How would my child benefit from a neuropsychological evaluation? How is is this different than a psychoeducational evaluation?
A neuropsychological evaluation can be helpful in clarifying the nature of your child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses in light of observed and reported difficulties your child may be having in school or at home. It can be instrumental in identifying pervasive developmental delays (PDD) and autism spectrum disorders, language and visual processing deficits, learning difficulties, attentional problems, and emotional challenges particularly when such clarification is not provided by other professionals.

A neuropsychological evaluation looks at a much wider range of skills than a psychoeducational evaluation.  It also examines these skills and processes them in greater detail in order to break them down into component parts and discover where the problem lies. A neuropsychological evaluation goes into much greater depth than a psychoeducational one because in addition to evaluating IQ and academic achievement, a neuropsychological evaluation looks at attention, memory, executive functioning, sensory/motor skills, language, and a thorough assessment of emotional/social functioning.

Results of a neuropsychological evaluation can provide insight into your child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses and will inform treatment and intervention. The purpose of a neuropsychological evaluation is ultimately to identify the nature of strengths and weaknesses and to help your child develop tools with which deficits can be remediated.

When should I seek an evaluation?
Your child’s teachers report persistent difficulties.
When your child is struggling in school despite school-based and/or home-based support.
Your child appears to struggle with retaining information and requires frequent redirection.
Your child has a history neurological or developmental delay.
Your child has suffered a brain injury or illness that impacts his/her cognitive development.
Your child is possibly experiencing a psychological disorder, such as depression or anxiety.
Your child may seem highly intelligent to you and others, but still struggles to complete schoolwork or in-class work on time.
You need guidance as to the most effective educational plan for your child.
Your child just does not seem to keep up with his/her peers in class.
Your child has few friends, despite a desire to be socially successful.

How long does an evaluation take?
Depending on the type of evaluation, age of your child, and referral question(s), as evaluation can take anywhere from 4-10 hours. Typically, sessions are conducted over 1-4 visits, which each visit lasting 2-6 hours. For each hour spent with your child, Dr. Fitzgerald typically spends 1-2 hours scoring and formulating an assessment.

I want my child tested but I am concerned that they are too young. What is the best age to complete an evaluation?
Children can be evaluated as young as 3 years old on certain measures. Dr. Fitzgerald evaluates children ages 4 and older. IQ becomes much more stable around age 6. That being said, an IQ score is not perfectly reliable and is an estimate of your child’s intellectual ability. As with any estimate there is some amount of error variance associated with your child’s IQ score. It is not uncommon for an IQ score to vary as much as 7 points across testing administrations. It is probably more accurate to talk about your child’s IQ being within a range (i.e., 95% confidence interval), rather than a single score.

Will this evaluation be helpful in receiving testing accommodations?
No evaluation can guarantee that your child receives accommodations either in school or on standardized tests.  Dr. Fitzgerald, however, has extensive experience conducting evaluations whose results are used by families in their application for testing accommodations.

How much does an evaluation cost and does my insurance cover the testing?
Dr. Fitzgerald does not accept insurance directly, but will assist in facilitating patient reimbursement for the testing. Many health insurance companies will reimburse partially for a neuropsychological evaluation and patients are encouraged to submit invoices to their carriers. A flat fee for each evaluation is presented at the outset and payment is expected at the time of services rendered.

What happens after the testing is completed?
Once all the tests are administered and the rating scales completed and returned, Dr. Fitzgerald spends many hours scoring these tests and comparing them to normative samples.

Next, she spends a considerable amount of time putting all of this quantitative information together with qualitative observations and comments, as well as background information to formulate the appropriate diagnoses and a complete picture of your child’s strengths and weaknesses.  This is then compiled into a detailed report of findings that will also include a comprehensive set of specific recommendations.

A feedback session is then scheduled with you and your child, when age-appropriate.  At this time, you will receive a copy of your child’s report. At your request, a meeting with your child’s school can also be arranged at an additional fee.