Pediatric Neuropsychological Evaluation

The evaluation process begins with an initial consultation between Dr. Cohen and the parents or young adult being evaluated. During this one hour meeting, we discuss background information, review medical and educational records, and explore presenting concerns. Parents and teachers will be asked to complete questionnaires detailing everyday functioning. Dr. Cohen will use this information to discuss her initial impressions and suggest a plan for evaluation.

A pediatric neuropsychological evaluation includes an assessment of all major areas of functioning including intellectual development, attention, executive functioning, learning & memory, motor skills, visual perception, language development, and social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Dr. Cohen also performs an in-depth assessment of academic skills during the evaluation when needed.

​What Kind of Problems Require Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment ?  Children and young adults with medical disorders that affect neurological development or functioning will typically benefit from a neuropsychological evaluation. This includes seizures, traumatic brain injury, Autism Spectrum Disorder, genetic disorders, brain tumor, very premature birth, and other conditions affecting the brain. Individuals who are struggling with learning and achieving educational success can also benefit from the in-depth assessment and cognitive skill profiling of neuropsychological testing. 

Childhood disorders result in different profiles of strengths and weaknesses.  Comprehensive testing can help identify a child's disorder and the areas of the brain involved. For example, testing can differentiate between causes of a language problem such as speech sound production, Autism Spectrum Disorder, shyness, developmental delay, or difficulty understanding or communicating using language. Dr. Cohen may collaborate with your physician when appropriate to combine the results with medical testing to help diagnose your child's problem.

Do you accept insurance for a Pediatric Neuropsychological Evaluation? CDPHP and Blue Shield of Northeastern NY insurances are accepted in our office. However, insurance companies require "medical necessity" to use the neuropsychological testing benefit. That means that neuropsychological testing is usually covered for people who have had a brain injury or disease (like seizures. prenatal substance exposure, or very premature birth). Medically healthy people, even those with developmental concerns like ADHD, dyslexia, or developmental delay, are usually not allowed to access neuropsychological testing per their insurance company's rules. Clients always have the option to self-pay then seek reimbursement from their insurance company afterwards.

Does my child need a neuropsychological evaluation for their learning problem? Not necessarily. If your concerns are focused on one specific area, like reading problems, your child may not need in-depth testing in every cognitive area. A customized evaluation can look at the problem area using less testing and professional time than with a neuropsychological evaluation. This is a helpful option for children whose evaluation is not going to be covered by insurance.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation

Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder accurately requires specialized knowledge and training in the latest research and assessment methods available. Dr. Cohen performs a targeted and specialized evaluation to answer the question of whether Autism is present. The evaluation includes a test of general cognitive ability (IQ Test), the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) for gold-standard assessment of Autism symptoms, and measures of adaptive, social, and emotional functioning. The evaluation is customizable and may include assessment of other areas of functioning (i.e. executive functioning or academic skills) and/or a school observation. Feedback to parents and a comprehensive report including school recommendations are issued three weeks after the evaluation. Reports may be used for documentation with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities when appropriate. 

Is Dr. Cohen Available to Come to My Child's School?  In some circumstances, an observation of your child in their school environment is a very helpful component of an evaluation.  Typically, a school observation is recommended for younger children who may be experiencing behavioral or social skills struggles in their school environment. Dr. Cohen can perform a school observation and in some cases this is included in the insurance coverage.

How are the Evaluation Results  Shared with Me?  Dr. Cohen schedules a feedback appointment for approximately three weeks after testing during which she explains the results in thorough and clear terms to parents.  It is a priority that parents leave the feedback session with a solid understanding of why their child is experiencing problems, the child's strengths, and a plan for moving forward with treatment. Dr. Cohen provides a comprehensive written report detailing the findings, diagnosis, and recommendations at the feedback appointment. This report is ready for you to take home at the feedback session to share with the school and medical providers in a timely matter. Reports are designed to be particularly useful for schools in their educational planning process and draw from Dr. Cohen's experience working in and consulting to schools. 

Do you accept insurance for an Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation? CDPHP and Blue Shield of Northeastern NY insurances are accepted in our office with a physician's referral. If we do not accept your insurance, you may self-pay for the evaluation and then seek out-of-network benefits from your insurance company afterwards.

 ADHD Evaluation Clinic

The ADHD evaluation is for children ages 5-12 and takes place in two appointments. During you first appointment, you will meet with Dr. Cohen for about 45 minutes. We discuss background information, review medical and educational records, and explore presenting concerns. Parents and teachers will be asked to complete questionnaires detailing everyday functioning. 

At the second appointment, your child will work with Dr. Cohen to complete testing for about 75-90 minutes. After a short break, Dr. Cohen will provide you with the results that same day and review ideas with you to support and treat your child. A brief, two to three page report will be mailed to you within two weeks. The report will explain Dr. Cohen's opinion about your child's situation and offer recommendations for treatment and support at school.

Do you accept insurance for the ADHD evaluation? Yes. Dr. Cohen accepts CDPHP insurance and Blue Shield of Northeastern New York insurance for ADHD evaluations. All children are welcome to use their insurance for an ADHD evaluation with a physician's referral. If your insurance is not accepted, you can consider paying up front and seeking out-of-network benefits from your insurance company afterward. The self-pay rate is relatively affordable because this clinic is designed to serve as many children as possible who are struggling with their mental health.

Why doesn't the ADHD evaluation include academic testing? The ADHD evaluation clinic is designed to see as many children as possible to help them with their mental health needs. Our region has a shortage of psychologists who are qualified to test children for ADHD and waitlists can be many months long. Academic testing can more than double the time it takes to test a child and write their report. By focusing the ADHD clinic on mental health, more children can be scheduled and they can receive their reports much faster. If you need academic testing for your child, Dr. Cohen can provide a neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation.

Do you see teenagers in the ADHD clinic? No, we're sorry but we do not see teenagers for this kind of evaluation. Teenagers have more in-depth and complicated emotional and social lives than younger children. It is challenging to make an accurate ADHD diagnosis for a teenager using a brief evaluation.

Transition to Adulthood and College Student Evaluations

Young adults ages 18 through 21 have may unique needs related to accommodations for college and educational testing (i.e. SAT, ACT, LSAT), first-time disability diagnosis, or transitioning to adulthood. Dr. Cohen provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for the young adult population with attention to planning for success in higher educational or occupational settings.