Neuropsychological evaluations are comprehensive assessments of the student's brain functioning through the use of a diagnostic interview, behavioral observations, and neuropsychological testing.

 Neuropsychological tests are designed to :

• Identify students' cognitive strengths, weaknesses and most effective learning style
• Provide clarification when professionals are puzzled about a diagnosis
• Determine possible contributing factors to sudden changes in cognitive, academic, or emotional functioning
• Address the adverse impact of cognitive difficulties in work, school, personal, and social environments
• Measure changes in cognitive status over time 

Students who: 

• Are working as hard as they can at home, but are still underachieving at school
• Have been evaluated by schools as having average achievement, but struggle with homework
• Exhibit delays in social skills and are not receiving services at school
• Students in the Response to Intervention Process who are not performing as well as they should

The time required depends on the child’s age and problem, but usually the evaluation is four to six hours. Make sure your child has a good night’s sleep before the testing.

What to bring: 

• If your child wears glasses or uses a hearing aid or any other device, make sure to bring them.
• If the student is taking medication, please have him/her take it on the day of testing.
• Please bring all previous school testing, an individual educational plan (IEP), and report cards if possible.
• Please either bring medical records, or sign a release for Dr. Toby to talk to your/your child's doctor.
• There is water available to the student but no other refreshments, so if the student usually has a snack during that time, a snack should be brought to the evaluation.

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The best explanation is simple and brief, and is related to the student's own wording, such as, "Remenber you said you had trouble reading/following directions/with feeling sad, etc. That's what this is for, to help you with that." 

Reassure the student/child that testing involves no “shots.”

Students of all ages often find the neuropsychological evaluation to be fun and interesting.