Neuropsychological Evaluation and Related Services

William R. Stixrud, Ph.D. and Associates provide comprehensive neuropsychological assessment designed to clarify an individual's strengths and weaknesses in cognitive, academic, and emotional functioning. Neuropsychological assessment also helps to identify inefficiencies in brain functioning which contribute to learning and social/emotional difficulties. Results from the neuropsychological evaluation of children and adolescents are useful in determining such things as appropriate educational placement and programming, behavior management techniques, avenues for self-help, career direction, and advisability of medical intervention. Results from assessment of adults in our practice are most frequently used to update documentation of a learning disorder for college, professional study, or licensing. However, it can also be used to diagnose neurologically-based brain disorders and to help plan rehabilitation following a brain injury or a stroke. In addition, results can contribute to planning career direction, higher education and training, vocational rehabilitation, and psychotherapeutic approach.

The Neuropsychological Evaluation

The Neuropsychological Evaluation takes approximately eight hours (conducted in one or two sessions, depending on age and stamina) and includes the following testing categories:

• Intellectual abilities testing.

• Educational achievement testing.

• Neuropsychological test battery — Testing in the areas of attentional functioning, organizational skills, motor skills, sensory-perceptual functioning, receptive and expressive language abilities, visual-perceptual and visuo-constructive abilities, reasoning and problem-solving abilities, learning and memory.

• Personality screening to assess personality style, current coping skills, emotional state and well-being.

Approximately one week after testing has been completed an interpretive conference is scheduled to discuss test results and recommendations. The interpretive conference is scheduled for approximately two hours. A detailed evaluation report summarizing the test results and recommendations is mailed to the client (and to any professionals the client would like to receive the report) approximately four to six weeks after the interpretive conference. Finally, if this was an evaluation for your child and s/he is at least ten years old, you are encouraged to schedule a follow-up meeting.   Your child and the psychologist will discuss the test results and recommendations and the psychologist will answer any questions your child may have.

The evaluations are completed by a team consisting of a psychologist and a clinical assistant. The doctor with whom you are scheduled will complete an initial interview on the first day of the evaluation, participate in a portion of the evaluation process, conduct the interpretive conference, and prepare the written report.

Adult Neuropsychology - Dr. Robert Mapou and Dr. Wendy Law specialize in Neuropsychological Evaluations for adults. Like evaluations for children, many adults seek neuropsychological evaluation because of concerns about a learning disability or ADHD. Some have been diagnosed previously and want to update documentation, perhaps because of an upcoming entrance or licensing examination. Others, however, have struggled with school and cognitive tasks for many years and seek evaluation for the first time. In addition to these evaluations, we also evaluate adults with neurological conditions that include traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, strokes, multiple sclerosis, dementia, among others. These evaluations can be diagnostic, but are frequently geared to rehabilitation efforts. We also complete independent medical (neuropsychological) evaluations for disability insurance companies and medico-legal evaluations to assist attorneys in court cases. Finally, for some individuals briefer consultations that included record reviews and additional selected testing can be done.

Click for Early Childhood Evaluations Brochure

The Asperger / High-Functioning Autism Evaluation

This is a specialized evaluation to assess for a possible autism - spectrum disorder and/or to evaluate children / adolescents who have already been diagnosed on the spectrum. This type of evaluation would be appropriate for children and adolescents, ages 4 to 20, who are exhibiting difficulties with social development, communication / language, and/or behavioral difficulties including rigid / inflexible behaviors. This evaluation provides differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. In addition, and for individuals who have already been diagnosed on the spectrum, this evaluation provides a comprehensive assessment of the individual's cognitive and social/emotional strengths and weaknesses. This information is then used to generate a comprehensive treatment plan, including recommendations for school / educational and behavioral interventions. Recommendations are also provided for how to support the individual's social development, based on his/her developmental history and present levels of functioning.

