Reasons for a Neuropsychological Evaluation
A Neuropsychological Evaluation is an assessment of an individual's functioning in multiple areas in order to explain difficulties in learning or behavior, analyzed from a brain/behavior perspective.
- To understand why a child is struggling in school, experiencing social/emotional difficulties, and/or behaving inappropriately
- To clarify diagnoses
- To determine a child’s strengths and weaknesses and style of learning
- To determine appropriate classroom accommodations and modifications, learning strategies, remedial and therapeutic services, and classroom/school placement
- To document changes since a previous evaluation
- To determine effects of a disease or injury on functioning
- To monitor progress resulting from interventions
Components of an Evaluation
- A review of background information
- Medical and developmental history
- Previous and current school functioning
- Results of previous evaluations
- Treatment history and outcome
- Comprehensive testing
- General cognitive/intellectual abilities
- Higher level thinking skills (e.g. abstract reasoning, problem solving, critical thinking)
- Receptive and expressive language
- Motor speed and coordination
- Visual-perception and visuo-constructive skills
- Learning and Memory
- Attention and Executive Function skills (including use of learning, problem solving, and organizational strategies; working memory; planning; prioritizing; cognitive inhibition; mental flexibility; self-monitoring)
- Academic achievement
- Adaptive behavior (e.g. daily living skills)
- Emotional functioning
- Analysis of results
- Looking for patterns of strengths and weaknesses
- Investigating the reasons for failed items/weak areas
- Integrating test results with background and current functioning
- Feedback meeting
- Significance and integration of all findings
- Diagnostic Considerations
- Treatment options both in and outside of school
- Written report
- Background
- Questionaire and interview findings
- Test results
- Summary of strengths and weaknesses
- Learning profille
- Diagnostic Conclusions
- Treatment recommendations