What is a Neuropsychological Assessment?
Neuropsychology is the study of how the brain impacts our behavior, emotions, and thinking. As a pediatric neuropsychologist, I provide assessments to learn more about how a child thinks, feels, and acts. Information is gathered through interview, behavioral observations, parent and teacher questionnaires, and testing with your child. An evaluation is not a "one-size-fits-all" service, and the assessment is tailored to meet your family's needs. Although assessments can vary in scope, focus, and tests administered, the goals of all assessments remain the same: to help you gain insight into your child's strengths and challenges, to provide your child with increased understanding of how they think, feel, and behave, and to guide next steps towards improved success and confidence.
Services
Neuropsychological Assessment
A neuropsychological assessment can help clarify a child's strengths and challenges in a number of areas. With a neuropsychological assessment, I typically evaluate the following areas: cognitive abilities (including verbal and nonverbal skills), memory/learning, attention, executive functioning skills (e.g., planning, organization, inhibition), fine motor abilities, language, and emotional, behavioral, and social functioning.
Focused Assessment
At times, a focused or targeted assessment may be appropriate. Below are examples of additional evaluations offered in my practice.
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Psychological Assessment: With this assessment, I focus on assessing cognitive abilities, emotional functioning, and behavior.
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Psychoeducational Assessment: Cognitive and academic skills (i.e., reading, math, and writing) are assessed to describe academic strengths and challenges and to identify the presence of a potential learning disability.
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Autism Assessment: A child's social communication skills and preferences, sensory interests, and behavioral patterns are assessed to determine if a diagnosis of autism is appropriate.
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ADHD Assessment: If there is a specific question of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I can conduct a focused diagnostic evaluation to explore behaviors and symptoms.
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Developmental Evaluation: For younger children, a developmental evaluation focuses on social-emotional functioning, behavior, speech/language skills, motor skills, cognitive abilities, and (when appropriate) pre-academic skills.
Additional Services
I provide a variety of additional clinical and consultative services, including the following:
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Participation in IEP meetings
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Record review and second opinion assessments following a prior outside evaluation
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Assessment for standardized exam and college accommodations
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Treatment planning with physicians, school staff, therapists, psychiatrists, and other providers
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Ongoing follow-up after the testing process is completed
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Presentations/speaking engagements