What is a pediatric neuropsychological assessment?
- A pediatric neuropsychological assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that examines a child’s or adolescent’s specific profile of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Evaluations are individualized to the child’s needs and the presenting concerns. Skills assessed may include cognitive/thinking ability, attentional and organizational skills, visual-spatial ability, memory and learning skills, problem solving and reasoning, integration and output abilities academic development, emotional, behavioral, and social functioning, and skills of daily living.
- The goal of the assessment is to provide a clearer understanding of your child’s strengths and weaknesses in order to offer recommendations for educational, vocational and intervention planning.
- All evaluations consist of a detailed history, a comprehensive review of records, the core evaluation, a comprehensive report (including a review of the history, test results, diagnostic impressions, recommendations, and “next steps”), and a face-to-face feedback. Ongoing developmental management and consultation is provided, as needed/requested.
When should parents consider a pediatric neuropsychological evaluation for their child or adolescent?
- Suspected cognitive or learning difficulties
- Academic or day-to-day inconsistencies
- Lack of expected outcomes to interventions
- Attentional, behavioral or emotional concerns interfering with school performance and/or daily functioning
- A disparity between a child’s ability/potential and his/her performance
- Difficulties with learning and memory
- When a child has a history of developmental delay
- A medical condition affecting learning and development (e.g., concussion, seizures, migraines, head injury, etc.)
- When it is unclear why a child is struggling
- To document any changes in a child’s abilities or achievement since prior evaluations
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Three Stages of the Evaluation Process: A neuropsychological evaluation typically consists of three stages
- Intake/Clinical Interview: An initial intake/clinical interview will take place to gather important information regarding current symptoms and concerns as well as obtaining comprehensive information regarding the child’s developmental, medical, behavioral, emotional, learning, and family histories. Consultation may also take place with any other treating professionals (e.g., neurologists, primary care physicians, and/or psychiatrists). During the intake, the examiner will discuss the evaluation process for your child and will let you know what additional information will be needed to complete testing. This intake/clinical interview is typically one-hour.
- Testing/Assessment: Testing involves paper-and-pencil and computerized tests. Many tasks are game-like/”brain-teasers” while others are question-answer tasks, problem solving tasks, learning and memory tasks, or academic-type tasks, for example. Testing usually ranges from 4-5 hours. One day is scheduled for the testing, but the test day may be split into two days depending on patient needs. Patients take breaks, as needed, throughout the test day and a 45-minute lunch break is provided mid-day.
- Information Conference/Feedback: Two to three weeks after the evaluation, feedback regarding the results of testing, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations will be comprehensively reviewed with the patient. A comprehensive report will also be provided within one-week of the feedback appointment, which describes, in much greater depth, the results and recommendations from the evaluation. This feedback is typically one hour.
- Some families may require additional follow-up and consultation for a more comprehensive understanding of their child or for ongoing monitoring and management. Children are encouraged to come in for a separate feedback session to hear a modified version of the results.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Questionnaires: Parents and (often) teachers are asked to complete standardized and open-ended questionnaires regarding the child’s functioning.
- Medical/School Records: Parents are asked to provide all relevant medical (e.g., seizure treatment, head injury treatment, MRI’s, etc.) and school records (e.g., SAT scores, IEP’s, report cards, etc.).
- Release of Information Forms: Parents will be required to complete Release of Information forms if they would like Dr. Evans to speak with, receive, and/or provide information to any individuals regarding your child.
Additional Forms: Parents will need to complete various other necessary forms for the evaluation (e.g., HIPAA, Financial Agreement), etc.
