me right now.

That would tempt me to make a trip to the office with whatever work I need to do and just wait for the staff to photocopy my kids results for me. They can fax it direct to the school there and then if they rather do that than give you a copy.

 

Your psych is lucky it’s not my husband calling. He would have speed dial the psych the same way as he speed dial insurance and collegeboard.

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5 months from the initial appt. in June to Nov. is way too long if all you wanted was an individual intelligence test administered. The reason the psychologist won't give you the info over the phone is because the psychologist can't bill the insurance for a phone call but can bill for an office visit. The other issue is the psychologist can't bill your insurance if there is no diagnosis. So if all the psychologist has come up with so far is that you have a gifted or bright well adjusted kid, the psychologist probably can't bill your insurance.

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I had both kids done at the same time. The first one I was called about with days. The second one similar, but when the I got the written report there was a serious typo in it which needed fixing before I could use it. They said they'd fix it immediately. I called them once a week for a couple of weeks and nothing. I went and sat in their office, and it was solved.

 

The situation you are in is ridiculous. It doesn't take long to discuss the report if it is a straight WISC; I can see a full psych warranting a long appointment. They are acting as if the insurance company is the customer, not you. Put more pressure on them, either by phoning or by showing up in person. One of the specialists that we see has a secretary that is impossible to get through to, she is so obtuse. I realized recently that the time it takes to get her on the phone, get her to understand what I am saying etc.... I could have done in less time if I just drove to the office and drew her a picture :)

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I get the impression the psych only works part-time and she works in 2 different offices, neither of which are convenient locations for me.  Who knows where she keeps her "paperwork."  For all I know, she hasn't even graded it or maybe she lost it ....

 

It's just weird how they are acting.  The information is mine after all, isn't it?  This is making me wonder about the integrity of the testing results.

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Your situation is not normal.

 

The number of appointments you are having is normal. Typically there will be a parent interview, followed by 2-3 days of testing of the child and then a follow-up interview to discuss the results. Oftentimes, all these appointments are scheduled on day 1 or at the parent interview. It is ridiculous to string you out and not be scheduling all your appointments in a timely manner. They also should have told you all of this at the initial appt. 

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The psych called me 2x yesterday but did not leave a message.  I just called back and left a message.  Ugh.

 

I do believe I was told at the first meeting that they would want a meeting after the testing to discuss the results.  I assumed it would be in September at the latest though.  They know the purpose is to put my kid in the school's gifted program if she qualifies.  So while it wasn't an emergency, it wasn't "oh whenever you get around to it" either.  :/

 

Live and learn.  From now on I make the next appointment before I leave the current one.  Whether they like it or not.

 

Though I'm pretty sure there won't be a next time with this lady.  I had considered taking my other kid to her for other reasons, but nope.

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