Neuropsychological testing is a specialized assessment method used to evaluate a person’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning that may be affected by brain function. These batteries require a higher level of experience and training to administer. We provide many neuropsych testing services, but there are some limitations to a virtual approach, so contact us or schedule a consultation to see if we might be a match for what you are looking for.
Neuropsychological tests cover a wide range of cognitive domains, including attention, memory, language, executive functions, visuospatial abilities, and problem-solving. They are often standardized, meaning they have been developed and normed on a large group of people to provide a basis for comparison.
Purposes of Neuropsychological Testing
Neuropsychological testing aims to identify and quantify deficits or changes in brain function resulting from various neurological conditions, injuries, or diseases. Some of the common reasons for undergoing neuropsych testing include the following.
Testing for Developmental Issues 
Neuropsychological testing can be used in children or adults with developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In these cases, it can determine how best to overcome each diagnosis’s challenges and how to best tap into strengths. It can also help identify learning disabilities and the specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses that may be contributing. In both cases, the assessment can help map out accommodations and modifications in school plans to help the student succeed.
Testing for Medical Issues
Neurological testing can assess cognitive function in individuals with neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, or traumatic brain injury. It can also assess the cognitive abilities and areas of impairment after stroke. The results can help determine the extent of progression or improvement and how best to support the person.
Neurological testing is often used to assess dementia and more general memory problems. This helps track cognitive changes over time and may provide better treatment strategies.
Neuropsychological Testing for Diagnosis
Neuropsychological testing can diagnose various neurological and psychological conditions. It can identify specific deficits in cognitive functions such as memory, attention, language, and executive function, which can indicate disorders like ADHD, anxiety, and learning disabilities. It can also help differentiate between conditions that may present similar symptoms. For instance, it can help distinguish between ADHD and anxiety and between depression and certain neurological disorders.
Treatment Planning Using Neuropsychological Testing
These assessments provide valuable information for developing individualized treatment plans. By identifying a person’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses, therapists can tailor interventions and therapies to address specific needs. Neuropsychological testing can then be used to track changes in functioning over time. Regular evaluations can help assess the treatment’s effectiveness.
Academic and Employment Accommodations
For individuals with learning disabilities, attention disorders, or other cognitive impairments, neuropsychological testing can provide documentation often required for academic accommodations (e.g., extended time) or workplace accommodations (e.g., modified job tasks) to support their success. Academic assessments can be done as part of officially mandated grade school evaluations or for college and graduate school accommodations.
Legal and Forensic Assessments
Neuropsychological testing is used in legal settings to evaluate a person’s mental capacity, competency to stand trial, or the impact of a neurological condition on their behavior. They are also used in personal injury cases to determine the extent of cognitive impairment resulting from an accident.
Self-Improvement through Neuropsychological Testing
Neuropsychological assessments can be valuable for educating individuals and their families about cognitive strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge can help individuals better understand and cope with their conditions and develop strategies for compensating for deficits.
Overall, neuropsychological testing is a valuable tool for understanding and managing cognitive and emotional functioning, aiding in diagnosis and treatment planning, and improving the quality of life for individuals with neurological or psychological conditions.
Neuropsychological Testing Process
The neuropsychological assessment process typically involves three steps:
Background Information
Neuropsychological testing starts with an interview to gather medical and personal history from you and your caregivers. We need to fully understand why you are looking for this type of testing and what questions you want to answer. During this process, we make sure that the measures we choose will lead to the answers you seek, so we will also review any medical records you send, notes from therapists, and other information; we will work together to set up other medical appointments if we need more. Collecting all of this background information is vital.
Neuropsychological Testing Administration
We administer the neuropsych testing in our office or virtually, sometimes through both methods. We build a battery of measures to suit your needs and questions uniquely. Estimating the assessment’s length is hard, but it can be broken into manageable bits of time. We hope to complete the evaluation throughout 1-3 sessions, all done within two weeks, so we fully capture your state of mind and functioning. None of the measures are particularly stressful, and we make sure you understand the directions before we start.
Neuropsychological Testing Results
The results in our report answer your referral questions and usually go further than that. The most important part of the report is often the “Suggestions” section, which gives suggestions for what directions in therapy would be helpful, practical tips and interventions for work, home, and social areas, diagnostic information, a description of the extent of impairments, and a plan to track changes over time.
