A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL PROGRAMS
DearFamiliesandFriends,
Aswestepintothewarmerseason,I’mexcitedtosharesomenewthingshappeningin ouroutpatientprogramsatTLC!Thisspring,wehaveavarietyofengagingprograms designedtosupportyourchild’sdevelopmentandsuccess.
Weareproudtointroduceaspecialized,inter-disciplinaryautismdiagnosticprogram tailoredspecificallyfortoddlers.Earlyidentificationcanmakeaworldofdifference,and ourteamisheretosupportfamilieswithcompassionate,evidence-basedcareeverystep oftheway.
Inadditiontothisnewprogramtosupporttoddlers,ourteamofpsychologistscontinue toprovidecomprehensivepsychoeducationalandneuropsychologicalevaluationsfor childrenandadults.Specificdetailsonwhattypeoftestingwouldbemostbeneficialfor yourchildareincludedinthisnewsletter.
AtTLC,wecontinuetobecommittedtogiving backtoourcommunity.Aswehaveinpastyears, weareonceagainofferingfreeoccupational therapy,speech-languagetherapyandhearing screens-agreatopportunityforparentswith questionsorconcernsabouttheirchild’s developmenttoconnectwithourexperienced clinicians.
Lastly,summerisjustaroundthecorner,andwe aregearingupforoursummerprogramsfor childrenages3-7.Thisyearallofouroutpatient programswilltakeplaceatourPiccardDrive clinic.Formoreinformation,pleasecontactusat summerprograms@ttlc.org.
Ihopeyouenjoyreadingmoreabouttheexciting programshappeninginouroutpatientclinic. ThankyouforbeingapartofourTLCfamily.
Brigid Baker, OTR/L
BrigidBaker,OTR/L DirectorofClinicalPrograms TheTreatmentandLearningCenters
TODDLER (18-36 MONTHS) AUTISM EVALUATIONS
TLCoffersaspecializedautismdiagnostic programtohelpfamiliesgetanswersfaster.We understandthatmanyparentsfacelongwait timeswhenseekingevaluationsandsupportfor theiryoungerchildren.Ournewprogramis designedtoconnectchildrentoneurodiversityaffirmingearlyinterventionservicessooner.
ExpertAssessments
TLC’sinterdisciplinaryteamofPsychologists& Speech-LanguagePathologistscollaboratively conductevaluationsusingtheADOS-2,agoldstandardtoolforobservingbehaviorsrelatedto autism.Combinedwithachild’ssocialhistoryand developmentalimpact,thisassessmenthelps determineiftheymeetDSM-5diagnosticcriteria. Comprehensiveandevidence-based Collaborativeexpertevaluation Fasteraccesstoearlyintervention
ComprehensiveAutismAssessmentsatTLC
Includesoccupationaltherapyscreeningsto assesssensoryandmotorneeds.Plus,our FamilyHearingCenterprovidesspecialized testingforchildrenwithhearingconcerns.
TLC’sTesting,Tutoring,andCounseling DepartmentExpertAssessments
Weprovidepsychoeducationalassessments throughoutthelifespan,including psychoeducationalevaluations, neuropsychologicalevaluations,andautism diagnosticevaluationsforolderchildrenand adults.Thisnewinterdisciplinarycollaboration willallowforamorestreamlinedautism diagnosticassessmentofyoungerchildren (18-36months).Withthisearlieridentification comescustomizedrecommendationsto supporteachchildandimproveaccessto earlyinterventiontherapyservices.
ContactusformoreInformationorto scheduleanassessment:
Email:testingtutoringcounseling@ttlc.org Phone:301-424-5200x306
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES: FINDING THE RIGHT EVALUATION FOR YOUR CHILD
ComprehensivePsychologicalEvaluation
Bestfor:Concernsaboutattention,learning differences,oremotionalchallengesaffecting school
Includes:
Attention,learning,andemotionalfactors Whetheryourchildmeetscriteriafora diagnosisordisability
Patternsofperformancethatmayexplain schoolchallenges
Choosingtherightevaluationforyour childcanfeeloverwhelming butwe're heretohelp!AtTLC,weofferdifferent typesofevaluationsdependingonyour child’sspecificneeds.Allour evaluationsusethesamehigh-quality testingmaterialsandcoverareassuch ascognitiveability(IQ),executive functioning,emotionalandbehavioral functioning,andwhenneeded, academicskills,memory,andlearning.
Eventhoughthetestingprocesslooks similarfromtheoutside,thewaywe interprettheresults andwhatwe’re lookingfor—canbequitedifferent dependingontheevaluationtype.
Greatfor:Whenyourchildstruggleswith ADHDoralearningdisorder.Theseevaluations areteacher-friendlyandalignwithschool testingformats.
However,theymaynotdigdeeplyenoughinto morecomplexneurologicalormedical concerns.
