David M. Callahan, Ph.D.
Providing Psychological Services to
Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts
Instructions for Parents and Patients
In order to expedite the process of completing evaluations, Dr. Callahan requests that patients bring copies of any previous psychological or educational testing that has been performed, recent school records if available and any other material that would be deemed beneficial to understanding the examinee. The typical structure of an evaluation is that Dr. Callahan will interview the patient and/or the patient’s parents/guardian in order to acquire background information regarding the patient’s functioning, any family history that may be relevant, and to gain an understanding of areas of specific concern. This interview will typically include family history, developmental history, educational and/or vocational history, medical history and descriptions of daily functioning, including areas of both strength and difficulty. Dr. Callahan attempts to develop a comprehensive view of the person’s life in order to provide context for the data acquired in the evaluation.
After the interview, a battery of tests will be performed with the examinee. This will include multiple different types of activities, including drawing, working with puzzles, answering questions, performing academic tasks, memory tasks and other tasks requiring problem solving and/or cognitive processing. Dr. Callahan is typically attempting to acquire a map of brain functioning across different brain regions, with the overall pattern of findings informing the evaluation. The length of the testing period varies depending on the age and capacities of the individual, but most often takes 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours. After the evaluation is completed, Dr. Callahan will often be able to provide some measure of feedback about his findings. If desired, a follow-up appointment can be scheduled to further discuss the results.
If you are preparing a child for the appointment, it is best to simply explain that the purpose of the evaluation is to identify a child’s strengths and weaknesses to insure that they are receiving the proper assistance and intervention. Reassuring the child that the examination is one that you can neither pass or fail, but is instead an attempt to identify areas of strength and areas in need of additional support, is typically best. Dr. Callahan works very hard to establish positive rapport with examinees, attempting to create a nonthreatening and supportive environment that is tolerated well by the vast majority of persons whom he sees.
Given the length of the appointment, it is desirable that the examinee is well rested on the day of the assessment. Any medications that need to be taken on a daily basis should be taken on the day of the assessment. However, medications that do not have a cumulative therapeutic effect, such as stimulant medication for attentional difficulties, are probably best skipped on the day of the assessment. Receiving permission from the prescribing doctor is necessary, as Dr. Callahan, as a psychologist, cannot make specific changes in prescriptions. It is best that a child be fed prior to the evaluation. Snacks and other items such as drinks or water should also be brought, particularly if an individual is prone to needing to eat frequently. Most often, the testing process is performed continuously, with breaks provided only to those children for whom they appear necessary.
Once the appointment is completed, Dr. Callahan will typically dictate his report, including his interpretation of the data, within 24 hours of meeting the examinee. The dictation is then sent to a transcriptionist who returns the rough draft to Dr. Callahan, which he will ultimately proofread. The report is then sent to the client or parents of the client, as well as to any other individuals to whom it has been requested that the report be forwarded. As always, follow-up appointments can be made upon request by contacting the relevant office.
