You should seek a consultation to determine whether an evaluation is necessary when you, your child’s school, or any professional, such as your pediatrician, expresses concern about:

  • delays in language, motor, play, or social skills learning / academic difficulties
  • attention / focus issues
  • inappropriate or uncontrolled behavior
  • social difficulties
  • emotional challenges

You should consider an evaluation if your child has a neurological, genetic, or medical condition, or if your child has suffered a brain injury such as a traumatic brain injury or stroke.

You may also consider an evaluation if you believe your child is gifted and want to better understand their learning style and needs.

When should my child be evaluated?

You should schedule a consultation or evaluation if you have concerns about your child’s emotional, social, or academic development. Research shows that starting the assessment process as early as possible is ideal and helps create a record of data and information that can reviewed and monitored over time.

What is the difference between a psychoeducational evaluation and a neuropsychological evaluation?

A psychoeducational evaluation primarily assesses a child’s general intellect and academic skills in areas such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.

A neuropsychological evaluation includes the intellectual and academic assessments conducted in a psychoeducational evaluation but also looks at additional areas of a child’s abilities, including attention, executive functioning, language processing, memory and learning, sensory and motor abilities, and visual spatial abilities. In addition, an evaluation of social, emotional, and behavioral functioning is included in a neuropsychological evaluation to obtain a comprehensive picture of the child. The resulting neuropsychological report that is produced will include clear recommendations for school placement, therapeutic treatments, and interventions.

How do know which evaluation is right for my child?

We can help determine whether your child needs a full neuropsychological evaluation or if a less comprehensive evaluation is sufficient. A consultation with our doctors will help make this decision clear.

How does a neuropsychological evaluation differ from testing my child may have received at their school?

This varies from district to district, but most often the goal of testing performed in school is to measure a child’s intellectual abilities and screen psychological issues and academic performance.  The neuropsychological evaluation is much more comprehensive and considers all aspects of your child’s cognitive and emotional abilities. An independent neuropsychological evaluation assesses your child’s skills more broadly, flexibly, and holistically. Finally, psychoeducational evaluators in school districts typically cannot make diagnoses, while neuropsychologists will determine if your child meets criteria for any diagnoses.

What does the initial neuropsychological evaluation involve?

The evaluation involves:

  1. Doctor consultation with the parent/s or guardian/s
  2. Parent questionnaires regarding child’s development and behavior
  3. Several hours of assessment and testing of the child, usually done over the course of at least three sessions, although more or less time may be required depending on the child
  4. Observation of the child in their current classroom
  5. Discussion with other professionals and therapists working with the child
  6. Doctor meeting with parents to review the results
  7. Written report, including specific assessment results and recommendations

What should I expect the first day of testing?

The initial appointment will start with a one-on-one interview between the psychologist and parent/s to gather information regarding concerns about their child.  While this interview is taking place, we will begin the evaluation process with your child.

We ask that all relevant information (previous evaluations, IEP, medical records, school reports, etc.) be sent to PALS prior to the first appointment, so we may review it before meeting with you and your child.

Who will test my child?

Dr. Salsberg or Dr. Tagliareni will be part of every consultation and feedback session, as well as throughout much of the testing. A psychologist on staff at PALS typically partners with Dr. Salsberg or Dr. Tagliareni.  Together they spend a significant amount of time with each patient they see and partner with other psychologists on the PALS staff as needed. All evaluations are conducted by our doctors, and we work as a team to interpret the data, provide recommendations, write the report, and advocate when necessary.

How many hours of testing are needed for a neuropsychological evaluation?

The number of hours varies from child to child, and depends on several factors, including the child’s age and ability to attend. Neuropsychological evaluations for school-age children typically include 6-10 hours of direct assessment and are broken down into a series of three or more sessions.

How often does my child need to be re-evaluated?

Drs. Salsberg and Tagliareni can help determine when a re-evaluation is needed. They typically follow their patients for years, ensuring a smooth transition to adulthood. Re-evaluations do not usually require full neuropsychological assessments.

What should I tell my child before the initial visit?

You should always prepare your child for the visit, but what you should say depends on your child’s age and cognitive abilities. It is often best to keep the explanation simple and related to issues of which they are already aware.  You should make sure they know that there are no expectations of performance other than to try their best.

Is there anything else I should do to help prepare my child for their assessment?

If possible, your child should be in good physical health and rested coming into the assessment. We suggest giving your child a healthy meal before being evaluated, as the process can be tiring for some children. For this reason, we try to schedule evaluations for young children earlier in the day and in shorter sessions as needed. Patients are welcome to bring their own snacks and water to their appointment.

Do you conduct remote evaluations via telehealth?

Our team can conduct any type of evaluation remotely primarily through the HIPAA-compliant version of zoom. We have successfully evaluated patients nationally and internationally using this platform.

How much does a neuropsychological evaluation cost?

Please contact our office at 212-481-1664 or office@nypals.com for more information about our fees. The cost depends on the type of service provided.

Do you accept insurance?

No, we do not accept insurance. We will provide you with an invoice including the diagnostic codes that you may submit to your insurance company to seek reimbursement. Since we do not bill the insurance companies directly, payment is expected at the time of services.

Does insurance typically cover the evaluation?

Depending on your coverage plan, many health insurance companies will make partial reimbursement for a neuropsychological evaluation. Patients should submit the invoice directly to their insurance companies.