NeuropsychologicalEvaluation
Bestfor:Complexormedicalconcerns affectinghowthebrainprocessesinformation.
Buildsonacomprehensiveevaluation,addinga deeperunderstandingofbrainfunctionandthe impactofmedicalhistory,including,
Everythinginthecomprehensive evaluation,plus: Adetailedbrain-functionanalysis
Medicalhistory(e.g.,seizures,genetic conditions)
Impactofneurologicalissuesonbehavior, emotions,andlearning
NeuropsychologicalEvaluation
Greatfor:Addressingmulti-areachallengeslike memory,language,orattention.Thisoptionisthe mostdetailedandcanbetime-intensive,often requiringmultiplesessions.
Whileweaimtomakeallourreportsfamily-friendly, thesemaybemoretechnicalduetothecomplexityof theinformation.
ADHD-OnlyEvaluation
Bestfor:Attention,focus,impulsivity,orexecutive functioning withoutdeeperlearningormedical concerns
Includes:
Attention,workingmemory,processingspeed
HowADHDsymptomsimpactdailylife Progresstracking
Greatfor:FamiliesfocusedspecificallyonADHD symptoms.It’sthequickestandmostaffordable option,butitdoesn’tassesslearningdisordersor neurologicalissues.
WhatAboutAutism?
Wecananswermostautism-relatedquestions througheitheracomprehensiveor neuropsychologicalevaluation,dependingonyour child’sneeds.Wealsoofferatargetedautism evaluationifyouarenotconcernedaboutlearningor ADHD.
WhatIfMyDoctorRecommendsa“Neuropsych”?
Weoftenhearfromfamiliesthattheirpediatricianor specialistsuggesteda“neuropsych.”Sometimes,that termisusedlooselytomean“in-depthtesting”rather thanatrueneuropsychologicalevaluation.Don’t worry we’llhelpyoufigureoutwhatyourchild actuallyneeds.Allofourevaluationsare comprehensiveinnatureandincludediagnostic insights,farbeyondwhatschoolstypicallyprovide.
StillNotSureWhichEvaluationisRight?
Here’saquickcomparisontoguideyou:
NeuropsychologicalEvaluation
BestFor:Multiplechallengesacross brainfunctions(e.g.,language,memory, attention),historyofmedicalcomplexity
Includes:Everythingincomprehensive, plusbrain-behavioranalysisandmedical impact
Pros:Deepestinsight,explainscomplex neurologicalissues
Cons:Longestandmostexpensive; moretechnicalreport
ComprehensivePsychological Evaluation
BestFor:Learningandattention concerns,nosignificantmedicalhistory
Includes:Cognitive,academic, emotional,andbehavioralfunctioning
Pros:School-friendlyformat,wellroundedevaluation
Cons:Maynotbedeepenoughfor complexmedicalcases
ADHD-Only
BestFor:Attention,impulsivity, executivefunctioning withno academicormedicalconcerns
Includes:TargetedtestingforADHDrelatedsymptoms
Pros:Quickest,mostaffordable, accessibletoschools
Cons:Doesn’tassesslearningorbroader issues We’reHeretoHelp. Weknowevaluationsareabigstep. Ourteamishappytotalkthroughyour concernsandrecommendthemost effectiveandcost-consciousoption.
FREE SPEECH-LANGUAGE, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY,
AND HEAR
AtTLC-TheTreatment Centers
Frombirththroughfivey childshouldreachcertai learning,movement,and milestones.
Donotdelayonschedulin foryourchild.Swiftactio yourchildreachtheirpot
ByAppointmentOnly!
Email:OutpatientScheduling@ttlc.org
Phone:(301)424-5200,ext.159
Website:www.ttlc.org
Address:1390PiccardDr,Ste210 Rockville,MD20850
Speech-Language,Occupational Therapy,andHearingRedFlags
Strugglingwithhandwriting, coloring,drawing,orcutting Clumsinessanddifficulty learningnewmotortasks
Botheredbytagsinclothingor loudnoises
Annoyedbymessyhandsand fingers
Difficultyfollowing1-or2-step directions
Speechthatisunclearand/or difficultypronouncingspecific sounds
Usingshortersentencesor moregrammarmistakesthan peers
Frequentlyaskstohavethings repeated
WhereTheFunWithFriendsNeverEnds
June30,2025-August15,2025
Designedforyoungchildrenwithspeechlanguageand/oroccupationaltherapy needs.Althoughchronologicalageisusedas aguideline(summerprogramsarefor childrenages3-7),wealsoconsiderthe developmentalageandneedsofthechild whendeterminingprogramplacement.
OurProgram: SmallGroups(2:1Ratio) ExcitingWeeklyThemes ArtsandCrafts OutdoorWaterFun ation 24-5202 rprograms@ttlc.org 0PiccardDr,Ste210Rockville, wttlcorg/services/summer