This comprehensive evaluation includes the following:

• An extensive parent interview that includes a detailed review of the individual's developmental, medical, and educational histories, as well as extensive review of social, emotional, and behavioral development.
• The standard neuropsychological evaluation, as detailed above
• Assessment of social cognition (the ability to understand socially relevant information) and social functioning

As with the standard neuropsychological evaluation, approximately one week after testing is completed, a two-hour parent feedback session is scheduled to discuss the evaluation results and recommendations. A detailed written evaluation report is mailed to the client within approximately four to six weeks. This written report summarizes the evaluation findings and recommendations. Finally, the neuropsychologist is available to conduct an additional feedback meeting with the child, to discuss the results and recommendations with him/her.

This evaluation is completed by a team consisting of a neuropsychologist and a clinical assistant. The first appointment will be the parent interview with the neuropsychologist. The following two appointments will be to test the individual. The first of these testing appointments is with the neuropsychologist, and the second testing appointment is with the clinical assistant. The neuropsychologist will then conduct the feedback session with the parents (and the child if requested), and prepare the written report.

PERSONALITY EVALUATION

The Assessment Of Personality And Emotional Disorders

The Assessment of Personality and Emotional Disorders consists of several objective and projective personality measures and a diagnostic interview and takes approximately 2 to 3 hours. It is recommended when a more complete assessment of personality and emotional functioning is required.

The Assessment Of Social Disorders

The neuropsychological evaluation may include specialized assessment of social cognition, e.g. the ability to understand socially relevant information. This additional assessment would be indicated when there are significant concerns about 1) the development of age appropriate social skills as demonstrated with family members, other adults, or peers; 2) the ability to use and understand language both at home and at school, and 3) the development of appropriate and accurate self perception
and self awareness.

The evaluation of social cognition would include more extensive assessment of your child’s social, cognitive and language development. Information would be gathered through a diagnostic interview with the parents conducted by a pediatric neuro-psychologist, completion of additional questionnaires for your child, and administration of tests which offer additional information to help understand these issues. This assessment of social cognition requires approximately 2 to 3 hours, in addition to the standard neuropsychological battery described above.

Adoption Sensitive Evaluation and Support Services (A.S.E.S.S.)

A.S.E.S.S. is a comprehensive evaluation program for adopted children and adolescents who are experiencing academic, social, and/or emotional difficulties.  It combines our expertise in neuropsychological assessment with the understanding of — and experience with — adopted children possessed by the staff at the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.).  We have found that we are able to be much more helpful to adoptive families when we combine a thorough neuropsychological assessment with a sensitive evaluation of a child's understanding of the adoption process and his/her role in the family.

Thus, either prior to or following neuropsychological testing in our office, the child and his/her parents are interviewed by a professional from C.A.S.E.  We then integrate our findings, which we present to the parents in an interpretive conference that is attended by our neuropsychologist and an adoption specialist from C.A.S.E.   Following this conference, a feedback meeting is scheduled with the child in order to help the child better understand himself/herself.  Professionals from our office and/or from C.A.S.E. can then be available to serve as advocates for the child and the family, e.g., at school meetings held to determine the services a child might need to be successful in school.

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Follow Up Services

Coordinator: Susan Gerson, Ph.D.

These services are available to the families of children and teenagers who have been evaluated either in this office or another professional’s office, as well as previous clients from this office. The services are individualized for the specific need(s) of the situation and may include:

1. Further discussions regarding the test results, recommendations and development and implementation of treatment plans from psycho-educational or neuropsychological evaluations which have been recently completed.

2. Review of school records, educational evaluations, psychological evaluations, and/or other relevant materials in order to help parents clarify their understanding of their child’s profile  and/or to provide a second opinion.

3. Short term cognitive-behavioral parent guidance for implementing strategies related to attentional and organizational difficulties.

4. School placement.

5. Development of Individualized Educational Plans (IEP), or 504 plans in the public or private schools.

6. Special education advocacy.

Tutoring Services

Individualized, strategy-oriented tutorial services are offered for children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities, learning style differences, attention difficulties, and weaknesses in executive functioning (e.g., planning, organization, time management, self monitoring).