What are the benefits of psychological and neurodevelopmental testing? A full psychoeducational/neurocognitive or psychological assessment offers one of the most effective and efficient tools available to help you determine why your child is struggling at school, at home, and/or with friends, and how to move forward with helping your child thrive. Dr. Brenner can assess children, teens and young adults ages 2 years through 24 years and can provide you with a comprehensive explanation of your child's developmental progress as well as tools to foster future development. Psychoeducational testing will help identify your child's learning strengths and weaknesses which can be utilized to help develop his or her full academic potential. This is accomplished through both intelligence and achievement based testing. Once you and your child's teachers are aware of learning strengths and weaknesses, an individualized plan can be developed to maximize potential in the classroom. Psychological and neurocognitive testing helps to identify perceptual challenges that may be hindering learning, and can also identify key factors contributing to interpersonal difficulties such as bullying or being bullied, social isolation and loneliness, anger and low frustration tolerance, difficulty making or keeping friends, and feelings of anxiety, sadness, or low self-esteem.
What can my child expect during psychological testing? Preparing your child for testing can help reduce anxiety and aid the testing process. Explain to your child that testing will help parents and teachers understand how your child sees the world and learns best. Assessment includes a variety of questions, puzzles, drawings, and stories as well as some school-like tasks. Often children find several of the tasks fun to complete. All sessions are conducted in a quiet, one-to-one setting with a licensed psychologist, and generally take about two hours to complete. On the day of testing, make sure your child is well rested and has eaten. Please feel free to bring any snacks your child would like.
What happens after the assessment? Approximately three weeks after the testing, you will be contacted to schedule a results feedback session (If your child is to come with you, we'll let you know; teenagers are usually encouraged to come). At this appointment, we will review the testing results, discuss recommendations and answer any questions you may have. A written report will be provided. The report provides a written record of the testing that was completed, and provides specific recommendations so that parents, educational staff, physicians, and other professionals working with your child can coordinate a treatment plan that will enable your child to succeed. You may be asked to sign a Release of Information Form so that the report can be sent directly to certain professionals at your request.
How much will testing cost? The cost for a full assessment is determined by the nature of the question(s) you would like answered as well as whether previous testing has been conducted, and typically ranges between $1,620-2,025. The cost of testing covers administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests, communication with school personnel, the written report, and all communication with you, including the feedback session. The assessment fee is generally paid in four equal installments, payable at testing sessions, with the final balance due at the feedback session.
Is the cost covered by insurance? Whether testing is covered varies by insurance company, and with insurance providers who cover testing, coverage may be partial and dependent on an evaluation of medical necessity. Typically educational services, school meetings or legal proceedings are not reimbursed. You may wish to contact your insurance company to determine benefits. At your request a list of the tests used can be provided to you. When you call an insurance company to determine coverage, ask the following:
• Is the cost of psychological testing covered, and if so, is there a deductible to be met prior to coverage?
• What portion will be reimbursed?
• Is a referral needed from a primary care physician or is pre-authorization required?
Is my family's privacy protected throughout the psychological assessment process? Mental health providers cannot reveal anything about an evaluation without your prior permission in most cases. The parent or legal guardian decides who sees the report or receives any information. There are some exceptions to these confidentiality rules, and we will review these privacy rules with you and answer any questions.
What can my child expect during psychological testing? Preparing your child for testing can help reduce anxiety and aid the testing process. Explain to your child that testing will help parents and teachers understand how your child sees the world and learns best. Assessment includes a variety of questions, puzzles, drawings, and stories as well as some school-like tasks. Often children find several of the tasks fun to complete. All sessions are conducted in a quiet, one-to-one setting with a licensed psychologist, and generally take about two hours to complete. On the day of testing, make sure your child is well rested and has eaten. Please feel free to bring any snacks your child would like.
What happens after the assessment? Approximately three weeks after the testing, you will be contacted to schedule a results feedback session (If your child is to come with you, we'll let you know; teenagers are usually encouraged to come). At this appointment, we will review the testing results, discuss recommendations and answer any questions you may have. A written report will be provided. The report provides a written record of the testing that was completed, and provides specific recommendations so that parents, educational staff, physicians, and other professionals working with your child can coordinate a treatment plan that will enable your child to succeed. You may be asked to sign a Release of Information Form so that the report can be sent directly to certain professionals at your request.
How much will testing cost? The cost for a full assessment is determined by the nature of the question(s) you would like answered as well as whether previous testing has been conducted, and typically ranges between $1,620-2,025. The cost of testing covers administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests, communication with school personnel, the written report, and all communication with you, including the feedback session. The assessment fee is generally paid in four equal installments, payable at testing sessions, with the final balance due at the feedback session.
Is the cost covered by insurance? Whether testing is covered varies by insurance company, and with insurance providers who cover testing, coverage may be partial and dependent on an evaluation of medical necessity. Typically educational services, school meetings or legal proceedings are not reimbursed. You may wish to contact your insurance company to determine benefits. At your request a list of the tests used can be provided to you. When you call an insurance company to determine coverage, ask the following:
• Is the cost of psychological testing covered, and if so, is there a deductible to be met prior to coverage?
• What portion will be reimbursed?
• Is a referral needed from a primary care physician or is pre-authorization required?
Is my family's privacy protected throughout the psychological assessment process? Mental health providers cannot reveal anything about an evaluation without your prior permission in most cases. The parent or legal guardian decides who sees the report or receives any information. There are some exceptions to these confidentiality rules, and we will review these privacy rules with you and answer any questions.