Neuropsychological Evaluations

Parents often come to me when:

The school says “wait and see,” but each year feels harder and your gut says something’s being missed.

  • Previous testing looks “average,” yet homework takes hours and your child is exhausted or overwhelmed.

  • Your child is bright, but anxiety, perfectionism, or avoidance is taking over.

  • Teachers says your child is “doing fine,” but meltdowns or shutdowns happen at home.

  • Reading, writing, or testing don’t match what you know your child understands.

  • You’re constantly being told that your child is doing well, but you know it’s not up to their potential

After a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, parents often tell me:

“We finally understand why homework turns into tears and what actually helps.”

“The school testing didn’t explain the difficulties we were seeing at home. This did.”

“Reading and writing make more sense now and our child feels less frustrated.”

“Our child feels understood instead of ‘not good enough.’”

If this sounds familiar, a more comprehensive evaluation is often needed.

Questions a Neuropsychological Evaluation Can Help Answer

Parents often seek a pediatric neuropsychological evaluation when they are asking:

  • Why is my child bright but struggling in school?

  • Is this ADHD, anxiety, a learning disability, or a combination?

  • Does my child has dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia?

  • Why are my child’s attention, grades, or effort so inconsistent?

  • Why does my child seem emotionally exhausted or dysregulated after school?

  • Are anxiety or emotional concerns affecting learning and focus?

  • Does my child qualify for an IEP or 504 plan, and what supports are appropriate?

  • What school accommodations or interventions would actually help?

A neuropsychological evaluation goes beyond grades and test scores to show how your child actually thinks, learns, and handles everyday tasks so that you know exactly what will help.

Why School Testing Isn’t Always Enough

School evaluations are designed to determine eligibility for services, not to fully understand how your child thinks and learns.

School evaluations focus on IQ and basic academic skills, but often miss more subtle learning differences. A neuropsychological evaluation is more comprehensive. It looks at different aspects of memory, executive functioning, social-emotional functioning, and in-depth academic testing.

If your gut says something is being missed, you’re probably right.

Book a free consultation

Talk through your concerns and see if a neuropsychological evaluation is the right fit.

A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation typically includes the following components:

  • 1. Clinical Interview

    We start with a detailed conversation about your concerns and your child’s developmental, academic, and medical history. This is typically conducted virtually or by phone. I review relevant records such as report cards, prior testing, IEPs, or medical notes.

  • 2. Comprehensive Testing

    Testing is tailored to your child/adolescent and usually occurs over two to three 2-4 hour sessions. Breaks are built in. Testing involves paper-and-pencil tasks, hands-on activities, verbal and nonverbal items, and computerized assessments. Parents will be asked to complete questionnaires about the child’s development, behavior, and daily functioning.

  • 3. Teacher Input and/or School Observation (if applicable)

    With your written permission, we may contact your child’s teacher(s) to gather additional insights about their learning and behavior in the classroom. Teachers are also asked to complete questionnaires about the child’s development, behavior, and daily functioning. When appropriate and allowed by the school, we may also observe your child in their school environment to better understand how they function in a real-world academic setting.

  • 4. Feedback and Report

    Once testing is complete, you will receive a detailed written report outlining results, diagnoses (if applicable), and tailored recommendations. Feedback is typically provided virtually or by phone. For older children or adolescents, we can also offer a child-friendly explanation of the results to help them better understand their strengths and areas of need. If desired, and with your consent, we are also available to consult briefly with your child’s school.

    Please note that attendance and support at CSE meetings is also possible, although it is in addition to the evaluation process described above. 

Common Things Parents Are Told (That Aren’t Always True)

“They’ll grow out of it.”

“Everything looks average on the testing”

reach out and talk through your concerns

“Let’s give this more time and see if he/she makes any progress.”

If your gut tells you something is wrong, LISTEN. Basic school testing can miss early signs of learning or emotional challenges or disorders. A neuropsychological evaluation helps identify what’s going on now before your child falls further behind or loses confidence as the gaps grow.

Families seeking a pediatric neuropsychological evaluation often want a deeper understanding of learning, attention, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, or academic struggles. As a child and adolescent neuropsychologist serving Long Island families, I provide comprehensive, individualized evaluations that help parents and schools understand what a child needs to thrive.