Resources
Parent Resources for South Bay Families
Clear, practical answers to the questions parents ask most about testing, learning differences and school support. Written by Dr. Maddison Paul, licensed clinical psychologist in Hermosa Beach.
Testing basics
How to prepare your child for testing day
A practical checklist for testing day: sleep, breakfast, what to bring, what to tell your child by age, and what not to do.
When is a teen's struggle more than a phase? Signs a complex evaluation can help
How to tell normal teen ups and downs from something more, and when a comprehensive psychological evaluation can bring clarity.
ADHD
How much does an ADHD evaluation cost in Los Angeles?
What drives the cost of an ADHD evaluation, what the fee should include, and how insurance, HSA/FSA funds and free school evaluations fit in.
ADHD in girls: why it is often missed and what it looks like
Why ADHD in girls is often missed, what inattentive ADHD looks like from grade school to the teen years, and what to do if you're worried.
Adult ADHD: signs you may have had it all along
Common signs of ADHD in adults, why many people go undiagnosed for years, why women are often diagnosed late, and how adult diagnosis works.
What age can a child be tested for ADHD?
When a child can be tested for ADHD, what testing looks like for preschoolers and 5 year olds, and how to tell if it is too early to test.
Dyslexia and learning
Signs your child may have dyslexia, by age
What dyslexia can look like from preschool to high school, what it isn't, and the next steps if you're worried about your child's reading.
What is dysgraphia, and how is it different from messy handwriting?
What dysgraphia is, how it differs from messy handwriting, the signs by age, how it's diagnosed and the school accommodations that can help.
Autism
What happens during an autism evaluation
Each step of a child or teen autism evaluation, what the DSM-5-TR criteria mean, possible outcomes, and how to talk with your child about results.
Signs of autism in teenage girls that parents often miss
Signs of autism in teen girls that are easy to miss, how masking hides them, how autism differs from social anxiety, and what to do next.
School support
School testing vs. private evaluation: IEP, 504, and why parents go private
How free school evaluations and private evaluations differ, how IEPs and 504 plans work in California, and how the two kinds of testing fit together.
What is a 504 plan, and how is it different from an IEP?
What a 504 plan is, who qualifies, how it compares with an IEP, and how to request one for your child in California.
SAT accommodations and ACT accommodations: how documentation works
How SAT and ACT accommodations work, how to request extended time, and what documentation the College Board and ACT look for, including for ADHD.
Have a question these guides don't answer?
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