Frequently Asked Questions

In the days prior to your appointment …

  • Review your child’s baby book and early developmental milestones (ex. when was the first word, when did the child start to walk, etc.). Some of these questions will be on the intake packet.
  • Talk openly as a family about what concerns you want to discuss at the time of the appointment. Make a list of questions or points you want to be sure to cover.
  • Spend some time observing your child, particularly his/her play skills, social interactions, behaviors, and interests. Take some notes about what you observe.
  • Be sure to gather important paperwork ahead of time for the provider to review. This may include:
    • Discharge paperwork from the birth hospital
    • School paperwork (FIE, IEP/ARD)
    • Therapy evaluations (most recent)
    • Outside assessments (ex. ECI, psychologist, etc.)
    • Any pertinent medical information (ex. notes from consultants like neurologists; MRI or EEG reports; lab test results—such as genetic testing)
      • NOTE: The Whole Child does not have access to any medical records from other institutions. All reports that the family wants considered must be provided prior to or at the time of the appointment.
    • Feedback from teachers, other caregivers (ex. daycare providers), therapy providers, or people who know the child well
  • Any paperwork provided must be downloaded and printed by the family ahead of time and brought to the appointment as a hard copy or may be uploaded directly into the child’s medical record through the parent portal. Due to privacy rules, information can not be exchanged over cell phones or email directly with the provider.

On the day of the appointment …

  • Please be sure that the primary historian (i.e. the person who knows the child best) is present at the appointment. Both parents are welcome to attend the visit. Calling a parent on speaker phone or video to answer questions is not ideal for purposes of this type of assessment. For families in which the parents of the child are divorced, it is recommended that both parents be present at the time of the visit to provide history. Information will NOT be reiterated or reviewed separately over the phone or at the time of the team conference for the parent who was not present.
  • Please make sure that your child is well-rested and well-fed before the appointment, if possible.
  • We will need to re-schedule if your child has a fever or is too ill to participate in developmental testing. 
  • Please do not bring siblings or other children to the visit.
  • Please DO bring activities, toys, and comfort items that your child enjoys. You are welcome to bring snacks.
  • Please bring a list of all medications that your child is taking, if any.
  • Let your child know that this visit will mostly be a “talking visit.” There are no shots. The child’s weight, height, head circumference, and blood pressure/pulse will be taken at the time of the appointment. Parents can let the provider know if these procedures are too upsetting to the child and should be reserved for the end of the appointment.

Remember to be up-front and direct with the provider about your concerns. If you are concerned that your child might have Autism, don’t be afraid to say that at the beginning of the visit. This will help guide the provider about what questions to be sure to ask. Providing paperwork about previous assessments will not bias the provider in terms of diagnosis and may provide important data to consider.

The Whole Child does not currently offer the ADOS. The Whole Child does provide the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (CARS-2, Standard and High-Functioning). Although some regard the ADOS as the “gold standard” for Autism assessment, the test is only as good as the person administering it, and the ADOS is not a substitute for clinical experience and judgment. The ADOS is not necessary for accessing ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) or school-based services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Although history is essential and outside data are considered, a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder will only be made if the child meets the criteria for the diagnosis based on history, direct observation, and developmental assessment. Payment for a consultation does not guarantee a particular diagnosis.

All reports are provided to the family over the electronic health record to be accessed at any time. The family chooses whom to provide reports to. If the family authorizes The Whole Child to share a report with the pediatrician/primary care physician through a Release of Information (ROI), a copy will be sent via mail or fax to that physician. Reports are not sent to insurance or schools. Parents must complete an ROI to release reports to therapy providers.

No, The Whole Child does not conduct these types of assessments. Contact the Social Security Administration (ssa.gov) for more information.

No, The Whole Child does not conduct these types of assessments. These are considered “forensic assessments” and must be conducted by only certain trained professionals, which may include a forensic psychologist. The Whole Child will NOT make recommendations in reports or otherwise for child custody placement.

The following are some resources for forensic assessments:

  • The Children’s Assessment Center:
    • Address: 2500 Bolsover St, Houston, TX 77005
    • Tel: (713) 986-3300
  • Forensic Assessment Center Network:
  • Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: [email protected]

For children birth to three years of age:

Every state offers an early intervention service. In Texas, this is called Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). This is a FREE service to families that includes a developmental assessment to see if the child qualifies for services (typically provided in the home). Parents may self-refer. For more information, go to https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/early-childhood-intervention-services or search for “Texas ECI” on your browser.

