Ashleigh Langheim, Ed.S., NCSP, LPES currently serves the South Carolina Low Country (Charleston, Mount Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, Summerville, St. George, Beaufort and beyond).

(T): 843.212.0380

(E): ashleigh@palmettoassessments.com | Psychology Today

Liz Hiller, Ed.S., NCSP, LPES currently serves the South Carolina Upstate (Clemson, Easley, Anderson, Seneca, Greenville and beyond).

(T): 864.453.0253

(E): Liz@palmettoassessments.com | Psychology Today

Our evaluation process typically begins with a complimentary phone consultation to understand your evaluation needs and to see if we are a good fit. This initial appointment involves speaking with the parent or caregiver; your child doesn't need to be present. If you're seeking an evaluation for yourself, the consultation will be directly with you.  Click 'SCHEDULE NOW' to book your appointment with the Licensed Psycho-Educational Specialist in your area.

For those ready to schedule an evaluation or have other inquiries, please contact the LPES in your area or complete the PALS CONTACT FORM. We look forward to hearing from you!

• Preschool age: 2 years+

• School-age: (elementary through high school)

• College students

• Adults (when the concern is related to learning, attention, etc.)

A psycho-educational evaluation is a thorough series of individually administered assessments aimed at evaluating a person's cognitive abilities, academic performance, and behavioral and emotional functioning against normative standards. These assessments are essential for identifying learning and/or behavioral disabilities and can also offer valuable insights into behaviors such as inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and executive functioning, among others.

At PALS, we recognize that every individual is unique, with their own set of strengths and challenges. Our comprehensive approach is designed to gain a deep understanding of each person's learning patterns and behaviors. This allows us to tailor our recommendations and instructional plans to meet the specific needs of you or your child. By focusing on personalized strategies, we aim to foster growth and development, ensuring that each individual can reach their full potential. Whether addressing academic concerns, behavioral issues, or emotional well-being, our dedicated team is committed to providing the support and guidance necessary for success.

Private psycho-educational evaluations provide numerous advantages compared to those conducted by school districts. Unlike school districts, which often only assess students identified as academically at-risk—resulting in many parental requests being declined—private evaluations offer a more comprehensive and personalized assessment. These evaluations employ methods that can diagnose issues such as Autism, Dyslexia, ADHD, and Anxiety, whereas public school evaluations primarily aim to determine eligibility for special education services rather than diagnosing learning, behavioral, or mood disorders.

Moreover, private evaluations are typically more timely, circumventing the long waiting periods often experienced in schools. Conducted by licensed professionals, these evaluations offer an unbiased perspective that helps in accurately identifying diagnoses. By adopting a thorough and individualized approach, private evaluations ensure that the unique needs of each individual are fully understood and addressed. This process leads to the development of personalized instructional plans that clearly answer the question, "What do I do next?"

Each evaluation is tailored to your or your child’s unique strengths and needs and is completed over several sessions. These sessions include:

• Complimentary Phone Consultation; review of referral concerns and determine the need for psycho-educational testing.

• (Virtual) Developmental Intake Session; comprehensive developmental and social history, review of all educational, and health records, etc.

• Testing Session/s; testing sessions will likely occur in the morning. All testing occurs at our local offices and typically last 2 to 3 hours each session. Please make sure your child is well-rested and has eaten a healthy meal before your appointment.

• (Virtual) Feedback Session (including a report); results and any diagnoses are explained in depth to the parents/guardians, and if appropriate, the child. Individual Instructional Plans/Recommendations are reviewed in detail.

• Continued Consultation; results from our psycho-educational evaluations provide meaningful information regarding your child’s cognitive and learning profile. We believe parents and guardians are the best advocates for their children and will thoroughly explain potential options in the educational setting.

All providers at Palmetto Assessments & Learning Services have extensive training and experience in assessing and diagnosing Autism.  The PALS Autism evaluation process includes collaboration and testing data analysis with both providers.  Our evaluations consist of the following: 

• Complimentary Phone Consultation

• (Virtual) Developmental Intake Session (1 to 2 hours); comprehensive developmental and social history interview and an Autism diagnostic intake interview.  

• Autism screening scales

• School/Community Observation conducted by the LPES.

• Comprehensive in person testing including assessments of cognitive abilities, academic achievement/school readiness, visual/motor skills, etc.

• Autism evaluation; providers at Palmetto Assessments & Learning Services have extensive training and experience conducting the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2nd edition (ADOS-2). The ADOS-2 is considered the “gold-standard” of ASD observation and measures and assesses behavior, communication, social interaction, play, imagination, etc.

• Autism, Social & Emotional, Behavioral, Adaptive Behavior, etc. rating scale instruments completed by parents or guardians and teachers or educators.

• The PALS professional team conducts additional observations as needed, collaborates, and evaluates all gathered assessment data to determine the presence of autism and/or additional diagnoses.

• (Virtual) Feedback Session/Continued Consultation

We do not accept insurance.  We are an out of network provider for all insurance companies.  Upon request, we can provide a Superbill, which can be submitted to insurance for possible reimbursement. We do accept FSA & HSA Card Payments.  It is essential you contact your insurance company for any questions regarding coverage.  description

We offer free consultations to help determine if our services align with your needs. Click ‘SCHEDULE NOW’ to book your appointment with the LPES provider in your area.

Hourly Rate: $150

Approximate Time for Evaluation: 10- 16 Hours

Average Cost: 1,500 to 2,400*

*This is an estimate for comprehensive initial evaluations to assess for ADHD, Autism, and/or Learning Disorders. Please contact us for individual pricing if you may be seeking a reevaluation or have a unique need.

• We require a $150 non-refundable deposit to reserve your evaluation appointments, which will be credited towards your total bill.

• Half of the remaining balance is due 24 hours prior to in person testing.

• The remaining balance is due 24 hours prior to the feedback appointment.

The assessments conducted by Palmetto Assessments & Learning Services adhere to South Carolina state special education guidelines for eligibility purposes. While schools may require additional evaluation components that can only be performed within the educational setting, parents and guardians are encouraged to share private evaluations with their child’s school. This can facilitate the consideration of specific services and supports, such as special education or 504 plans. Liz and Ashleigh are dedicated to collaborating with you and your child’s school to ensure that your child can effectively access their learning environment and achieve success in their education.

Ensuring your child is aware and informed of the evaluation process is helpful to alleviate any anxiety they may feel. We recommend initiating a simple conversation about how this process aims to uncover their unique strengths and provide support for any learning challenges they may encounter.  As clinicians, we often describe our role to children as being “learning detectives”, helping to uncover how they learn best so we can equip them with the necessary tools to support them in school, at home, and within their communities.

You are not required to stay at the office during in person testing appointments.

We prefer to get written consent from both parents before doing an evaluation. If both parents share custody, this consent is required. If one parent has full custody, we need a copy of the court order showing this. We try to involve both parents by having them fill out forms and rating scales whenever possible.