My Approach
Neuropsychological assessment is a process of exploring and measuring, using carefully designed tests, different kinds of information processing (higher-level brain processes) to determine which work more or less efficiently for that person. These are: cognitive (thinking) processes, including memory, language, and reasoning; executive (control) processes, including attention and concentration, working memory (holding information in mind), retrieval fluency, initiation and inhibition of responses, and processing speed; emotion (motivation) processes, including anticipatory anxiety and excitement, novelty seeking and aversion, frustration tolerance, emotional regulation, and mood stability; and sensory sensitivity and motor coordination.
For Children
Children may have challenges with devoping early skills, with learning in academic areas, with enjoying and succeeding in school, with getting along with their peers and making friends, or with anger, anxiety, rigidity or other problems with mood or behavior at home. Neuropsychological assessment can help identify more precisely what underlies their problems and identifying ways to support them, including counseling, educational support, medication and parenting strategies.
IEE – Independent Educational Evaluation
Children who receive special education services undergo an assessment by the school district. This includes a psychological assessment – cognitive testing and social emotional questionnaires, an educational assessment – testing of skills in reading, mathematics and written expression, a social history, and sometimes a speech and language assessment and an occupational therapy assessment. Sometimes if the child’s issues are still not understood or the services provided do not seems to be sufficient, the district will recommend, or the parents can request, a neuropsychological assessment by an independent provider who is not connected with but has been approved by the district. This can be very helpful in understanding and supporting a child who’s issues are perhaps more subtle or complex.
Teens and Young Adults
Often in high school or college people hit a wall with academic or social emotional progress. The many challenges that come together at this stage of life along with an ability to begin to seek self-understanding make this a very valuable time to do neuropsychological assessment. The process it self can have a therapuetic effect, in that we are spending time talking in an unthreatening setting and doing tasks that address different kinds of thinking. We get to see what kinds of tasks are easier or more enjoyable and observe any difficulties with particular kinds of processing. Issues with mood or temperament, conditions such as autism spectrum, attention deficit or executive functioning problems will be illuminated, and recommendations for treatment or accommodations for school or work can be made based on the findings.
Adults
Neuropsychological assessment for adults can help clarify problems with work, relationships, mood, improve self-understanding and self-esteem. Sometimes we get further along in our life and realize that we may have a condition or processing problem that was never formally identified – do I have ADHD? Autism? A person may be stuck – in an unhealthy relationship, and unrewarding job, or have anxiety, depression or anger issues that need a better approach. The findings can clarify a neurologic or neuropsychiatric diagnosis or help guide psychotherapy, relationship counseling or career counseling.
Memory Loss
Sometimes we become concerned about our own or our family member’s memory or cognitive functioning. Neuropsychological assessment can be very helpful in ruling out or clarifying age-related memory or cognitive decline, or changes in mood or personality. Sometimes we do a neuropsychological assessment as a baseline so we can do it again in a year or two and see if there is any decline if there continues to be a concern.
Injury or Illness
Neuropsychological assessment can be valuable at any age to clarify the nature and extent of cognitive difficulties accompanying a neurologic, autoimmune, or chronic inflammatory or infectious illness, such as long-covid, persistent Lyme disease, or multiple sclerosis. People who suffer concussion or traumatic brain injury can benefit by getting concrete and specific information about any cognitive difficulties they are experiencing and how these are resolving.
How it Works
The neuropsychological assessment is a comprehensive process that is billed once and includes multiple visits, review of records and summary report. The final visit is called an informing conference where everything is reviewed and explained. One or more testing sessions are scheduled, for two or three hours each, and testing is done one on one, with pictures, puzzles, questions and so on, some of it presented on an iPad and some with paper and pencil. There is time built in for discussion and breaks, and the whole process is designed to be comfortable and engaging. When you schedule an appointment, I will email a one-page document describing the steps and the cost.