X

Subscribe

* indicates required

Diagnostics

What Diagnostic Services Does PPCH Offer?

Our Clinical Diagnostics and Psychological Services Department provides psychological/neuropsychological evaluations tailored to meet a wide variety of referral requests, including:

  • Assessment for determination of waiver service eligibility (including IQ/adaptive behavior testing)
  • Trauma-related disorders
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism spectrum disorder)
  • Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Cognitive/academic functioning
  • Learning disabilities
  • Substance abuse disorders
  • Personality, mood, and attachment disorders

We also provide case consultation, records reviews, and doctorate-level therapy.

What Evaluations Does PPCH Offer?

This is a comprehensive evaluation to assess an individual’s intellectual and adaptive functioning to see if they meet diagnostic criteria for an intellectual or developmental disability. The evaluation helps guide decisions about appropriate interventions, supports, and services for the individual. It is often used to aid in the determination of eligibility for services through case management agencies (CMA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

This evaluation measures an individual’s ability to perform the tasks of daily life necessary for independent living and social participation. It evaluates how well a person can adapt to their environment and manage tasks in the areas of conceptual, practical, and social skills. An adaptive functioning evaluation is often used in diagnosing developmental or intellectual disabilities, or in the context of evaluating the impact of a disability on an individual’s independence.

A comprehensive assessment conducted to determine whether an individual has difficulties with specific academic skills (e.g., reading, writing, or math) that significantly impact their ability to succeed in school or work. This evaluation provides a clear understanding of strengths and weaknesses in order to inform and then implement appropriate resources and strategies (into an IEP/ performance plan) to support success. Commonly known SLDs include dyslexia (reading difficulties), dysgraphia (writing difficulties), and dyscalculia (math difficulties).

This evaluation is a structured assessment used to better understand an individual’s mental health, behavior, emotions, and cognitive functioning. It typically involves interviewing, standardized tests, observations, and collateral information. Results may help diagnose mental health conditions, guide treatment planning, assess cognitive and emotional abilities, and/or address specific concerns. An evaluation may vary in depth depending on the purpose, which can consist of diagnosing disorders (including neurodevelopmental conditions), planning interventions, and/or understanding strengths and weaknesses.

This evaluation, similar to a psychological evaluation, assesses an individual’s cognitive (e.g., memory, attention, executive functioning, language/communication skills, visual spatial processing), emotional, and behavioral functioning, and focuses on how the brain’s health affects these areas. Results may provide insight into how the brain’s functioning impacts the individual’s daily life, diagnose neurological conditions, identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and/or monitor changes over time in cognitive/neurological functioning. Evaluation of traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may fall under this category.

Utilizing a structured process, this type of evaluation assesses an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It typically includes interviewing, observations (of behavior, appearance, mood, speech, thought processes, and cognitive abilities [e.g., memory, attention]), standardized assessments, and collateral information. Results may help to identify mental health conditions, better understand symptoms, and guide treatment.

This is a specialized mental health assessment to support individuals involved in immigration legal proceedings. The evaluation adds credibility to legal cases by presenting an expert analysis of how immigration-related events (e.g., deportation, trauma, family separation) affect an individual’s mental health. It helps immigration attorneys build stronger cases for their clients. Immigration evaluations are often used in cases such as:

  • Hardship Waivers: Demonstrates how deportation or separation would cause extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member.
  • Asylum Applications: Documents the psychological effects of persecution, trauma, or torture in the applicant’s home country.
  • U-Visas: Supports individuals who have been victims of serious crimes and are assisting law enforcement in investigations.
  • VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Cases: Assesses the psychological impact of domestic violence or abuse.
  • Cancellation of Removal: Highlights the severe consequences of deportation on the individual and their family.
  • N-648: This is a form used in the U.S. immigration process, officially titled “Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.” It is submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to request an exemption from the English and/or civics requirements for naturalization based on a medical disability or mental impairment.

Who Does PPCH’s Diagnostic Department Serve?

We contract with counties across the Front Range to provide both private and Medicaid-funded services. We serve adults and children (ages six and up). We specialize in child welfare, intellectual and developmental disabilities, dual-diagnosis and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, trauma, early childhood development, and family dynamics.

Locations

We maintain offices in Aurora, Lakewood, and Louisville. All offices are located on bus routes. Some evaluations can be administered within the community.

Contact

Dr. Suzanne Switzer

Dr. Suzanne Switzer, PhD
Director of Clinical Diagnostics and Psychological Services


Contact Us

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.