Neuropsychological Testing

If you’ve noticed differences in the way your child communicates, plays, interacts with others, responds to sensory experiences, or manages changes and transitions- or if your pediatrician, teacher, or another professional has raised concerns- an autism evaluation may provide helpful information.

No. There is no specific age that is too early to discuss concerns about your child’s development. Autism can be identified in young children, and early evaluation can provide clarity and help families better understand their child’s unique strengths and support needs.

Nope! You do not need a formal referral from a pediatrician, primary care provider, or other medical professional to schedule an initial consultation. If another provider has recommended an evaluation, you are welcome to bring that information with you.

We understand that undergoing a psychological evaluation is a financial investment. The total fee for a comprehensive testing evaluation is $3,500. The cost reflects the time, expertise, and individualized care that goes into providing a thorough, truly custom evaluation.

A comprehensive evaluation is much more than the time spent in the testing room. Approximately 15-20 hours of professional work may go into a full evaluation, including:
– Reviewing developmental, medical, educational, and clinical history
– Reviewing previous records and evaluations
– Scoring and analyzing assessment measures
– Interpreting patterns across different areas of functioning
– Integrating test results with clinical observations and other sources of information
– Developing diagnostic impressions
– Writing the comprehensive evaluation report
– Preparing individualized recommendations

Once the report is complete, you will meet with Dr. Arends for a feedback session to review the results, discuss diagnostic conclusions when applicable, answer your questions, and go through individualized recommendations. Feedback sessions will take place three weeks following your child’s testing session.

Adult evaluations are not presently available; however, we hope to expand our assessment services to adults in the near future!

If available, please provide copies of relevant records, including:
– Previous psychological evaluations
– Previous neuropsychological evaluations
– School standardized test scores
– IEPs
– 504 Plans
– School records
– Report cards
– Psychoeducational evaluations

For testing sessions, we recommend bringing:
– Water
– A nutritious snack or lunch
– Comfortable clothing
– Layers for temperature changes
– Glasses or hearing aids
– Any other assistive devices that are typically used

Testing is typically scheduled in the morning. Children and adults tend to perform best when they are well-rested rather than completing testing after a full day of school or work. A school note can be provided when needed.

Some children may have difficulty participating in standardized testing. This is not uncommon! Dr. Arends takes an individualized, neurodivergent-affirming approach and can incorporate breaks, movement, sensory supports, and flexible pacing when needed.

If your child is unable to complete certain tasks, we can still gather valuable information through clinical observation, caregiver input, developmental history, records, and other assessment measures. Your child’s behavior and engagement during testing are also meaningful parts of the evaluation.

Not necessarily. Previous evaluations, school records, Early Intervention records, therapy reports, and other documentation can be valuable pieces of the evaluation process. With appropriate consent, Dr. Arends can review these records to better understand your child’s history, build on information that has already been gathered, and determine what additional assessment may be helpful.

Absolutely! A private evaluation does not replace or require you to stop existing services. Your child can continue receiving appropriate Early Intervention, educational, therapeutic, or medical services while completing an evaluation. Information from current providers can also be helpful in giving Dr. Arends a more complete picture of your child’s strengths, needs, and functioning across settings.

Your feedback session will take place approximately three weeks after your child completes testing with Dr. Arends. You will receive your child’s comprehensive written report following the feedback session.

When appropriate, Dr. Arends is also happy to meet individually with your child following the parent feedback session and during another appointment slot. When discussing results with a child, she takes a developmentally appropriate approach and considers the child’s age, communication style, level of understanding, and individual needs. The goal is to help children understand their own strengths and differences in a way that feels meaningful, empowering, and relevant to their everyday experiences. Dr. Arends works to help children understand how their brain works, what comes naturally to them, what may require additional support, and what strategies can help them thrive.

Your questions and concerns are always welcome. Evaluation results are based on standardized, evidence-based assessment measures and the integration of multiple sources of information. During the feedback session, Dr. Arends will review the results and explain how the conclusions were reached. If you continue to have concerns after reviewing the evaluation, the completed report includes the relevant testing information that can be provided to another qualified professional for a second opinion.

Not necessarily. An IEP is an educational document, and schools use their own eligibility criteria to determine whether a child qualifies for special education services under the autism classification. An educational classification is not the same as a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you need formal diagnostic documentation for medical care, insurance, therapy, or other services, a comprehensive evaluation by a qualified clinical professional may be recommended.

Not necessarily. Autism assessment tools can be administered by different professionals depending on their training and scope of practice, but completing an individual test is not the same as making a comprehensive clinical diagnosis. A thorough autism evaluation considers the whole picture, including developmental history, caregiver input, clinical observations, standardized measures, and your child’s functioning across settings.

Yes. An evaluation can provide valuable documentation and individualized recommendations to help families advocate for appropriate school supports and accommodations. The evaluation report may help schools better understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and learning needs and guide decisions regarding accommodations or services. Ultimately, the school determines eligibility and which supports can be provided.

Yes. A comprehensive psychological or neuropsychological evaluation can provide documentation to support requests for accommodations at colleges and universities. Because each school has its own requirements, we recommend reviewing the institution’s current disability services and documentation guidelines.

Yes. A comprehensive psychological or neuropsychological evaluation can provide documentation to support requests for testing accommodations on exams such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, and other standardized tests. Each testing organization has its own documentation requirements and approval process. If accommodations are one of your goals, please discuss this during your initial consultation so the evaluation can be planned with the relevant documentation needs in mind.

If desired and requested, Dr. Arends will provide you a superbill, which is a detailed receipt that includes the information needed to submit a claim to your insurance company. You pay for services directly and may then submit the superbill to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Insurance plans vary, so we recommend contacting your insurance provider to understand your specific out-of-network benefits and requirements.

If you plan to seek insurance reimbursement, check whether your plan requires preauthorization before psychological services are provided. If preauthorization is needed, we will provide the clinical paperwork you need to submit; however, you must initiate the request with your insurance company.

Insurance coverage and reimbursement vary by plan. If a claim is denied or only partially reimbursed, you may have the option to appeal the decision. We encourage families to review their individual insurance benefits and appeal requirements directly with their insurance provider.