Q: What is neuropsychological testing like?
A: We offer comprehensive testing services that focus on cognitive and behavioral evaluation to assess for a variety of conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, mental health conditions, etc. The evaluation will provide information for your educational/health/mental health care providers to guide treatment and accommodations to help ensure your future success. The testing is done on a one-on-one basis. The length and number of sessions may vary, but most ADHD evaluations will require 4-5 hours total (learning disability evaluations can take 8-12 hours), which includes the neuropsychologist’s report writing time. Based on the referral question the examiner administers standardized tests that objectively measure attention, processing, executive skills, intellectual ability, academic achievement, learning/memory, and emotional/behavioral functioning. The environment is structured but casual at the same time.
Q: What learning disabilities are assessed?
A: Our neuropsychologists use intelligence and academic achievement tests to assess for intellectual disability and specific learning disorders in reading, mathematics, and written expression. These test results help to clarify diagnosis, provide a treatment plan, and strategies to help you or your child compensate for any learning disability that may be identified.
Q: What is intellectual testing? Do you offer gifted assessments?
A: Intellectual testing uses intelligence, or IQ tests to assess verbal reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, working memory, and processing speed to measure an individual’s potential for intellectual advancement and learning. Intellectual testing is often included as part of a more comprehensive evaluation. For example, this can be useful for determining proper placement in school programming, such as in the context of a learning disability or gifted assessment. While giftedness is not a psychological diagnosis, we use intelligence and academic achievement testing to help determine if your child is gifted and needs enhanced learning opportunities. Intellectual testing can also be used to determine if there is an intellectual disability that could impact functional and adaptive living skills.
Q: Do you conduct independent psychoeducational evaluations?
A: Yes. We are proud to partner with school districts in the community to provide a variety of neuropsychological, cognitive and learning testing services to help the needs of students that have not been satisfied by the school-based testing services. If you are a school professional and your school/district is interested in developing a contract with our neuropsychologists, please contact the office.
Q: What does a psychological evaluation entail?
A: Generally speaking, the goal of psychological testing is to help establish or clarify a mental health diagnosis through use of a comprehensive clinical interview and personality/emotional tests. The personality/emotional tests are administered in a self-report format, generally with paper and pencil tests that do not have right or wrong answers. Psychological testing can be especially useful when there is a complex psychological history, or an individual has tried various medications to improve mood and functioning without success.
Q: What is a vocational evaluation?
A: A vocational evaluation combines a clinical interview with standardized assessment of your interests, skills, and abilities. The testing outlines your cognitive strengths and weaknesses and integrates that information with your career interests to provide guidance for career exploration and selection. Vocational evaluations can be especially helpful when career change is desired, or direction is required before large amounts of money are invested in higher education.
Q: What is the age range for testing?
A: We provide ADHD testing for ages 5 through older adults. Learning disability and IQ evaluations are for school age through adults.
Q: How many sessions will I need to be evaluated?
A: As a general rule, there will be 2 visits. The first visit usually includes a 45-60 minute intake interview, and then time for testing. ADHD testing takes approximately 60-90 minutes, while a full learning disability testing battery can take 4-6 hours. When extended testing is required there is flexibility to break up the testing over 2 or more visits. The final appointment is approximately 45 to 60 minutes for a feedback session to explain the test results and recommendations.
Q: When is testing offered?
A: The doctors are flexible to work with your schedule to find a time that is convenient for you. The majority of testing appointments are conducted in the evenings and on weekends so you don’t have to take off of work or miss school to attend the appointment.
Q: Who should come with me to the appointment?
A: For adult patients, it is very helpful to have a family member, significant other/friend, or caregiver to accompany you to the first part of the appointment to help provide information about your history and current concerns. If someone cannot attend the appointment then the provider may ask your permission to contact them via telephone. For children/adolescents, a parent or caregiver must be present during the entire assessment process, since there are multiple questionnaires for the adult to complete regarding the child’s/adolescent’s behavior/emotional functioning. Parents/Guardians are not present in the room during their child’s/adolescent’s testing and remain in the waiting room. It is also encouraged to have a family member or friend attend the feedback session to discuss the test results (required for children/adolescents).
