Since these evaluations are very detailed and comprehensive, they can take many hours to complete. It is likely that different parts of testing will occur on different dates, to preserve your child’s energy and allow them to engage to the best of their abilities on each stage.
The evaluation will typically start with questionnaires and interviews for all participants in the evaluation. This will include the child or teen being evaluated, and any participating caregivers. In the interview, the neuropsychologist will speak with you about the concerns that your family and child might have, and why you chose to pursue a neuropsychological evaluation. They will also be interested in reviewing medical, psychological, and educational history. If you have access to records that would be useful for providing context in these areas, like prior assessments or an IEP plan, you are encouraged to bring in a copy for the provider's review. This initial interview stage helps the neuropsychologist understand what you need from the assessment and decide which tests to administer later on in the process.
The tests administered in the assessment may vary for each child or teen, and tasks are made to be age appropriate. Generally, your child or teen can expect to complete several activities that involve writing or drawing, solving puzzles or answering questions, and responding to activities presented on a computer. Some of these activities may be fun for your child, and others may feel more like doing schoolwork. The tasks will vary in difficulty, so everyone might find some tasks to be really easy and others to be very hard. You can assure your child that no one is expected to get every question right in this evaluation, just that they should try their best.
To prepare your child or teen for the evaluation, encourage them to practice self-care prior to the appointment. They will be working hard during the evaluation, so a good night’s sleep and a nice nutritious breakfast can help get them through the day. If your child takes any medication, they can take them as usual unless you are directly instructed to do otherwise by the neuropsychologist. If your child has any assistive devices, like a hearing aid or glasses, they are encouraged to use them as normal during the testing. You can tell your child that if they need a break or have any questions, they can tell the evaluator, and they will work to keep your child feeling taken care of and comfortable throughout the process.
A day of being tested during a neuropsychological evaluation can be really draining, especially since some of the harder tasks may create frustration. Planning an easy dinner, and a fun activity to look forwards to, and help your child unwind and regulate their emotions.
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