Neuropsychological Evaluations

Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations are completed to assess an individual’s cognitive and executive functioning. These evaluations will include an assessment of IQ and academic achievement, and will also delve further into specific domains of neuropsychological functioning. Some areas of cognitive and/or executive functioning that can be evaluated in neuropsychological testing include, but are not limited to: attention and concentration, learning styles, planning and cognitive flexibility, memory, processing speed, language, visual-perceptual and/or graphomotor abilities.

 

When to Seek a Neuropsychological Evaluation:

Neuropsychological testing may be recommended by a health provider, parent, teacher, or through self-referral. A specific referral question is typically proposed at the outset of testing for our clinicians to answer. Examples of referral questions that warrant neuropsychological testing include, but are not limited to:

  • My child seems to be struggling with paying attention and concentrating. Does my child have ADHD or is something else going on?
  • My child seems to have problems communicating and/or interacting socially with others. Does my child have a non-verbal learning disability?
  • Does my child have a weakness in one area of his/her intellectual/ executive functioning that may warrant remediation?
  • My child seems to work significantly slower than other children. Does my child need accommodations?
  • My child seems to be working harder than most and is still not achieving in school. What is causing my child to struggle with his/her academic performance?
  • My child is performing below their grade level or is struggling in school. Does my child have a learning disorder or intellectual disability?
  • I (or my adolescent) need testing to determine eligibility for accommodations on standardized testing (e.g., SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE) or for college/graduate school accommodations.
  • My child seems to find school boring and is exceeding past the standards for their grade level. Is my child intellectually or academically gifted?
  • My child was refused testing and/or services by the school system, but there seems to be something affecting them academically or socially.
  • My child was recently diagnosed with ADHD and/or a learning disability and I would like testing to see if I have the diagnosis as well.

If you are having any thoughts related to the concerns listed above, you or your child may benefit from our neuropsychological testing services. This type of evaluation will assess an individual’s neurocognitive processes in great detail to clarify why you or your child may be struggling in school and/or your career. It will also provide information regarding you or your child’s areas of strength and weaknesses and what interventions can be used to address any impairments.

What the Process Entails

Initial Session:

  • A clinician will first hold parent and child/adolescent intakes to conduct clinical interviews. These are held on separate days. For adults, only one appointment may be necessary. These appointments will give you, your child, and your clinician a chance to discuss your concerns in person and explore why you are seeking an evaluation.
  • These sessions will also allow your clinician to gather information about you or your child’s personal and medical history to incorporate into their evaluation. We may also use parent, teacher, and self report measures as screening tools. All together, this information will help the clinician make the most appropriate recommendations for you or your child’s testing plan.
  • Upon completion of these sessions, the intake clinician will work with your family to determine the length and content of the testing sessions moving forward.

Testing Sessions:

  • Neuropsychological evaluations range in the length of time needed for testing. At the first testing session, you will receive a written estimate regarding the evaluation. Testing is individualized for each patient but often will be completed over the course of a few visits. Testing is typically completed in the mornings/early afternoons so that our patients are refreshed and can perform to the best of their ability.
  • Evaluations can include a school observation.

Obtaining Report & Feedback Session:

  • After completion of all standardized testing, the report will generally become available around 4-8 weeks after you or your child’s last testing session (faster turnaround times may be available upon request).
  • Once the report is completed, your clinician will schedule feedback sessions with you (and your child) to discuss the results and recommendations.
  • After the feedback session, you will receive a copy of your final report, which will describe test results and recommendations for you or your child. We will also make any necessary referrals, attend school meetings, and consult with other professionals upon your request.

Confidentiality:

  • Lastly, your assessment results will remain strictly confidential. They will not be shared with anyone else without your written consent.
  • Parents may sometimes want to share a portion of the report with school personnel or a treatment provider. In this case, we will provide you with an edited version of the report for the recipient’s review.