How to Prepare for an Online Psychological Evaluation

First, find out what is being asked

The most useful preparation happens before any appointment is on the calendar. If the evaluation is your own idea, write down in a sentence or two what you hope to learn. If a school, employer or agency asked for it, find out what they need.

Set up your device and connection

A video evaluation depends on the evaluator seeing and hearing you clearly. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) publishes a short list of telehealth tips that works well here.

• Camera: use the best camera you have, whether it is on a laptop, tablet, desktop or phone, and test it in advance
• Sound: test the microphone and speakers on your device. NIA suggests a practice video call with a friend, and notes that headphones or earbuds may make it easier to hear and be heard
• Connection: use the strongest internet connection available. On Wi-Fi, sit close to the router and reduce the number of other devices using it
• Power: charge your device ahead of time, or keep it plugged in
• Position: place the device on a sturdy surface, with your head and shoulders in the frame, so your hands are free
• Screen size: ask your evaluator whether a larger screen is needed for any part of the evaluation

Choose a private, quiet room

Where you sit matters as much as what you sit in front of. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that virtual visits may feel less private if people nearby can see or overhear an appointment. You will be asked personal questions, and you should be able to answer them freely.

• Pick a room with a door you can close, and tell the people you live with that you are not to be interrupted
• Limit distractions: silence your phone, close other programs and browser tabs, and turn off the television or radio
• Check the lighting. NIA recommends a place with good lighting so you can be seen properly. Light in front of you works better than a bright window behind you
• Have water, tissues, and your glasses or hearing aids within reach if you use them
• Know where you will be. Providers are licensed by state, so your evaluator may ask you to confirm your location at the start of an appointment

Gather records and information

Your evaluator will tell you what they want to see. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, says of ADHD assessment that the provider will let you know what health and school records you may need to gather, and that for adults old school records can help show whether symptoms began in childhood. Do not worry if you cannot find everything. Bring what you have.

• Old report cards and school records, especially ones with teacher comments
• Reports from any earlier evaluations or testing
• The written request from the school, employer or agency that asked for the evaluation, if there is one
• A list of your medications. NIMH recommends including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements
• What you know about your family's mental health history, which NIMH also suggests reviewing before an appointment
• A few specific examples from daily life, past and present, of what led you to seek an evaluation
• The name of a relative or partner who is willing to share what they have noticed, in case the evaluator asks. This only happens with your permission
• Your own questions, written down so you do not forget them

The day itself

Treat the day like an ordinary one. Sleep as you normally would, eat as you normally would, and wear something comfortable. The aim is for the evaluator to see how you usually are, not a version of you that is hungry, exhausted or keyed up.

There is nothing to study. MedlinePlus says that special preparations are usually not needed for an ADHD assessment, and that none are needed for an autism assessment. Looking up questions or practicing beforehand does not help you, because the point is an accurate picture. MedlinePlus also notes that answers to mental health questions should be honest and complete.

Nerves are normal. Being asked about your history, or being given tasks that get harder as they go, can be uncomfortable for anyone. It is fine to tell the evaluator you are nervous, to ask for a question to be repeated, or to say you need a moment.

Log in a few minutes early so that a technical problem does not eat into your time. Ask beforehand what to do if the connection drops.

An evaluation is not a crisis service. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.

How we can help

Locascio Wellness carries out evaluations entirely by secure video, for people who are physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona during appointments. That includes an autism evaluation and a cognitive evaluation, which looks at intellectual functioning. Other types are listed on our psychological evaluations page.

The first step is the short evaluation request form or a free 15-minute consultation, which you can schedule on our booking page. Tell us what you need, who is asking for it and any deadline, and we will tell you what to have ready.

Evaluations are private-pay and are not billed to insurance. A sliding scale is available, and you receive the cost in writing before anything is scheduled. See what evaluations cost.

If nerves about being evaluated are part of a wider pattern of worry, therapy is a separate service that can help with that. Our anxiety therapy page explains how it works. A little preparation goes a long way, and the rest is simply showing up as yourself.