What Is A Neuropsychological Evaluation Like And What Will It Tell Me?
Machines? Blood Tests? Puzzles?
No. No. And yes, sometimes. Neuropsychological evaluations are largely paper/pencil, computer/tablet-based, or basic manipulative-based (e.g., blocks, pictures, pegs) tests, ranging anywhere from seconds to minutes. Specific measures employed will vary depending on age, ability level, education level, history and referral question. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation includes all possible domains of cognitive assessment including: intellectual functioning, attention/executive functioning, academic achievement, learning and memory abilities, visual spatial skills, motor functioning, language abilities, social/emotional functioning, and adaptive functioning.
A typical evaluation will include an initial consultation, neuropsychological assessment (i.e., testing sessions), and a feedback session to discuss results and answer questions as well as to provide recommendations to the family or individual. Evaluation involves standardized (normed) tests designed to understand how different areas of the brain function independently and as a network. An initial consultation is required to best understand the nature of the services being sought, evaluate the appropriateness of a neuropsychological evaluation for the individual, and gather an in-depth comprehensive interview (including collateral data and interviews). A full evaluation can requires anywhere between 3 and 20 hours (may be divided into several sessions) depending on the age of the child, the child’s testing style, the number of measures required, and the questions to be answered. For younger children, the actual testing portion is usually shorter, though the clinical interviews and questionnaires/collateral information is often more significant. In the report, the neuropsychologist may recommend that your child get specific supports and services at school as well as referrals to other types of professionals (psychologist, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, reading specialist, or health care provider who can prescribe medication).
A neuropsychological evaluation will provide a cognitive and psychological profile of your child's strengths and weaknesses. An evaluation will provide formal diagnoses, a baseline of functioning (e.g., before treatment with either medicine or surgery), assist with determination of limitations in daily functioning and decision-making capacity, information regarding effects of medication or treatment, and recommendations for your child. These evaluations best serve those individuals who may struggle to keep up with peers academically, socially, emotionally, developmentally, or functionally. Additionally, children who appear to have fallen behind academically due to an intellectual disability, learning disability, inattention, language delay, physical impairment or emotional disturbance would similarly benefit. Children of suspected superior intellectual capacity may be provided with formal data for admission to gifted programs/schools and resources to best fit their targeted needs. For those who feel their child will benefit from accommodations, the more documentation of difficulties as a young child available (e.g., a paper trail), the greater the chances are of receiving appropriate accommodations.