• What is developmental neuropsychology?

A developmental neuropsychologist is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been specially trained to understand cognitive, behavioral, and neurological disorders from childhood through adulthood.

• How can an evaluation help me?

Results of the evaluation can establish an expert diagnosis, reduce over-or-under diagnosis, provide documentation of struggles, provide second opinions, recommend empirically-supported treatments, and provide support for school recommendations or accommodations.

Assessment involves understanding factors other than just test data, such as home life, social functioning, behavioral problems, family interactions, and medical conditions.

Many medical conditions (e.g., seizures, head injury, fetal exposure to drugs, lead exposure, genetic conditions, sleep apnea, hydrocephalus, cancer treatment, sleep apnea, thyroid problems, dementia, etc...) place people at higher risk of learning, behavior, and memory problems. Understanding if these problems are impacting you or your child's life should be a central component of treatment.

• What is the evaluation like?

Think of an evaluation as an expert consultation and investigation of a problem. A gold-standard evaluation is an empirically supported diagnostic assessment using a thorough 35 minute to 90 minute interview, interview with other family members if needed, review of records, and testing (1 to 5 hours) to help verify diagnosis and rule-out other possible explanations. Testing is always individualized and only conducted if needed. The tests used have been well-validated in research over the last 20 years, and continue to be used in scientific research of brain functioning, learning, and memory. These are the same tests administered in scientific studies of the conditions we diagnose. Evaluations will conclude with feedback, and recommendations. A report is provided for pediatric patients.