Frequently Asked Questions

We offer comprehensive testing services that focus on cognitive and behavioral evaluation to assess for a variety of conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, mental health conditions, etc. The evaluation will provide information for your educational/health/mental health care providers to guide treatment and accommodations to help ensure your future success. The testing is done on a one-on-one basis. The length and number of sessions may vary, but most ADHD evaluations will require 5-6 hours total (learning disability evaluations can take 8-12 hours), which includes the neuropsychologist’s report writing time. Based on the referral question the examiner administers standardized tests that objectively measure attention, processing, executive skills, intellectual ability, academic achievement, learning/memory, and emotional/behavioral functioning. The environment is structured but casual at the same time.

The Screener is a clinical interview only (no testing/forms) designed for adults who are unsure if they should pursue a Standard Evaluation given certain circumstances (e.g., limited/no symptoms in childhood, overlapping high levels of stress/anxiety/depression). If an ADHD Standard Evaluation is recommended based on a clinical interview and pursued, the cost of the screener will be deducted from the total cost of the Standard Evaluation. NOTE: Screeners are not meant to establish a diagnosis or provide documentation of a diagnosis.

We provide ADHD testing for ages 5 through older adults. Learning disability evaluations, memory screenings, and neuropsychological evaluations are for school age through older adults.

As a general rule, there will be 2 visits for ADHD testing and 3 visits for learning and neuropsychological evaluations. The first visit usually includes a 45-60 minute intake interview, which can be often done via telehealth. ADHD testing takes approximately 2 hours, often followed by a feedback session right afterward. A full learning disability testing battery can take 4-6+ hours. When extended testing is required there is flexibility to break up the testing over 2 or more visits. The final appointment is approximately 45 to 60 minutes for a feedback session to explain the test results and recommendations.

The doctors are flexible to work with your schedule to find a time that is convenient for you. The majority of testing appointments are conducted in the evenings and on weekends so you don’t have to take off of work or miss school to attend the appointment.

For adult patients, it is often helpful to have a family member, significant other/friend, or caregiver to accompany you to the first part of the appointment to help provide information about your history and current concerns. If someone cannot attend the appointment then the provider may ask your permission to contact them via email or telephone. For children/adolescents, a parent or caregiver must be present during the entire assessment process, since there are multiple questionnaires for the adult to complete regarding the child’s/adolescent’s behavior/emotional functioning. Parents/Guardians are not present in the room during their child’s/adolescent’s testing and remain in the waiting room. It is helpful to have a family member or friend attend the feedback session to discuss the test results (required for children/adolescents).

Intellectual testing uses intelligence, or IQ tests to assess verbal reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, working memory, and processing speed to measure an individual’s potential for intellectual advancement and learning. Intellectual testing is often included as part of a more comprehensive evaluation. For example, this can be useful for determining proper placement in school programming, such as in the context of a learning disability or gifted assessment. While giftedness is not a psychological diagnosis, we use intelligence and academic achievement testing to help determine if your child is gifted and needs enhanced learning opportunities. Intellectual testing can also be used to determine if there is an intellectual disability that could impact functional and adaptive living skills.

Please alert the secretary when you are scheduling your first visit if you are taking stimulant or non-stimulant medication to help you focus. In most cases it is helpful to conduct the testing when you are not taking medications designed to treat ADD/ADHD. Prior to the first visit we will encourage you to talk to your prescribing doctor/health care professional about stopping your medication for the evaluation. If you have taken your medication on the testing day, then the examiner will likely need to reschedule your appointment (but can conduct the clinical interview/intake).

In most cases, results will be provided during the final visit, which is generally right after your testing session, but can be up to 1-2 weeks after your testing session. Also during this visit, the results and recommendations will be discussed with you in detail, you will be provided with a written report to take home with you, and you will indicate which of your health/mental health providers should get a copy of the report. In certain cases, additional time may be required to complete your report, and it will be mailed to you after the feedback session. Your results are confidential and will not be shared without your written consent. Forensic evaluations (e.g., lawyer referred) often do not include a feedback session.

Complete the history form that can be found online and bring it along with any medical/psychiatric records (relevant to attention/behavior concerns) and educational records (any current 504 or IEP or past psycho-educational testing) to your first appointment. It is important to provide your best effort during testing, so if possible, try to get adequate sleep the night before your appointment, and eat a good meal/snack before coming. It is normal to experience some nervous anticipation before your appointment, but many people find the evaluation to be an interesting and helpful experience.

We currently offer some therapy based services that target executive functioning strategies along with addressing frequent co-occurring emotional challenges (e.g., stress management for high stress levels, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, depression/poor motivation, etc.). When appropriate, we also make referrals to primary care physicians or psychiatric providers for medication options to treat ADHD.

Auditory processing issues and Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) can impact one’s ability to process and learn information, so testing can be useful. The cognitive/learning tests our neuropsychologists use can reveal auditory processing issues; however, those conditions are only diagnosed by an audiologist or by a speech/language pathologist. If such a pattern is revealed during testing, the neuropsychologist will make a referral to the appropriate specialist for formal diagnosis.

Sensory processing issues can be observed in multiple developmental conditions and co-occur with other attention and learning issues. Neuropsychological testing is not diagnostic for sensory processing disorders and is best assessed by an occupational therapist. However, if there are also concerns regarding attention and learning, then neuropsychological testing can be useful.

In select cases the neuropsychologists are available to complete only the clinical interview prior to deciding if testing is appropriate for you or your child. The information gathered during the interview can help the doctor know if the testing will answer your question and help with treatment planning. If you decide together that testing would be useful, then then it will be scheduled for a separate visit.

• If you suspect your child is underperforming in school and a diagnosis has not
  been established.
• If you are reluctant to have your child medicated for ADHD without objective
  proof.
• To help clarify diagnosis when ADHD symptoms don’t respond to treatment.
  As an adult you suspect that you had problems with attention as a child that were
  never diagnosed.
• You have a neurological condition (e.g., TBI, stroke, MS, epilepsy/seizures,
  concern for dementia) that is impacting your functioning and you are looking for
  guidance/help.
• You are concerned about your memory or other thinking skills changing over time
  as you age and want to establish a baseline of your cognitive abilities.
• Your physician has recommended a spinal cord stimulator as a treatment for
  chronic pain.
• You have a difficult to understand or treat mental health condition.
• You want to know more about your personality to optimize functioning.
• To know more about your cognitive strengths and weaknesses to guide future
  career decisions.