A neuropsychological/educational evaluation is a thorough assessment of your child’s intellectual, academic, cognitive, social and behavioral/emotional functioning.
Once I complete all of the testing with your child, I analyze and interpret the test results in order to identify your child’s unique style of learning and processing information (cognitive strengths and weaknesses). This key knowledge informs individualized recommendations that are designed to bring out your child’s potential. Educational recommendations may include special educational services and/or specific accommodations in school and on standardized tests. In addition, targeted learning strategies are provided, which utilize and build on the cognitive strengths your child demonstrated during the evaluation to compensate for his/her weaker areas. Diagnostic formulations are also determined through testing, when appropriate.
A comprehensive written report detailing your child’s performance, interpretations, and recommendations is provided, and discussed in a feed-back session.
I individualize test batteries in order to address each child’s specific challenges. By using a flexible battery approach, I first select tests based on the hypotheses I generate during the parent interview. I then modify that test battery as needed, determined by ongoing test performance and/or observation. For example, if testing indicates that your child may be having some difficulty in reading comprehension, additional tests will be added in order to understand the nature and severity of the difficulty, even if this was not an initial parental concern. In this way, test batteries are tailored to each child’s specific needs.