Program to Enhance Attention, Regulation and Learning (PEARL)

Children and adolescents with attention, behavior or learning difficulties who are ages 5 to 15 at the time of referral. These issues may affect their family functioning, friendships, school performance and self-esteem.

Yes. You will need to talk with your child’s primary care provider. They can refer you for a PEARL Evaluation. We will let them know if we have any openings. If we do, we will call you to schedule the visit. The PEARL team will work with your child’s primary care provider because they will provide ongoing care for your child after the evaluation.

A psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner or pediatrician will coordinate your clinic visit. The evaluation often takes 2 visits.

Some team members who see you and your child may be trainees in psychology, psychiatry, medicine and pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. These trainees will discuss your child’s evaluation in team meetings led by faculty at the university. These team discussions help ensure your child is getting the best opinions for care.

1. Talk with your child’s teacher about concerns and questions.
2. Fill out forms online. Forms will be available through your child’s MyChart account. If you do not have a MyChart account or are unable to complete the forms ahead of your child’s visit, please come early to complete the forms on paper.
3. Gather medical or school records to bring, including any previous psychological or psychiatric evaluations or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) developed by the school.

During the evaluation, we will:

• Review your child’s medical history, including current and previous interventions or treatment and family history of attention, learning and psychiatric problems
• Interview you and your child to discuss concerns and assess for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (While talking with parents, children 12 or older will wait alone in the waiting room. If younger than 12, they will wait outside the clinic room door.)
• Look for factors that can contribute to or are similar to ADHD
• Identify your child’s strengths
• Talk about overall impressions and our recommendations for treatment

One or more of these things will happen. Your child will be:

• Referred to their primary care provider for follow-up care and recommendations
• Offered treatment options within the Behavior and Attention Management program, like training for parents or caregivers or medicine consultation
• Referred to another treatment program within Seattle Children’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
• Referred to another Seattle Children’s or community provider
• Invited to participate in research, if eligible

Evaluations and consult visits are scheduled through Seattle Children’s Magnuson in Seattle. Most evaluation visits are offered through telehealth (video visits). Some limited openings are available in person. Information on days and times will be shared with families when our scheduling team contacts you to schedule.

• Paperwork from previous medical visits or school records (e.g., IEPs)
• Medicine list, including a list of medicines and doses for ADHD or other mental health disorders
• A quiet activity or headphones (for younger children) for your child to use when we are interviewing you alone