Frequently Asked Questions

A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment designed to understand how an individual thinks, learns, remembers, pays attention, regulates emotions, and functions in everyday life. By integrating standardized testing with interviews, clinical observations, developmental history, and collateral information, it provides an individualized understanding of each person’s strengths and areas of vulnerability.

Each evaluation includes a core battery of standardized measures that is individualized based on the referral question and the individual’s unique needs. Areas commonly assessed include:

• Cognitive functioning
• Academic achievement
• Attention and executive functioning
• Receptive and expressive language
• Learning and memory
• Visual-spatial and visual-motor functioning
• Emotional, behavioral, adaptive, and personality functioning

Not every evaluation includes the same tests. The assessment is tailored to answer the specific referral questions while providing a comprehensive understanding of the individual’s strengths and areas of vulnerability.

A neuropsychological evaluation is most helpful when a lack of understanding is making it difficult to determine the best path forward. Sometimes families come to an evaluation with a clear question: Does my child have ADHD? Dyslexia? Autism? Other times, the questions are less clear. You may be wondering:

• Is my child struggling to pay attention, or are they simply not interested?
• Does my child dislike reading, or is reading harder for them than it should be?
• Why can my child understand something one day but seem to forget it the next?
• Why does my child know the material but struggle to show what they know on tests?
• Why does homework take so much longer than it seems like it should?
• Is my child avoiding something because it is difficult, because they are anxious, or both?
• Why do the strategies or supports we have already tried not seem to be working?

When difficulties persist despite reasonable support, or when you find yourself repeatedly asking why something is happening, a neuropsychological evaluation can help identify the factors contributing to the problem and clarify what to do next.

A neuropsychological evaluation can be useful even if your child is not experiencing distress. The insights gained through testing can help teach us how best to leverage your child’s strengths, so they can grow to their full potential.

The evaluation is intended to serve as a roadmap for moving forward. Together, we review the findings, discuss individualized recommendations, and develop a plan tailored to the individual’s needs. Planning may include:

• Educational supports and accommodations, including learning support services, IEPs and 504 Plans, and standardized testing accommodations
• Specialized instruction and academic remediation, including targeted intervention in reading, writing, or mathematics
• School placement and educational transitions, including consideration of specialized settings when appropriate
• Executive functioning support and strategies for organization, planning, time management, and independent learning
• Therapeutic and developmental interventions, including psychotherapy, speech-language therapy, and occupational therapy
• Medication consultation when attention, mood, anxiety, or other concerns may warrant consideration
• Parent consultation and home-based strategies to support implementation across settings

Each full evaluation includes a three-month follow-up appointment to check in on your progress. Depending on the situation, ongoing consultation, intervention, educational planning, or follow-up services may be recommended to help translate recommendations into meaningful action.

The evaluation process, including the intake interview, testing sessions, feedback meeting, and written report, is typically completed over several weeks. The exact timeline varies depending on scheduling, the complexity of the referral question, and the time required to thoughtfully integrate and interpret the findings.

How long are the testing sessions?

Comprehensive neuropsychological testing sessions typically last approximately 3 to 3½ hours, including scheduled breaks. The length of updated evaluations, targeted assessments, and screenings varies depending on the reason for the evaluation and the scope of the assessment, and may range from approximately 1 to 4 hours.

Will my child need to miss school?

Yes. Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations are typically conducted during dedicated morning or afternoon testing sessions, so children generally miss one or two half-days of school. Documentation for school absences can be provided upon request.

Do you offer weekend testing?

Weekend testing may be available in select circumstances for an additional fee. Please discuss scheduling needs during your consultation to determine whether weekend appointments are available.

Yes. When clinically appropriate, evaluations can provide documentation for school, college, standardized testing, and workplace accommodations. They may also support applications to specialized educational programs and other educational planning decisions. While a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation often provides the clinical documentation needed to support these requests, each school, testing agency, or institution ultimately determines whether the documentation meets its specific eligibility requirements.

Dr. Eiges has extensive experience providing expert testimony related to her own neuropsychological evaluations. She is available to collaborate with educational advocates and attorneys when appropriate.

ENACT Neuropsychology is an out-of-network practice. Upon request, a superbill can be provided for families who wish to pursue reimbursement through their insurance plan.

The process begins with a complimentary consultation to discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and determine whether a neuropsychological evaluation is the most appropriate next step. Get in touch to schedule one.