Specialized Diagnostic Assessments

Diagnostic assessments can provide important clarity in deciding on treatment options. Furthermore, they can be used to pursue disability benefits or accommodations at school or work. They can also bring great insight to our clients and their families to understand the unique way they are wired and what can bring out their very best.

This process is for those clients who want to pursue only one type of diagnostic clarification, such as ADHD, Autism, PTSD or other mental health issues (such as depression, anxiety, etc). In this streamlined assessment, we focus only on the diagnosis in question, allowing for a quicker process and lower costs.

Assessment Team

The assessment team at Dr. Lin & Associates (DLA) consists of Dr. Merry C. Lin (supervising psychologist), Julia Guthrie (managing assessment director) & the assessment specialists. Supervision of the assessment process, coordination of assessment results in full, and any applicable diagnoses are reviewed and approved by Dr. Lin.


Assessment Locations

North York: Charis Clinic for Mental Wellness, 245 Fairview Mall Drive, Unit 502, Toronto, ON 
Belleville: 1 Catharine Street, Belleville, ON K8P 1K8
Carrying Place: County Gate Pharmacy, 21936 Loyalist Pkwy. Carrying Place, ON
Whitby: Location available upon booking
Elmira: 40 Church Street West, Elmira, ON N3B 1M7

Process for a Diagnostic Assessment

  1. Before Your Initial Appointment: A member of the assessment team will contact you to schedule your initial consultation for assessment. A consent form will be sent for you to review and sign. For a diagnostic assessment, you will typically need 3 to 4 appointments, comprised of the initial consultation for assessment (online), assessment visits (in person), and feedback session (online).

  2. Initial Consultation for Assessment and Scheduling: The initial consultation for a diagnostic assessment is approximately 30 minutes in duration, and is completed with Dr. Lin. Consent for the psychological assessment is to be signed by you, either as the client, or the client’s guardian, either before or after this appointment. If appropriate to the assessment, consents to disclose information and contact information for informants are collected (e.g., a child’s school teacher may be an informant). Information regarding the client’s background including academic history, family and social functioning, physical and mental health and general well-being is collected during this consultation that will help inform the clinical assessment.

  1. Data Collection Completed Online: When appropriate, the psychometrist will send a copy of consent to disclose information form to informant(s). Self and informant report questionnaires consistent with the determined assessment battery will be sent to client and informants for online completion.

  2. Assessment Visits: Assessment protocol is multi-method including any of the following: self and informant reports, computer-based tests, paper-and-pencil tests, manipulation of physical test materials, structured and unstructured interview, and clinical observation. Testing measures will vary depending on the particular presenting problems being queried, to ensure adequate data collection. Each assessment visit will be approximately 1 to 2 hrs.

  3. Diagnostic Letter: Dr. Lin will provide a letter summarizing the test results, findings and/or diagnoses. This will be a short letter with the official diagnosis, if any, but will not provide any details for follow-up or recommended accommodations or next steps. If a more detailed report is requested, an additional fee will be required.

  4. Client and Guardian Feedback: Dr. Lin will meet with the client and/or their guardian(s)/caregiver(s) for a 30 minute feedback session, to communicate any relevant diagnoses. In most cases, if the child being assessed is 12 years or older, it is encouraged that they attend the feedback session (unless it has been decided otherwise by their parents and Dr. Lin). The diagnostic letter will be sent out after this feedback meeting.

Types of Diagnostic Assessments Available:

  1. ADHD Assessment Only

  2.  Autism Assessment Only

  3. Clinical Assessment (Mental Health, including PTSD) Only

  4. Vocational Assessment Only (*Add-On: Coaching Sessions for Additional Fee)

Fees

  1. For ONE of the above assessment options: $1400 if paid by e-transfer (HST exempt) $1450 if paid by credit card (HST exempt)

  2. For TWO of the above assessment options combined: $2200 if paid by e-transfer (HST exempt)
    $2275 if paid by credit card (HST exempt)

  3. For THREE of the above assessment options combined: $3000 if paid by e-transfer (HST exempt)
    $3100 if paid by credit card (HST exempt)

  4. Half paid up front, the final half paid after the feedback

  5. For clients with insurance coverage, receipts can be customized to fit insurance protocol

    (e.g., how much is covered per hour, etc); however, please note that if your insurance company requires a breakdown of sessions (rather than a flat fee for the entire cost), those receipts can only be provided after testing sessions have been completed as those dates would be unknown at the time of initial payment.

  6. For a client who is a minor, some of the costs can be billed towards their parent(s) to utilize their insurance benefits if they are involved in the assessment process.

To book an assessment or for any questions, please email us at [email protected]. 

Thank you for your interest!