Neuropsychological Testing Decoded
See Me often has an inside view of the internal struggles that neurodiverse families face on a daily basis. Part of that struggle can be around the idea of testing. It can be helpful to receive an official diagnosis from a mental/physical health professional who is well-trained in conducting neuropsychological evaluations. These evaluations utilize many different data points and can help to get a better understanding of how to best support the child and family.
WHY IS A DIAGNOSIS HELPFUL?
Please know that a diagnosis does not mean there is anything “wrong” with your child. They may learn differently or view the world through a different lens, but there is nothing innately “wrong” with them and their diagnosis does not define them. That said, a diagnosis can be helpful:
Knowing what you’re dealing with allows you to wrap your head around it versus running scenarios in your brain about what's potentially going on.
Once you have a diagnosis, you can start learning as much as you can about it.
Often, you must have an evaluation done that proves a specific diagnosis in order to meet with certain specialty doctors, apply for support through the county, apply for a 504 plan/IEP (Individualized Education Plan) through school, etc.
WHAT DOES AN EVALUATION ENTAIL?
Each testing facility may conduct their evaluations slightly differently, but typically there is a trained mental health professional who administers a number of tests/games with the child.
A parent/guardian will complete questionnaires and your child’s teacher may also be asked to fill one out if your child is in school.
An evaluation may be done by a Psychologist alone or may include an MD, a Speech/Language Pathologist, an Occupational Therapist, etc.
ONCE YOU HAVE A DIAGNOSIS
Take a breath and pat yourself on the back - it’s a long and strenuous process and you did it!
If you’re comfortable, share the information with your child’s support team, so everyone is in the loop.
Ask your child’s school for a meeting to request a 504 Plan/IEP that can help put accommodations in place to support your child’s learning.
Contact your local county office to see if you qualify for additional support.
Explore the recommendations from the evaluation to figure out what might be most helpful for your child.
It’s important to note that neuropsychological testing in our area typically has long wait lists. The average amount of time a family can expect to wait for their child to receive neuropsychological testing is around 6-8 months, which can put extra stress on top of an already stressful situation. If you find yourself in this predicament, please reach out to us, as we have connections with testing facilities that may be able to get your child in sooner.
As always, if you’re in need of extra support, join us at our See Me caregiver support meetings that are offered twice a month, or contact us for any need.
