Neuropsychology is a subspecialty of psychology. It involves the use of standardized measures, behavioral observation, and chart review to understand how brain and behavior are related. Neuropsychologists are typically employed in hospital systems. In private practice settings, they can offer a deeper understanding of a child’s functioning.
A neuropsychological evaluation is an involved process. Families and patients will be interviewed, and a testing battery will be developed to assess the referring question. Assessment time varies on the child’s age and referral question, but usually I get direct testing done between 2-4 hours. I may also reach out to other adults who work with the child to gather more historical information. Once data is gathered and integrated, families will receive a feedback session to go over results and recommendations. Families also receive a detailed evaluation report to share with schools, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
Neuropsychological evaluation isn’t for everyone. It is most helpful for children with complex medical histories. It can also be helpful for children with subtle problems or families who want a deeper level of understanding regarding their child’s performance.
School districts typical hire school psychology specialists, who are master’s level providers specialized in the assessment of educational disability. While they are well-trained in educational disability, they typically have less exposure to medical conditions or complications. School psychologists are also unable to diagnose behavioral health conditions.
A neuropsychological evaluation can be used to help direct treatment and intervention. The information can also be used by school districts to adjust educational services, like special education or a 504 plan.
Neuropsychological evaluations are done through telehealth for interview and feedback. The direct assessment is done at PsychologyWorks in Bentonville, AR
3401 SE Macy Road, Suite #13
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712
Contact the administration office at PsychologyWorks for a quote: 833-779-9675
I do not bill insurance in my private work. There are a lot of disadvantages to billing insurance for behavioral health providers, including:
- Denying assessment of certain conditions
- Dictation of what types of tests to administer
- Limitations on length of time spent in assessment, interview, or feedback
- Requirement of a diagnosis to reimburse for services, which may not be appropriate for everyone
- Infringement of patient privacy
- Clawbacks of reimbursement
I recommend checking out ProPublica’s investigation of issues related to insurance and behavioral health. I choose to not bill insurance so that the assessment stays between me, the patient, and their family. If families are interested in seeking reimbursement, I can provide detailed information on billing codes, time, and assessments given.