A Fresh Perspective for Important Decisions
Sometimes families leave an evaluation feeling confident about the next steps. Other times, they continue to have questions, receive differing recommendations from professionals, or wonder whether another perspective might help guide important decisions. A second opinion provides an opportunity to review your child's developmental history, previous evaluations, and current concerns with fresh clinical perspective.
At Early Mind Institute, every second opinion is individualized. Some families benefit from consultation and review of existing records alone, while others may benefit from additional targeted assessment or a recommendation for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. EMI does not believe in repeating previous evaluations unnecessarily, our goal is to help determine what additional information—if any—is needed to answer your family's questions.
What to Expect
1. Initial Inquiry
Share your primary questions and previous evaluation reports.Book an individualized consultation session.
2. Review & Recommendation
We will determine whether a second opinion is likely to address your concerns or whether another service would be more appropriate.3. Personalized Fee Estimate
You'll receive a recommendation outlining the anticipated scope of services and associated fees before scheduling.4. Second Opinion Consultation
Services are individualized based on your child's needs and the questions you hope to answer.Targeted Re-evaluation or assessments might occur
Questions We Help Address
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Can you help me better understand my child's previous evaluation and recommendations?
Are there important findings that I may have overlooked or misunderstood?
Which recommendations should we prioritize first?
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Does my child need another evaluation?
Are additional assessments likely to provide meaningful new information?
What services or supports should we consider next?
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We've received different recommendations from different professionals. How should we think about them?
How do medical, educational, and therapeutic recommendations fit together?
Are there additional perspectives we should seek?
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How should we approach upcoming educational decisions?
How do previous evaluation findings relate to school supports or services?
What should we be monitoring as my child develops?
What a Second Opinion Does Not Typically Include
A second opinion is not intended to replace a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. In many situations, meaningful diagnostic clarification requires direct assessment using standardized measures, behavioral observations, and integration of multiple sources of information.
For this reason, a second opinion typically does not include:
A complete independent neuropsychological evaluation
Comprehensive diagnostic clarification when additional testing is necessary
Re-administration of extensive standardized testing
Formal confirmation or revision of previous diagnoses without sufficient clinical evidence
Definitive opinions when available information is incomplete or insufficient
If additional assessment is necessary to responsibly answer your questions, we will discuss the most appropriate evaluation options with you before proceeding.
Important Considerations
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the process of providing medical/school records?
To ensure an efficient review process, families are responsible for obtaining and providing any records they would like considered as part of the second opinion. These may include previous evaluation reports, school records, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 Plans, therapy reports, medical records, or other relevant documents.
Early Mind Institute does not routinely request records directly from schools, healthcare systems, or other providers on a family's behalf. However, if a school, hospital, or medical provider requires written authorization before releasing records to you or to our practice, we are happy to provide a Release of Information form to facilitate that process.
Providing records directly also allows families to determine which information they wish to include in the review and often helps avoid delays associated with third-party record requests.
Why isn't there a fixed fee?
Second opinions vary considerably in scope. One family may have a single evaluation report and a focused question, while another may have multiple years of medical, educational, and therapy records requiring careful review. Rather than charging every family the same fee, recommendations and pricing are individualized based on the anticipated clinical work involved. Services start at 2000 USD.
Will I need another comprehensive evaluation?
Not necessarily. Many families find that consultation and review of existing information provide the clarity they are seeking. However, if the available information is insufficient to answer your questions responsibly, we may recommend a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation or targeted assessment. Any recommendations will be discussed with you before additional services are scheduled.