What is the Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center?
Gundersen Lutheran’s Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center is a place for you to turn when your child has learning, behavioral or social issues and a multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation is desired.
It is important that your concerns have been addressed with your child’s primary care physician and that he or she also feels that the evaluation is necessary for your child. For this reason, we do require a written physician referral.
The Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center takes a team approach to analyze the challenges faced by each individual child. Children are referred to the Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center for various reasons including such concerns as learning disabilities, intellectual deficiencies, difficulties with paying attention, behavior problems, neurological impairments and vision and hearing impairments.
Some of the specialists on our team include:
- Pediatrician
- Developmental pediatrician
- Behavioral health specialists (could be a psychologist/psychiatrist and/or social worker)
- Speech and language pathologist
- Occupational therapist
- Pediatric neurologist
- Audiologist
- Ophthalmologist/optometrist
- Pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation physician
- Physical therapist
- Medical education specialist
- Others as needed
Our team will work with you and your family to answer your questions and find the resources that can help your child.
What is the evaluation process like?
The evaluation process begins before your first visit to our Center. Following an initial conversation regarding your primary concerns, we will collect basic demographic data and then gather records and materials. Our medical education specialists review these materials, including questionnaires from you and your child’s teachers, school and medical records and other information you feel may provide us with valuable background information on your child. After reviewing the information, the medical education specialists meet with our developmental pediatrician to determine the diagnostic team best able to meet your child’s particular needs.
If an evaluation is deemed necessary in the best interest of your child, it is scheduled with the specific team of specialists chosen. Most evaluations take place over the course of one to three days, depending on the number of appointments needed. The medical education specialist working with your child will meet with you during the evaluation but is available at any time before that time as well to answer your questions or concerns.
After the evaluation is complete, the team of specialists meets privately to discuss your child. The team then meets face-to-face with you and anyone else you would like to have at the meeting such as teachers, social workers or grandparents. At this “staffing” our team discusses their impressions, answers your questions and helps develop a treatment plan.
Shortly after the evaluation you will receive a summary report providing a brief overview of the team’s comments relating to diagnosis, your child’s strengths and areas in need of improvement. Within a few weeks, you will also receive a written letter containing further comprehensive details of the evaluation findings and recommendations.
Does the Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center provide treatment?
The Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center is not a treatment center; it is used to diagnose conditions that contribute to learning, behavioral and social problems. The evaluation will provide you with an overall view of your child’s development and an assessment of his or her strengths and needs. We will refer you to the people who can treat your child in the areas of need.
Are there options to choose from for various levels of service?
Since all children are different, the types of services we provide differ as well. A full diagnostic team evaluation can be expensive and sometimes families are faced with tough decisions regarding the level of services they can afford. If for whatever reason your child is not an appropriate candidate for a full team evaluation, the Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center offers several optional services including school observations, consultation with our medical education specialist, testing by our medical education specialist only or other offerings that would be beneficial to your child.
How old are the children who are evaluated?
Some of the children we evaluate are as young as 3; the oldest are college-age.
Where is the Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center located?
The Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center is located at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse, Wis. La Crosse is about two-and-a-half hours southeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul and two hours northwest of Madison.
How do I make an appointment?
For more information on the Learning & Developmental Diagnostic Center or to find out if your child is a candidate for services, call (608) 775-2719 or (800) 362-9567, ext. 52719.
A Patient Business Services financial counselor is on staff to provide financial counseling.