Evaluations & Assessments
Development Assessment
Therapy Evaluation(s)
Special Needs Clinic

Evaluations & Assessments:

If you are concerned about the development of your child’s language, gross or fine motor skills or social/emotional skills, the Special Learning Center can help.

Upon the request of concerned parents, physicians and/or other service providers, the Special Learning Center staff routinely conducts developmental assessments and evaluations. An assessment and/or evaluation are required before early intervention services can be provided by the Special Learning Center or any other such entity.

The assessment process from beginning (initial contact) to end (services being provided) takes a maximum of 45 days but usually less. The Special Learning Center makes every effort to complete the assessment/evaluation process in two weeks so services for the child can begin as soon as possible.

Developmental Assessment:

Conducted by a developmental specialist or therapist, the assessment provides an overall picture of the child’s development in a number of skill areas: gross motor, fine motor, self-help, social/emotional, cognitive and language. The assessment consists of a parent interview, observation and the completion of a standardized evaluation instrument(s). The assessment takes a maximum of two hours depending on the age of the child. If needed, further evaluation may be recommended in specific disciplines such as physical, occupational and/or speech therapy.

Therapy Evaluation(s):

Physical, occupational and speech therapy evaluations are conducted by a licensed therapist and provide a more comprehensive assessment of specific areas of concern. While the developmental assessment may indicate a delay in gross motor skills, for example, the therapy evaluation will take into account muscle tone, reflex activity, etc. involved in performing gross motor skills. A combination of parent interview, observation and standardized testing instruments are used in conducting the therapy evaluation.

Special Needs Clinic:

This outpatient clinic is offered the 2nd Friday of each month at the Special Learning Center. Two physicians from the University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics see pediatric patients with special needs on an appointment-only basis. Clinic patients do not have to be enrolled in a Special Learning Center program to be seen at the clinic.