A neuropsychological evaluation assesses a broad range of skills and abilities to gain a better understanding of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, and how these patterns of skill may be impacting learning, emotional regulation, social functioning, and problem solving. A neuropsychological evaluation involves working directly with your child in a one-on-one setting and assessing skills such as verbal reasoning, perceptual and spatial reasoning, memory, processing speed, academic skill and fluency, executive functioning (e.g. problem solving), visual-motor precision and speed, and emotional/social functioning.
Although a full neuropsychological evaluation can be extensive and your child may be participating for several hours, my approach to testing is child-directed, with breaks provided as needed. My goal is to obtain the most accurate reflection of a child’s skills and abilities, while working within a timeframe that could be considered like a typical school day. I work directly with your child and do not use technicians, as I find observation of how a child approaches a task, deals with frustration, responds to encouragement, and problem-solves on novel or difficult tasks a valuable tool in the overall assessment process.
In addition to direct testing, collateral data is obtained such as behavioral rating scales, review of previous records and school information (report cards, classroom papers, etc), school observations, and interviews with parents and teachers. Following the evaluation, I meet with parents (and the student if appropriate) to discuss the test results and make recommendations for services, supports, and interventions, if needed. A full written report is also provided to parents, and further consultation with school is available if requested.
A neuropsychological evaluation can be helpful if you, your child, or your child’s teacher note concerns regarding academic progress, difficulty thinking, memory problems, emotional or behavioral changes, or social difficulties. Children who are suspected of having, or have been diagnosed with specific disorders such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, or learning disabilities often benefit from a neuropsychological evaluation, especially if other interventions have been attempted but have not been beneficial. Children or teens with a history of a medical condition such as epilepsy, brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological or genetic disorders might also benefit from neuropsychological evaluation.
Often in my practice I work with children who have had previous testing (i.e. intelligence and achievement testing, speech/language testing) completed at their school, through an agency or private provider, or as part of a specific therapeutic evaluation (such as speech, occupational, or physical therapy). Neuropsychological evaluation can supplement previous testing especially if parents, teachers, or therapists feel “something else” may be missing from the overall picture of the child’s skills and abilities. Further exploration of other neurocognitive skills can provide additional information to assist schools, parents, and other providers through collaborative interventions and supports to help the child succeed.
Dr. Hagar does not take private insurance and is not an “in-network” provider for any insurance company, but some insurance companies may provide “out of network” benefits. Patients can be provided with a bill that documents the specific procedure codes and amount/fee of service provided which can then be submitted to the insurance carrier. Note that all fees for service are due at the time of the service unless otherwise agreed upon. Payment for services is accepted by cash, check, or credit card (Master Card®, Visa®, Discover®, or American Express®).