What is a neurodevelopmental assessment? 
Our assessment aims to determine a student's profile of neurodevelopmental functions and academic skills. These functions are brain processes that affect learning i.e. attention, memory, language, spatial ordering, sequencing, higher order thinking, social thinking, and motor skills. Understanding a neurodevelopmental profile helps reveal why a student is struggling in school. Each student's individualized, comprehensive educational plan is based on his or her profile of strengths and weaknesses.

 How might this assessment differ from other testing my child may have had?
 School assessments tend to look at the discrepancy between IQ and academic achievement and are done to identify academic areas of underachievement.  If a discrepancy exists a student is told they have a learning disability. Assessments performed at the Center are done to understand why a child is experiencing failure whether academic, social, behavioral, or emotional.
 
Should a student take prescribed medication?
If a student typically takes medication on school days, he/she should do so for this assessment. If you have questions about the effectiveness of medication please feel free to discuss the concern with our office prior to the evaluation so that we may give guidance on whether it is necessary to administer it that day.
 
What kind of report will we receive? 
Our reports are designed to provide insight into a student's individual strengths and weaknesses. The most important part of our report is a profile of their neurodevelopmental strengths and weaknesses. The profile provides information that specifically identifies where a breakdown in achievement may be occurring. In addition to the learning profile, the report includes an individually tailored educational treatment plan to address issues both at home and at school.  Our reports generally are available within 2-4 weeks after the assessment.

How can we use the report to help at school?   
Parents often will share the results of our evaluation with the school.  The information is most useful in helping the teacher and school better understand the why behind a student’s academic or behavioral problems.  It is our hope that teachers will be willing to incorporate strategies outlined in the educational treatment plan into their interactions with your student.  However, we can advise and explain but it is not required that a school us the results of our assessment.

How often do students need to be followed?
Students who are on medication for attentional concerns are monitored on a three month schedule due to the nature of the medications which are used.  Students who are not on medication are followed twice a year to ascertain whether the recommendations which have been suggested are helping and still appropriate.  Of course we are available to see your child whenever you have a concern.

Why isn’t the Neurodevelopmental Assessment covered by my insurance policy?
Insurance companies cover certain tests and assessments but not all.  Furthermore what will be covered will vary from plan to plan.  When we find a plan which will cover an assessment the payment is always insufficient to cover the time and resources needed to complete the assessment.  It is for these reasons that we do not file with the insurance company.  In order to receive a formal assessment, you must be willing to sign a waiver, stating that you are responsible for the cost, so that we are in compliance with our contracts with the insurance companies.  Because our evaluations are physician directed, we can file the consultation and office visits to the insurance company resulting in out of pocket fees lower than others who offer similar services.