The Purpose of Neuropsychological Testing
Clinical professionals conduct cognitive assessments, including various neuropsychological testing, to examine cognitive and emotional functioning, as well as behavior and social skills. These professionals use a variety of instruments to measure different aspects of your child’s brain health, especially in cases of traumatic brain injury.
By looking at the neuropsychological test results, professionals can perform a thorough neuropsychological evaluation to conclude how your child learns, remembers, and processes information, pays attention, solves problems, and more. With a deeper understanding of cognitive functioning, particularly identifying any cognitive impairments, you can encourage success in school, at home, and in social situations.
A Comprehensive Neuropsychological Evaluation
Neuropsychological evaluations typically include a neuropsychological assessment battery, a wide battery of tests to fully understand one’s cognitive functions. Don’t worry, though—there are no needles, white lab coats, or beakers filled with fizzing chemicals. Here’s what you can typically expect during these assessments:
A parent or guardian intake session: During this initial session, you provide information about your child’s developmental, medical, educational, and psychological history. This gives the clinical neuropsychology professional a framework of reference to interpret neuropsychological test results and determine strengths and weaknesses.
A family member intake session: Your child meets the medical professional for the first time, with the opportunity to ask any questions. They may also be asked to complete a few questionnaires about their feelings, mood, personality, interactions with others, and school performance, helping to identify potential mental disorders.
A few days of testing: Over a few days, your child participates in a wide variety of neuropsychological evaluations that shed light on their intellectual functioning, attention and executive performance, educational achievement, ability to think, and emotional and behavioral skills. Depending on the reason for referral, these assessments may also include tests that measure visual-spatial and visual-perceptual skills, fine motor coordination, language skills, as well as memory measures.
Start Your Child's Journey Today
Neuropsychological Tests
What Are Neuropsychological Tests? If you’re having trouble concentrating or making decisions, some simple tests might help understand what’s wrong. They’re called neuropsychological tests. Neuropsychology looks at how the health of your child’s brain affects their thinking skills and behavior and identifies any brain injury. These tests are usually done with a pencil and paper in a doctor’s office. They may also be done on a computer. Or, a neuropsychologist may ask your child a series of questions that they can answer orally. This testing also includes a review of medical history. Neuropsychological testing can be done in different ways. The most common types of these tests are:
Cognitive Assessment: Tests the mental processes and abilities such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and language skills.
Memory Assessment: Tests how well someone remembers information.
Language Assessment: Tests how well someone communicates through language.
Motor skills Assessment: Tests how well someone uses their physical skills.
Start Your Child’s Journey Today
Want to learn more about how neuropsychological testing can help your child transform their life? Reach out to Abbey Neuropsychology today to schedule a free discovery call and explore the full range of possibilities.
Key Benefits of Neuropsychological Assessments
Here are some key reasons why neuropsychological evaluations are crucial for understanding your child’s brain:
Neuropsychological evaluations help determine the presence and severity of cognitive deficits, particularly with disability claims and diagnostic information for conditions such as dementia and post-concussion syndrome. You can also determine how appropriate for a patient with positive and negative effects on their mental functions.
Neuropsychological Diagnosis
One of the primary benefits of a neuropsychological assessment is to diagnose or rule out any possible conditions. Neuropsychological testing is crucial for differential diagnosis, helping to distinguish between various conditions such as dementia and amnesia. These evaluations are used to determine if a diagnosis such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or Learning Disabilities (LDs) is present.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, these assessments are essential for diagnosing neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. They can also be used to identify any other areas in which your child may need additional support, highlighting weaknesses in brain function relating to memory, language, and more.
Continuous Improvement
Neuropsychological testing and evaluation are not one-off events—they’re often used over time to understand the impact of interventions and treatment, providing a baseline for reference. Neuropsychological evaluation involves a series of tests conducted by a neuropsychologist or clinical psychologist to identify abnormalities in intellect, reasoning, memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed.
This makes it possible to make adjustments as needed, to ensure constant and consistent support. These assessments also reveal the incredible progress that your child makes over time. For example, if they are diagnosed with ADHD, you can compare their ability to focus on specific tasks now to before they started treatment. You can ensure they have the tools and support by monitoring their progress to achieve their full potential.
Tailored Support
Neuropsychological Testing provides a comprehensive understanding of your child’s unique needs, allowing professionals to tailor support strategies specifically for them. These assessments evaluate various cognitive processes, including processing speed, memory, attention, reasoning, and judgment. For instance, if your child struggles with processing information or has trouble staying organized at school, neuropsychological testing may suggest accommodations like extended time on tests or a quiet work environment. With this personalized approach, your child can receive individualized support that addresses their specific challenges.
Advocacy
Finally, a major benefit of taking a neuropsychological assessment is that it provides valuable documentation and evidence to advocate for your child’s educational needs. Managing bills or finances can be a significant challenge, and unexplained personality changes might be related to difficulties in this area. Schools require documentation of any diagnoses and recommended accommodations.
Personalized Support
By taking the time to undergo neuropsychological testing and evaluations, you gain a comprehensive view of how your child’s brain works. These evaluations can help identify the extent of functional cognitive impairment caused by various conditions. With this information, it’s possible to create an individualized treatment or education program for your child’s specific needs. The brain training gives your child the tools they need to succeed in school, with peers, or at home. As mentioned before, these treatment programs can be adjusted as needed. This ensures that your child is receiving the best possible support and can achieve their full potential.
Special Accommodations
Neuropsychological evaluation can also determine what support and services your child needs for life outside of treatment itself. They may recommend special accommodations, such as extended time during tests, mental or movement breaks at school, or a guidance counselor. These accommodations can help your child succeed in daily activities outside of treatment, leading to a happier and healthier life.
Overall Improvement in Cognitive Functioning
Neuropsychological Evaluation can also be used to determine what support and services your child needs for life outside of treatment itself. They may recommend special accommodations, such as extended time during tests, mental or movement breaks at school, or a guidance counselor. These accommodations can help your child succeed in daily activities outside of treatment including cognitive skills, leading to a happier and healthier life.
Transform Your Child's Life With Abbey Neuropsychology After Traumatic Brain Injury
At Abbey Neuropsychology, we understand the nuances of living with conditions and developmental disorders like ADHD, ASD, depression, or traumatic brain injuries. That’s why we’ve spent years fine-tuning our evaluation to provide your child with the most thorough, personalized treatment options. Get in touch today to learn more!