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At Neuro Educational Specialists, we work with children and adolescents and their families to provide comprehensive neuropsychological, psychoeducational and speech/language evaluations.  We identify support services to address various learning styles and social-emotional needs.  Using quantitative and qualitative evaluation tools, we focus on identifying strengths and opportunities to maximize your child’s potential at home and at school.  Our services include, but are not limited to working with children and adolescents with: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Executive Functioning challenges, Neuro-developmental disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression.  In addition, at NES, we offer advocacy and consultative services to help families access and understand the complex array of supports and services available to them, such as navigating the Special Education process. 

Neuropsychological,psycho-educational & Speech/Language EVALUATION

What is a neuropsychological evaluation?  

A child may be referred for a neuropsychological evaluation when there are concerns about one or more areas of their development and/or learning abilities. The purpose of the evaluation is to identify your child’s unique pattern of strengths and challenges in order to provide parents, schools and other providers with strategies to help your child succeed across contexts. The components addressed in a child’s evaluation are determined by the referral question (i.e., what are the parents and/or school concerned about?), the child's impressions, and observations made during interviews and test administration.

In order to assess whether a neuropsychological evaluation may be helpful for your child, a family may identify concerns in the following areas (click below for additional information):

• Difficulties with verbal and nonverbal reasoning and problem solving

• Requiring a significant amount of repetition and/or additional time when learning

• Delays in adaptive functioning

• Grades and standardized assessment scores below peers

• Concerns with reading (phonetic development, fluency, comprehension), mathematics (calculation, word problems), or written expression (spelling, syntax, grammar, organization)

• Needing additional time to complete schoolwork, homework, or tests

• Frustration with academic work

• Delay in the development of language

• Expressive (output of language) or receptive (understanding of language) difficulties

• Challenges initiating or maintaining a conversation

• Difficulties with sarcasm or non-literal language

• Repetitive or odd language usage (i.e., repeating lengthy scripts heard from television or news programs)

• Pronoun reversals or odd use of language

• Difficulty paying attention or sitting still

• Needing frequent prompts or reminders to complete tasks

• Difficulty with multiple-step commands

• Losing or misplacing items

• Forgetting to turn in completed assignments

• Poor peer relations

• Unexpected responses when approached by peers or adults

• Difficulty with imaginative, functional, or reciprocal play

• Limited interest in peers or preference for solitary play

• Repetitive vocalizations

• Repetitive motor mannerisms (i.e., hand flapping, finger flicking, body rocking)

• Lining up toys, spinning wheels of cars, sorting objects for prolonged periods of time

• Physical or verbal aggression

• Defiance or non-compliance

• Difficulties with transitions or changes in routine

• Self-injury (i.e., head banging)

• Poor frustration tolerance

• Irritability or easily upset

• Eating or sleeping difficulties

• Somatic complaints

• Negative self-statements

• Lack of interest in things he/she used to enjoy

WHAT ARE COMMON AREAS WE EVALUATE?

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Learning disabilities

• Language disorders

• Executive functioning problems

• Cognitive functioning

• Early Entrance Exams

• Giftedness

• Learning style — identifying strengths and weaknesses

• Mood disorders, including anxiety and depression

• Neurological conditions, such as seizure disorders

• Developmental delays

• Autism spectrum disorders

• Evaluations for college aged individuals and/or adults to assist with accessing accommodations for college and graduate school

Consultation, Advocacy, and Community Outreach Services

Families may wish to seek our consultative, advocacy and/or community outreach services in order to understand available resources and/or help navigate the Special Education process.

• Navigating special education

• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

• Section 504 Plans

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Specific Learning Disabilities

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Giftedness

• Social Skills

• Executive Functioning

• Provide support, guidance and consultation around navigating:

  • The special education process

  • Individualized Education Plans (IEP)

  • 504 Plans

• Collaboratively work with families and schools to create a partnership to help improve educational success

• Act as a liaison between families and community

• Link to outside resources and professional services

For more information, please click below.