Neuropsychological testing
What is a neuropsychological evaluation?
A neuropsychological evaluation (assessment) is a form of psychological testing that examines a child's mental abilities as they may be related to neurologic or other medical disorders, mental health difficulties, or problems at school. The primary focus of a neuropsychological evaluation is the child's cognitive functioning, considering abilities such as intelligence, language, visual-motor skills, memory, attention and organizational skills. Behavior and emotional factors are also considered as they affect the child's performance, but they are not the main focus of evaluation.
The primary goal of a neuropsychological evaluation is to understand a child's strengths and weaknesses, and with this knowledge to assist parents, physicians, and others working with the child at school and in other settings.
How is a neuropsychological evaluation done?
A neuropsychological evaluation is typically conducted during one or more daytime appointments, at a time when the child is accustomed to doing school-type work. Its length varies depending on its purpose, the child's age and the child's mental abilities. Most children above age five require two testing sessions lasting 2 to 3 hours. Findings and recommendations are discussed with parents during a separate one-hour session. Attendance at the feedback session is required, as it is necessary for integration of test results with parents' understanding of their child.
The written product of a neuropsychological evaluation is a report detailing test findings, impressions and recommendations. The report is prepared after the feedback session and is forwarded to parents, though it is also designed to be shared with schools, physicians, and others working with the child.
Due to the nature of our service, it is not usually possible for us to attend off-site conferences such as school meetings. We cannot evaluate children in languages other than English, so our ability to serve non-English speaking children is limited.
How is a neuropsychological evaluation different from other types of evaluations (such as psychoeducational, developmental)?
Mental ability testing of children below age five or six is typically different from neuropsychological testing of school-aged children, and provides slightly different information. With younger children, the most appropriate approach to ability measurement is typically a developmental evaluation.
Neuropsychological and psychoeducational (school-based) evaluations often overlap because they measure many of the same abilities. Neuropsychological evaluations offer the benefit of our experience with complex neurological and medical disorders in childhood and consider results within the framework of brain functioning. Some areas of ability, such as memory, attention and problem-solving are addressed in neuropsychological evaluations but are not typically assessed in school settings. Psychoeducational evaluations, on the other hand, may offer more detailed diagnostic information about subtypes of learning problems, and more specific information relevant to school curricula and academic programming.
Uses of neuropsychological evaluations
Neuropsychological assessment can inform the diagnosis and management of some medical conditions that affect brain functioning. It can help to track a child's status over time and as a response to treatment. Some medical conditions for which neuropsychological assessment may be useful include:
Requesting a neuropsychological evaluation
To request a neuropsychological evaluation, contact 1-800-KIDS DOC. We review each request to insure that an evaluation is likely to be helpful to the child and those working with him. If, for example, a child has recently been tested, re-evaluation may not be useful. In such instances, we provide consultation to parents and others working with the child and help them to seek appropriate services.
Please note that insurance companies vary in their coverage for neuropsychological evaluation services, depending in part on the reason an evaluation is being requested. Our reimbursement specialist will help you to determine your coverage and the cost to you of an evaluation.
Other resources
National Information Center for Children with Disabilities: Publications Directory
Schwab Learning: A Parent's Guide to Helping Kids with Learning Difficulties
Illinois State Board of Education: Special Education Services
Illinois State Board of Education: Parent's Guide – The Educational Rights of Students with Disabilities (downloadable handbook)