Neuropsychological Testing in Charlotte NC
Evaluations and Testing
All brains are different, and different individuals can be impacted very differently by the same life circumstances.
Neuropsychological and psychological testing provide insights into how developmental or medical concerns are impacting how one thinks, behaves, or feels. The goal is to provide targeted intervention strategies that build on strengths and promote success, not just a diagnosis.
What’s an evaluation?
We start with the WHY. What are the concerns that are prompting the request for testing?
- We proceed with an intake with parents or the adult to be tested in order to understand the concerns, history, and context.
- If we all agree that formal testing is the best next step, we will schedule a date for in-person testing and ask for all educational and medical records – the more data, the deeper our understanding.
The TESTING.
These aren’t like tests you take in school. Psychological and neuropsychological tests assess functioning across many different areas – general ability, problem-solving, memory, attention, language, visual/spatial, social-emotional/behavioral, and more – to understand a person’s strengths and opportunities for growth or improvement. These standardized tests help us understand how people approach different kinds of tasks, and to determine relative proficiency in skills related to learning, performance, and social-emotional and behavioral functioning.
The FOLLOW-UP.
After testing is complete, we meet with test-takers and parents to review the highlights of the evaluation results and primary recommendations. We subsequently provide a formal written report with more detailed results and additional recommendations that can be shared with schools and related providers. If interventions are recommended, we provide specific recommendations and facilitate introductions until care is underway.
Next Steps
When evaluation results suggest that an individual could benefit from additional services, we work with clients to identify related service providers who could be a good fit. Additional services that we provide here include Sleep, Concussion Care, and Consultations.
- Behavioral sleep interventions for bedtime problems, staying up too late, disrupted or inadequate sleep (for parents, children, teens, and adults)
- Parenting support: After the post-testing feedback session, we can schedule additional follow-up appointments for parents or families on developing home-based strategies to improve compliance and follow-through.
- Executive functioning support: ongoing work with motivated high school, college, and graduate students who want to improve their organization, time-management, and planning skills. This will typically involve some support for parents on implementation and can include liaising with school staff as needed or warranted.
- Referrals and care coordination: whether or not a formal diagnosis is provided, our evaluation services typically include a variety of recommendations for follow-up in order to address the presenting concerns. We are happy to schedule additional appointments to facilitate follow-up with schools or related providers or to coordinate care.
- Annual academic reviews: the impact of developmental disorders like ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and Intellectual Disabilities, as well as medical, social-emotional/behavioral, and neurological disorders, can change over time and across settings. Many families find it helpful to schedule annual check-ins as they are winding up the academic year or preparing for the next one to review or adjust accommodations or support.
- Re-evaluations: public schools require reevaluation every 3 years to be sure that students still need or remain eligible for ongoing supports and services. Individuals do not “grow out” of developmental diagnoses, but the impact of them can change over time and settings. Even when formal comprehensive reevaluation is not required, a brief reevaluation or even an informal review can be of benefit to see if any adjustments or changes could be helpful to optimize functioning. Reevaluation can be particularly helpful to facilitate planning for key transitions, such as elementary to middle school years, middle school to high school, or high school to college.
Who will benefit?
Thinking about getting (neuro)psychological or psychoeducational testing?
Individualized testing helpful for anyone with questions or concerns about:
- learning, attention, or memory
- social-emotional or behavioral functioning
- functioning at school or in the workplace
- cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or sleep-related changes after an illness or injury
- educational / school placement
- private and school-based support and interventions
- testing, school, or workplace accommodations
- disability and MMI determinations
Some clients request testing when something just doesn’t seem right – and that’s ok, too. We offer standard “comprehensive evaluation services” and brief or targeted screening evaluations. Limited availability for Concierge testing on weekends or out-of-office/out-of-state locations.
Our team is led by Dr. Marla Shapiro, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Health Service Psychologist, and Fellow of both the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the Sports Neuropsychology Society.
Whether it’s identifying strengths, determining appropriate accommodations, or guiding targeted interventions, we are passionate about providing evidence-based, compassionate, and integrative care that capitalizes on strengths and addresses individual needs.
How to get started
Compassionate, collaborative, evidence-based care – let us know how we can help.