Q: When will I find out the results of the evaluation?
A: In most cases, results will be provided during the final visit, which is generally 1-2 weeks after your testing session. Also during this visit, the results and recommendations will be discussed with you in detail, you will be provided with a written report to take home with you, and you will indicate which of your health/mental health providers should get a copy of the report. In certain cases, additional time may be required to complete your report, and it will be mailed to you after the feedback session. Your results are confidential and will not be shared without your written consent. Forensic evaluations (e.g., lawyer referred) often do not include a feedback session.
Q: How should I prepare for the evaluation?
A: Complete the history form that can be found online (ADD LINK HERE), and bring it along with any medical/psychiatric records (relevant to attention/behavior concerns) and educational records (any current 504 or IEP or past psycho-educational testing) to your first appointment. It is important to provide your best effort during testing, so if possible, try to get adequate sleep the night before your appointment, and eat a good meal/snack before coming. It is normal to experience some nervous anticipation before your appointment, but many people find the evaluation to be an interesting and helpful experience.
Q: Should I take my ADD/ADHD medication before my ADHD testing appointment?
A: Please alert the secretary when you are scheduling your first visit if you are taking stimulant or non-stimulant medication to help you focus. In most cases it is helpful to conduct the testing when you are not taking medications designed to treat ADD/ADHD. Prior to the first visit we will encourage you to talk to your prescribing doctor/health care professional about stopping your medication for the evaluation. If you have taken your medication on the testing day, then the examiner will likely need to reschedule your appointment (but can conduct the clinical interview/intake).
Q: Do you provide testing for autism and related disorders?
A: We do not provide evaluations to diagnose autism; however, we can assess for cognitive strengths/weaknesses, ADHD, and learning difficulties in people who have a diagnosis of autism (depending on their cognitive level and ability to engage in testing).
Q: I think I have an auditory processing disorder. Is testing right for me?
A: Auditory processing issues and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) can impact one’s ability to process and learn information, so testing can be useful. The cognitive/learning tests our neuropsychologists use can reveal auditory processing issues; however, those conditions are only diagnosed by an audiologist or by a speech/language pathologist. If such a pattern is revealed during testing, the neuropsychologist will make a referral to the appropriate specialist for formal diagnosis.
Q: Do you provide testing for sensory processing disorder?
A: Sensory processing issues can be observed in multiple developmental conditions and co-occur with other attention and learning issues. Neuropsychological testing is not diagnostic for sensory processing disorders and is best assessed by an occupational therapist. However, if there are also concerns regarding attention and learning, then neuropsychological testing can be useful.
Q: What if I’m unsure if testing is appropriate for me or my child?
A: In select cases the neuropsychologists are available to complete only the clinical interview prior to deciding if testing is appropriate for you or your child. The information gathered during the interview can help the doctor know if the testing will answer your question and help with treatment planning. If you decide together that testing would be useful, then then it will be scheduled for a separate visit.
Q: What type of forensic services do you provide?
A: Our neuropsychologists provide consultation, IME’s, expert testimony, medical record reviews, and disability evaluations. Request for services and fee schedule can be obtained from the office staff.
Q: What payment options are available?
A: Under most insurance plans, neuropsychological testing services are not considered to be medically necessary for educational or occupational purposes, such as ADHD and learning disabilities. As a result the testing and report writing are billed as private pay. In order to defray costs we bill insurance for the clinical interview and feedback sessions. In select cases the student’s school district may cover the cost of the evaluation if the services are needed and cannot be provided by the school; policies may differ by school district, so consult them for more information. Psychological testing may covered by insurance and our office staff will work with you to determine that prior to the evaluation. Private pay services must be paid in-full prior to your first appointment. As the price of evaluations vary based on the complexity and time required to complete them, please contact the office for specific pricing.
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
A: 24 hour notice is required for cancellation, and 48 hours is preferred. You may be subject to a cancellation fee ranging from $50-$100 if you provide less than 24 hour notice or no-show for your appointment.