Neuropsychological Evaluations

A neuropsychological evaluation at NESCA typically includes four appointments: a 60-minute parent intake interview (when a child or student is being evaluated), two 2.5-hour testing sessions for the individual being evaluated (with breaks), and a 90-minute individual adult or parent feedback session. While this is the typical scheduling scenario, we can adapt the testing schedule to meet a client’s specific needs. This may involve adding a third session for those who need more time or, for some clients, completing all testing in one day (when appropriate).

An additional feedback session may be offered to adolescents separate from their parents, based on family preference.

At NESCA, we consider testing for both diagnostic and educational purposes to be essential and inseparable elements of an effective evaluation. Because the challenges or disabilities identified in an evaluation affect a person’s major life activity – generally school or work – it is important to understand the nature and extent of the impact these challenges have on a person. The insight from the combined educational and neuropsychological evaluations allow us to develop detailed recommendations necessary to support an individual in school and/or the workplace.

For students, in particular, these recommendations need to be made persuasively, in a way that maximizes the likelihood that a school will recognize the recommended services as integral parts of the “free and appropriate public education (FAPE)” that U.S. public schools are required to provide to students with special needs. In addition, an evaluation has to document the need for a student to receive the recommended accommodations and/or services they require and may be legally entitled to in the academic setting.

For individuals taking a vocational path or already in the workplace, the combined neuropsychological and educational (functional academics testing) evaluation allows our clinicians to develop detailed recommendations to support those individuals.

The purpose of neuropsychological evaluation is to gain deeper knowledge of a person’s inherent strengths and weaknesses to better understand the challenges they may experience in meeting developmental demands, and the strengths that an individual can call upon to compensate. Once an individual’s learning profile is understood, recommendations can be made for direct interventions and/or support at home or work, or in school or the community, or to assist individuals in functioning to their full potential.

Results of the neuropsychological profile are often used to make specific diagnoses and provide information about a person’s level of functioning relative to same-age peers.

Please contact our office or complete our Inquiry/Intake Form for current pricing. To help make your investment in a NESCA evaluation more accessible, we offer a range of tools and flexible payment options to reduce your out-of-pocket costs and empower you to get the care you or your child needs without delay.

In the Payment tab on our website, you can explore your payment options by using tax- advantaged accounts, interest-free financing, and insurance coverage. Use our calculator tool to see how your payments can be reduced by using pre-tax dollars through your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). To spread out payments over time – with or without using your HSA/FSA – explore our offer to apply for an interest-free Discover card. And see how the potential for insurance coverage can also reduce costs.

If you intend to try to access health insurance coverage, please contact your carrier directly in advance of scheduling to discuss the specific requirements of the plan in which you are enrolled.

Please be aware that neuropsychological testing now generally requires prior authorization from insurance carriers. Understand also that requests for neuropsychological testing must satisfy “medical necessity” criteria, and that health insurance companies will not authorize testing they consider to be primarily for educational purposes. ADHD and executive function deficits, while neurologically-based, are not considered by insurers to be covered medical conditions. Ancillary services, including consultation and document review; transition or some coaching services; school, work, or community observations; participation in Team meetings; and expert testimony, among other services, are not covered by insurance.

Insurance does not typically cover the total cost of evaluation, and it is expected that there will be out-of-pocket expenses for individuals or families seeking comprehensive neuropsychological and/or psychological evaluation. Please contact our office for current pricing.

Insurance covers only the neuropsychological and psychological services deemed “medically necessary” for a student. Health insurance companies will not authorize testing they consider to be primarily for educational purposes. ADHD and executive function deficits, while neurologically-based, are not covered by medical conditions. 

Academic testing – which is necessary for educational processes – is not covered by insurance. School consultation services, classroom observations, program observations, team meeting participation, document review, and many other important neuropsychological services are also not covered by insurance.

Included in this fee are: the initial intake session with an individual or parents, two testing sessions with the individual, a feedback meeting with the client or a student’s parents, and the preparation of a detailed report with comprehensive recommendations. There are flat fees, payable in advance, for participation in Team meetings and school observations; these are not included in the cost of the basic evaluation. Consultations with other professionals and other related services are billed at each clinician’s hourly rate.

All of the neuropsychologists at NESCA are licensed clinical psychologists who have completed specific post-doctoral training in pediatric neuropsychology. All neuropsychologists hired at NESCA spend at least six months working directly with one of our three clinical directors before seeing clients independently to ensure uniformity in the assessments done at NESCA. All professionals at NESCA consistently demonstrate an exceptionally strong commitment to meeting the needs of the individuals, students, and families who we serve.

The intake session, or diagnostic interview, is an opportunity for individuals or parents to meet with the clinician alone to discuss their concerns, ask questions, and get to know the clinician. Intakes generally last about 60-minutes and typically involve a complete review of a person’s developmental history, various questionnaires we provide in advance and discussion about their observations about themselves or of the child or student being evaluated.

The feedback session is the final appointment in the evaluation process and is designed for the clinician to present the findings to the individual or the parents/guardians of the child/student who was evaluated, respond to the referral question(s), and fully explain our recommendations. This meeting is scheduled for 90-minutes.

At NESCA, our goal is to deliver written reports within six weeks after the feedback meeting. For various reasons, reports may sometimes take longer than this to be completed. If you have a specific date (i.e., upcoming Team meeting, school conference) when you will need a written document, please let us know when scheduling appointments or during the intake session so we can determine if that deadline can be met. Please plan accordingly by scheduling those meetings for eight to nine weeks after the feedback session. This will allow you to get the report to the schools at least 10 days prior to your meeting, which most schools require.

For school-age children, we recommend telling the child that you would like to have more information about how they learn, so that you can make sure that their teachers “know the best ways of teaching” them. You can let your child know that they will be spending about two hours working with a doctor who wants to understand how they learn and solve problems. The doctor will be asking questions, telling stories, showing pictures, and asking them to draw.

For younger children, you may downplay the label “doctor” if this is a frightening term, and feel free to refer to your clinician by their first name. Reassure the child that this is an office with toys and games in the waiting room as well as in the clinician’s office. Parents of pre-school age children may remain in the office throughout the testing.

Please try to ensure that your child has adequate sleep the night before and a good breakfast on the day of testing. It is important that you convey to your child a positive and a confident attitude about the evaluation experience.

We invite you to make yourself comfortable in our waiting area, where your child will join you for a 10-minute break in the middle of the testing session. Feel free to bring your laptop and use our high-speed wireless internet service. If you would like to run errands in the area, we do request that you please discuss this with your clinician prior to leaving and leave a cell phone number with the administrator at our front desk.

There are times that we may request parents of preschoolers and other children to remain in the waiting room. We request that you limit cell phone calls to the lobby outside our office suite.

You will find much more information about our practice throughout this website. To request an appointment, complete the brief, time-saving Inquiry/Intake Form, which will be sent to us securely. One of our administrators will quickly contact you.

We also encourage you to read and subscribe to our weekly blog, NESCA Notes. Our blog delivers evidence-based and practical information and insights, and frequently links to reliable sources of additional information.

Yes, NESCA has locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Florida. Visit the Contact tab on our Home Page to learn more about our locations.