Sharing Your Neuropsych Testing Results
We can tailor a report to send to a therapist, primary care physician, or others who may provide you care. The neuropsychological testing report can be quite useful in helping them tailor your treatment specifically to your strengths and challenges. We can also tailor our report to your school so that you can get accommodations that will be helpful for your learning or your employer if you may need accommodations there as well.
Neuropsych Testing Example
Neuropsych testing for ADHD is a common request we receive. These assessments typically involve evaluating various cognitive and behavioral functions. The goal is to identify symptoms of ADHD and rule out other potential causes for the difficulties the individual is experiencing. Here’s a fictitious example of what a neuropsychological testing battery for ADHD might include:
Neuropsych Testing Clinical Interview
We meet with Jenn, a 28-year-old woman who is doing well as a physician’s assistant but is worried that she may have ADHD even though she has never been diagnosed. She finds that she sometimes has to have instructions repeated, and she’s having trouble staying focused when studying to become even better at what she does. She also suffers from severe procrastination and gets jittery when work is slow.
We gather detailed background information about Jenn’s developmental history, current symptoms, and how these symptoms impact daily functioning at home and work. We look at her medical history, family history, prior academic and work performance, social relationships, and previous therapy. While she was always an excellent student, it seems she could have been able to do even better if she had been able to focus. Also, she was often viewed as “anxious” due to her fidgetiness and lack of focus, and even received therapy for this, even though she didn’t feel that way.
Neuropsych testing is warranted for Jenn.
Behavioral Questionnaires
We start with questionnaires that will provide an empirical basis for the rest of the evaluation. We want to collect data from multiple sources to see if symptoms are consistent across different environments. We choose two:
- Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV (BAARS-IV): Focuses on symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
- Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): Adds additional helpful information
Neuropsych Testing Measures
The interview results with Jenn and the questionnaires suggest we should focus on attention and hyperactivity. Thus, we choose the following neuropsych testing battery:
- Continuous Performance Test (CPT): This measure assesses sustained attention and impulsivity by having the individual respond to specific stimuli.
- Digit Span (from the Wechsler scales): Measures attention and working memory by requiring the recall of sequences of numbers.
- Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST): Assesses cognitive flexibility and problem-solving abilities.
- Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF): Assesses all aspects of executive function beyond specific ADHD symptoms.
Neuropsychological Testing Feedback and Report
Combining these measures helps us create a detailed profile of Jenn’s symptoms. She has excellent problem-solving abilities and clear signs of high intellect. Still, her levels of lack of focus, working memory issues, and sustained attention, as well as hyperactivity that she often tries to suppress, suggest that she has ADHD.
We discussed the results with Jenn, explained the findings, and made recommendations for treatment and self-help based on them. We reviewed strategies she can use at home and work to overcome her symptoms and tap into her strengths. We prepared a comprehensive document summarizing the findings from all the assessments, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations. In summary, Jenn received information to help her build a toolkit for overcoming her challenges.
Conclusions and Summary
It’s important to note that neuropsychological testing is just one component of a comprehensive assessment process. The results are usually integrated with other clinical information to form a complete picture of the individual’s cognitive skills and emotional functioning. Moreover, the assessment should be conducted and interpreted by qualified professionals with expertise in neuropsychology. It can be quite helpful to meet with a specialist before your testing to narrow the focus of the testing and ensure that it is the right approach for you. There may be alternative psychological, medical, or other evaluations that should be done alongside your neuropsychological testing.
Our Neuropsychological Testing Services
We provide neuropsychological testing covering most presenting issues and concerns, particularly assessing for ADHD, differentiating between multiple diagnoses, and testing for learning differences. We do not offer services that revolve around specific medical diagnoses where a specialist may be better suited to serve you. Not all neuropsych testing can be done virtually, so we may need to make a referral if you do not live near our offices in Massachusetts, New York, or Southern California. We will ensure that we are the best fit to provide neuropsychological testing; if not, we can refer you to our trusted network.
Feel free to contact us or schedule a consultation to discuss your presenting issue and whether we can help.
