What to Expect from Neuropsychological Testing in Madison, WI

If you’re looking for neuropsychological testing for your child in Madison, WI and are wondering what to expect, you’re in the right place. Most types of testing and evaluation done by psychologists follow a similar process:

Step 1: Clinical Interview and Rating Scales 

The first step in neuropsychological testing is a clinical interview with the child’s parent or guardian. You will be asked questions about your child’s early development, medical history, skills, interests, behavior, your concerns, and your goals for the evaluation. The information gathered from this interview informs what neuropsychological testing will be included in the evaluation to address the referral questions. It also informs what diagnoses may be considered for the evaluation, as some diagnoses require that symptoms be present throughout the child’s development. Older children and teens may also participate in a clinical interview to get their perspective on how things are going and what concerns or questions they have about their functioning.

To prepare for a clinical interview, it can be helpful to review your child’s medical history and developmental milestones (e.g., think back to when they first started talking, walking, etc.). Looking through family videos or medical records might be helpful. You can also share any medical or educational records with the psychologist that might be important, such as prior diagnostic evaluations or special education records.

Around the time of the clinical interview, you will also likely be asked to complete some standardized rating scales about your child’s functioning in different areas. With your permission, your child’s teacher may also be asked to complete rating scales to offer information about how your child functions at school. Teacher rating scales can be an important source of information, as kids often present differently across home and school and some diagnoses require that symptoms be present across multiple settings. Standardized rating scales also offer a different type of information than what is provided during the clinical interview. Most of these instruments have scores that are calculated based on how your responses compare to  other parents’ responses from large, national samples of same-age children. This gives the psychologist some information about how your child’s everyday functioning compares to other kids the same age. 

Step 2: Testing Session(s)

Your child will typically come for 1-2 testing sessions to participate in a variety of activities that measure skills in areas such as cognition/thinking, language, attention, memory, social communication, and behavior. Some of the activities might involve looking at pictures, answering questions, and completing puzzles. Depending on the age of your child, some assessments may also look at their play skills. If academics are a concern, testing might involve math, reading, and/or writing activities. You will likely be asked to wait in a separate room during the testing unless your child is very young or there is a clinical reason to have you participate, such as observing how your child responds to familiar adults. Breaks will be given and remember to bring water and snacks.

Step 3: Scoring, Interpretation, and Report Writing

This “behind-the-scenes” portion of the evaluation can sometimes be the most time-consuming part. The psychologist will score the assessments, integrate the results, and interpret them to form diagnostic impressions. They will then prepare a detailed written evaluation report that explains the results and any treatment or educational recommendations. These evaluation reports are often 10-15 pages in length depending on the complexity of the evaluation. The report serves as documentation of the evaluation results and may be needed in the future to access treatment or educational services.

 Step 4: Feedback Session

Within a few weeks of the final testing session, you'll have a feedback session where the psychologist shares the results of the evaluation, their diagnostic impressions, and recommendations for treatment and/or educational services. There may be situations in which you will be given preliminary feedback sooner. Discuss with the psychologist in advance whether your child should attend this visit. During the feedback session, you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Make sure to ask any questions needed for you to understand the diagnosis and next steps. You will receive a copy of the written evaluation report at this visit or shortly afterward.

Hopefully you feel better prepared now that you know more about what to expect from neuropsychological testing in Madison, WI. If you’re seeking an evaluation focused on diagnostic questions related to autism, ADHD, and/or learning differences, such as dyslexia, reach out to me today by completing the Testing & Evaluation Request form.