Assessments and Evaluations

At Clear Mind Westchester, most of us are parents and we understand that neuropsychological assessment can sound scary and expensive. As parents and professionals, we have never regretted having our own kids evaluated or referring our patients for testing. There is so much important data that is gathered through a well done assessment. It is invaluable to you and your child as it guides the decisions, interventions and treatment. In a sense, a neuropsychological evaluation protects your investment in the plan that you and your child’s school implements. An added bonus for older children is that they get to know themselves and how their brains work in an objective way. 

Full Neuropsychological Assessment-

These comprehensive assessments encompass several key areas including cognitive abilities, academic functioning, learning and memory, motor skills, language, sensory processing, social capabilities, emotional resilience, and executive functioning. This includes an initial parent meeting, two four hour testing sessions with the child and a feedback session after the testing is completed. Evaluations are typically done in person.

Brief Neuropsychological Evaluations

An abbreviated assessment might be appropriate if your child has already had an evaluation elsewhere or through their school district. It also might be helpful if you have specific questions about your child’s attention span, executive functioning or processing speed. Brief evaluations include an initial parent meeting and one four hour in person meeting with the child as well as a feedback session. 

Autism Evaluations

Flexibility and expertise are vital to assessing autism. If your previous neuropsychological testing did not include specific Autistic Spectrum Disorder evaluation tools then the diagnosis is not necessarily accurate. At Clear Mind Westchester, Dr. Merav Hassler uses the ADOS to narrow down the diagnosis. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of autism. It is structured and play based allowing the tester to observe the child’s use of social communication, behaviors, and play. This tool aligns with the specific developmental stage and capacities of your child. The ADOS is a comprehensive and thorough evaluation specifically for children who might meet the criteria for ASD. Typically this evaluation includes parent interviews, a 45-60 minute session with the child, and a feedback meeting with parents. 

Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Plans – Most parents who have been struggling with their children’s challenging and disruptive behaviors have tried sticker charts and parent management training plans. They often come to us feeling dejected and dismayed as many behavior management strategies are arduous to implement. Dr. Hilary Cooper and supervising psychologist Dr. Sasha Blackwell really listen to parents and create a plan that works for your family.