The process for a neuropsychological assessment.
Intake.
An initial meeting is conducted with the client or the client’s parents to find out as much about your client as possible, discuss the purpose of the testing, and review the client’s developmental, medical, family, social-emotional, and behavioral history,
In addition, Dr. Moersch reviews the client’s previous report cards, assessments, and relevant medical records to obtain further information on their developmental trajectory.
What do I tell my child?
Parents can let their child know that they will be doing a variety of activities, such as listening to stories, remembering pictures, answering questions, playing with blocks, and drawing designs. These activities will help us understand how their brain is working and how they learn best. This is for their parents to best parent them and for their teachers to best teach them.
It may be helpful to relate the testing to any difficulties the child is experiencing, such as “trouble with math” or “trouble with homework,” and let them know that this will help make math or homework “easier for them.”
Finally, while it is called neuropsychological “testing,” parents can let their child know that they will not receive a grade and should just try their best on all of the activities administered.
Testing.
The client comes in for 8-10 hours of interviews, testing, and behavioral observations with a clinical neuropsychologist. This is typically spread across two days. The client’s parents and teachers also complete electronic rating scales regarding their observations of the client’s mood and behaviors across settings.
Specific procedures and tests are selected based on the referral question and the information gathered during the intake. Testing is an interactive and collaborative process that includes a variety of standardized tests and activities aimed to uncover a child’s strengths and pinpoint any challenge areas that may be affecting their learning and behavior.
The client is encouraged to identify their goals or “wishes” for the year, which is integrated into their feedback. For example, the child may want to know how they can use their unique learning style to help them “do better in school.”
Feedback.
Two separate feedback sessions are conducted with the client and their parents to review the testing results and recommendations.
A comprehensive written report detailing the assessment findings and recommendations is sent to the client or their parents.
Coordination of Care.
Dr. Moersch will offer to coordinate the client's care and team up with educators, therapists, or other providers working with the child to review the assessment results and how to work best with the child.
She has formed close relationships with a variety of allied health providers (e.g., educational therapists, executive functioning coaches, tutors, school placement specialists, educational advocates or lawyers, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists and therapists, mindfulness coaches, psychiatrists, behavioral pediatricians, neurologists). She will help the child and their family find the right professional for them.
Follow Up.
Dr. Moersch checks in with her clients and their families a few months following the assessment to ensure that things are running smoothly and to answer any additional questions from the evaluation.