For children 3 years of age and above:

 

As a taxpayer in your school district, your child can receive a FREE evaluation through your local school district. This is called a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) and is conducted by the district’s diagnostic team. The request for an assessment must be in writing. For more information, go to the Navigate Life Texas website at:  https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/en/education-schools/your-childs-right-to-a-public-education. Click on the link for the IDEA manual. Page 38 of the manual has a template letter form that can be downloaded for free. The IDEA manual also has instructions for the assessment and a timeline.

 

Academic centers typically take a variety of insurance plans. The following are centers in the Houston/Galveston area:

 

  • The Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Autism, Texas Children’s Hospital:
    • Address: 8080 N Stadium Drive, Suite 100; Houston, TX 77054
    • Tel: (832) 822-3400
    • The Meyer Center offers a Wait-List Workshop to help parents access services while waiting for a developmental evaluation.
  • University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, UT Physicians:
  • UTMB Galveston, Developmental and Behavioral Health:
    • Tel: 888-886-2543

 

Talk to the pediatrician/PCP. A child does not need to have a particular medical diagnosis in order to access services that are likely to be of great benefit.

 

  • If you are concerned that your child can not hear, ask for an audiology assessment (hearing test).
  • If you are concerned that your child is behind in speaking, understanding language, using clear speech, or feeding, ask for a speech/language therapy referral.
  • If you are concerned that your child is behind in fine motor tasks, has sensory issues, or can not perform activities of daily living to an age-appropriate level (ex. dressing, hygiene tasks), ask for an occupational therapy referral.
  • If you are concerned that your child is behind in gross motor tasks (ex. crawling, walking, climbing, etc.), has tight or loose muscles, or has issues with balance and coordination, ask for a physical therapy referral.

 

The important thing is to access therapies and services for your child as soon as possible.

 

These websites offer more insight into a variety of diagnoses:

 

American Academy of Pediatrics, parent education: https://www.healthychildren.org  

 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): https://www.asha.org

 

Autism Speaks: https://autismspeaks.org

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/

 

SPARK for Autism: https://sparkforautism.org

 

Although the provider can speak to you about medication options and make recommendations in the report, The Whole Child does NOT prescribe or manage medications. Most general pediatricians and primary care providers are comfortable managing a variety of medications. The State of Texas also offers CPAN—Child Psychiatry Access Network. CPAN is a network of academic hubs that provide telemedicine-based consultation, care coordination, and training to pediatric providers to assist with identifying issues and pertinent resources, as well as aid in medication prescription and management. Alternatively, your PCP may recommend that you consult with a psychiatrist. This is especially the case for children who may have severe, aggressive, and/or self-injurious behaviors.

YES! Longitudinal care is recommended. Please provide reports from the diagnosing clinician.

The Whole Child reserves the right to charge a reasonable fee for form completion. Any charge will be discussed with the family ahead of time, and an acknowledgement form for the fee will need to be signed. The Whole Child will complete attestation forms in regard to a new diagnosis made through The Whole Child (ex. diagnosis of ADHD in order to access 504 Plan through the school). The Whole Child will NOT complete forms for school or sports physicals, durable medical equipment (DME), medical supplies (ex. diapers, wipes), or other forms that are more appropriately under the purview of the child’s primary care provider (PCP) or other managing specialist.

Developmental testing using standardized tools is completed during the consultation. This testing is noninvasive and typically includes looking at pictures (stimulus items for testing),  completing puzzles/tasks, and/or demonstrating academic skills.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that certain genetic testing be performed for children with specific diagnoses. The provider will discuss any recommended genetic testing at the time of the appointment. Most insurance companies require prior authorization for testing, and The Whole Child does not conduct prior authorizations. The Whole Child will work with the family and the child’s primary care provider (PCP) to formulate a plan for obtaining recommended testing.

 

Likewise, imaging, such as an MRI of the brain, or an EEG to assess for seizure activity may be recommended. Again, the provider will discuss any recommended tests with the family. It must be noted that a brain MRI is NOT routinely ordered as part of the developmental assessment. Any recommended test is in accordance with AAP guidelines.

 

The Whole Child does not order blood tests for heavy metals or environmental toxins (though lead testing can be ordered through the PCP) or food allergy panels/invasive procedures (ex. for gluten sensitivity).

Children with complex medical needs may benefit from seeing a Complex Care team (i.e. a care team comprised of multiple medical specialists or a group of physicians who specialize in serving kids with complex medical needs). Many academic centers offer these types of clinics. Below is a list of clinics in the Houston/Galveston area:  

  • Texas Children’s Hospital, Complex Care Clinic, Tel: (832) 822-3436
  • UT Physicians High Risk Children’s Clinic, Tel: (832) 325-7196
  • UTMB Galveston, Pediatric Complex Care Clinic, Tel: (409) 772-2331