Common Questions About Neuropsychological Testing

As an experienced clinician specializing in neuropsychology, special education and family dynamics, I bring a unique approach to evaluations that sets me apart from other professionals. My goal is not only to determine the cause of your child’s struggles and identify their strengths but also to provide a comprehensive understanding of how they learn, think, process information, and interact with their environment. 

While standardized test batteries offer valuable insights, my evaluations go beyond mere test scores. I delve into the holistic assessment of your child, considering their individuality and experiences. I welcome neurodiversity as being a healthy and normal part of the human experience and help both you and your child appreciate their strengths and challenges.  

The assessment goes beyond just giving a diagnosis, even if a diagnosis is warranted.   While a diagnosis can help your child get special services and treatments at school, it’s not needed to start helping them. My evaluations aim to help parents, teachers, and other professionals understand your child better. By working together as a team, we can create a personalized plan for the future, including interventions, support, and decisions about their education that fit your child’s specific needs.

By leveraging this knowledge, you, as a parent, can play an active role in your child’s development, promoting optimal growth and facilitating their success.

Choose me as your clinician, and together we will embark on a transformative journey of comprehensive assessment, personalized support, and collaborative empowerment. Let us unlock your child’s true potential and pave the way for their brighter future.

The testing process involves an initial meeting with parents and Dr. Eichenstein to gather a complete developmental and family history. We value your honesty and assure you that all information is confidential. Dr. Eichenstein will also write a friendly letter to help your child understand the process.

Your child will have several sessions, lasting 1 ½ to 3 hours each. We strive to make the experience enjoyable, with tasks like sorting blocks, drawing, and answering school-related questions. They may also engage in physical activities like hopping or balancing. Children and teens generally find the evaluation experience enjoyable.

During the sessions, parents typically do not participate but can wait in the waiting room. If your child is comfortable, you may leave for the duration of the session. The evaluation will cover areas such as cognitive abilities, academic achievement, learning style, processing skills, memory, attention, emotional and behavioral issues, speech and communication, and motor skills. 

In some cases, a classroom visit may be included, which incurs additional charges. Classroom observations can provide valuable insights for the assessment process, especially for many children.

The evaluations may include:

1. Cognitive abilities and intelligence scales (“IQ”): Assessments designed to measure your child’s thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
2. Academic achievement: In-depth assessments to evaluate your child’s proficiency in reading, math, and writing.
3. Learning style evaluation / Twice Exceptional Learners: Identification of your child’s unique learning style and considerations for twice-exceptional learners who have both exceptional abilities and learning challenges.
4. Visual and auditory processing skills: Evaluations to assess how your child perceives and processes visual and auditory information.
5. Memory and learning: Assessments of immediate, short-term, and long-term memory skills to understand how your child retains and recalls information.
6. Levels of attention and focus: Evaluation of attentional abilities, including assessing ADHD and executive functions such as judgment, planning, and problem-solving.
7. Emotional, personality, and behavioral issues: Assessments to explore emotional well-being, personality traits, mood, social skills, anxiety levels, emotional reasoning, and specific behavioral concerns.
8. Pragmatic (social) speech and communication skills: Evaluations of your child’s ability to engage in effective social communication, including receptive and expressive language skills.
9. Motor skills: Assessments to evaluate motor skills, coordination, proprioception (awareness of body position), and fine motor abilities.

In some cases, a classroom visit may be arranged as part of the evaluation process, which can provide valuable insights into your child’s functioning in an educational setting. Please note that additional charges may apply for classroom observations.

Click here to schedule your discovery call as soon as possible. The average wait is 2-3 months to start testing, although rush testing is sometimes possible. 

If you are considering requesting an evaluation for your child, please note that there is usually a waitlist for testing

Yes, with pleasure. Click here to schedule a 15-minute complimentary discovery call. Or email Dr. Rita to set up a one-hour consultation session. This charge will be applied to the basic evaluation fee if you decide later to have your child tested. Since there is often a waitlist for testing, setting up a consultation appointment sooner rather than later is advised.