Assessment

How can an neuropsychological/psychoeducational assessment help?

  • Understand whether learning differences exist - they may contribute to anxiety, sadness, low self-esteem, or behavior problems

  • Understand how an individual learns best

  • Help match expectations to an individual’s specific strengths and weaknesses

  • Understand why ongoing treatment has stalled

  • Formulate an individualized treatment plan that is effective and focused

What concerns can be addressed by an assessment?

IN CHILDREN & TEENS:

  • Feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork

  • Taking a long time to complete homework

  • Difficulty concentrating on schoolwork

  • Anxiety about schoolwork or going to school

  • Difficulty expressing thoughts clearly in writing

  • Poor grammar

  • Punctuation or capitalization errors

  • Slow, laborious reading

  • Difficulty grasping math concepts

  • Difficult-to-read, laborious handwriting

IN ADULTS:

  • Difficulties concentrating

  • Feeling overwhelmed

  • Difficulty organizing or communicating ideas effectively

  • Time management problems

  • Difficulty finishing tasks

  • Interrupting others

  • Making impulsive decisions

  • Anxiety specific to work or coursework

How does the process work?

1. Optional 15 min Phone Call. Should you wish, I am happy to talk to you about the assessment process and answer any initial questions you may have.

2. Initial Consultation. Assessments begin with a 90 min consultation with parents or adult patients (via video). I will do a comprehensive clinical interview and then recommend an assessment personalized to your child's/your unique needs. At this point, you would decide if you want to proceed with the assessment (steps 3-7 below).

3. Questionnaires. Your child, parents, and teachers complete complete questionnaires so we can obtain standardized data about how your child functions relative to his or her peers.

4. School Observation/Collateral Calls. Depending on the age of the patient and clinical appropriateness, I may do a school observation or talk to relevant team members (e.g., psychiatrists, therapists).

5. Testing & Child Interview. I conduct in-person testing (w/ COVID-19 precautions) and a child interview (if appropriate). All testing is usually completed over the course of up to two days. Testing must occur in the mornings/early afternoons to get an accurate assessment. I test on weekdays.

6. Feedback Meeting. Once all of the above are completed, I will meet (via video during COVID-19) with parents to review findings and provide written, detailed recommendations so that you can immediately implement an individualized treatment plan. I will also meet with adolescents to provide a shorter summary of the results.

7. Detailed Written Report. I will send a detailed written report with the data needed for documentation as well as explanations for parents/patients to understand assessment results. A shorter overview document is also provided listing strengths and weaknesses.

8. Optional Follow-Up Services. I can also provide a number of optional follow-up services. This may include attending IEP meetings, additional meetings to address follow-up concerns/process results further, and providing therapy.

*If you would like to proceed, please begin here.*

What are the different types of assessments?

Learning disability assessments

    • A combination of intelligence testing and academic achievement testing is used to assess whether a learning disability in math, reading, writing, or handwriting is present.

ADHD assessments

    • A clinical interview, standardized questionnaires, intellectual testing, and executive function testing is used to assess for the presence of ADHD and to characterize an individual's unique neurocognitive profile.

Integrated neuropsychological assessments

    • Learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, and depression frequently co-occur, and an integrated evaluation will blend two or three of the above evaluations. Learning or attention problems can be a source of anxiety or low self-worth – identifying this is an essential first step of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Intellectual assessments

    • These are required for admission to some private schools.

Individualized assessments of executive functioning, memory, processing speed, learning

Assessments of functioning associated with neurodevelopmental, neurological, cardiovascular, genetic disorders, or concussions.

    • This may include impairment related to prenatal difficulties

My expertise

I am highly trained in developmental cognitive and affective neuropsychology, meaning I am skilled not only in recognizing attentional and learning difficulties throughout development, but also in distinguishing them from the commonly co-occurring feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness. I am well-versed in the latest research and will incorporate this into your personalized treatment recommendations.