What to Expect with Psychological Testing
Neuropsychological Evaluation is a process of testing that uses a combination of techniques to help arrive at a hypotheses about a person and their behavior, personality, and capabilities. It is important to know that Neuropsychological Evaluation is not the same as Psychotherapy. Unlike Psychotherapy, Neuropsychological Evaluation includes the use of psychological tests that are administered by a Licensed Psychologist with specialized training in neuropsychology. or clinical trainee under the supervision the neuropsychologist.
The goal of this neuropsychological assessment is to determine if any changes have occurred in your cognitive (e.g., attention, memory, problems solving, etc.), emotional, behavioral, and/or physical functioning, and suggest possible methods and treatments for rehabilitation. In addition to an interview where you will be asked questions about your personal background and current medical symptoms, you will be asked to complete various standardized tests (mostly paper and pencil), and asked to fill out questionnaires to assess the nature and extent of any medical and/or psychological problems that may be affecting your current level of functioning.
The Neuropsychological Evaluation process takes place in four primary stages:
1. The intake interview is conducted between the client and the psychologist. The purpose of this interview is to obtain background information, discuss your concerns, and identify the objectives for the evaluation. This process can take 45 – 120 minutes. This may be completed over one or several sessions.
2. Testing: Testing may take place over the course of one or more sessions lasting 1-6 hours per session. The total testing time usually ranges between 4 – 12 hours, depending on the individual needs of the client and the assessments administered.
3. Scoring, Interpretation, and Report Writing: Your psychologist will score and interpret the results from testing. In addition, your psychologist may prepare a report depending on your needs. The amount of time dedicated to this process typically ranges from 2-20 hours dependent on the complexity of the case.
This time includes a review of released records. A delay in the receipt of records will delay your results session. Typical response time for the receipt of noncomplex records ranges from 10-14 business days. Complex or lengthy records can take up to one month to receive. Further, these records must be compiled and reviewed as well as integrated into your report which can also be a lengthy process, dependent on the length of records.
This report will NOT be released to outside parties without consent or court order. Your psychologist will review the scores and interpretation of scores with you prior to the release of the report, unless this waived with the understanding that the report may not be accurate.
4. Client/Parent Feedback Meeting : Your psychologist will invite you to a feedback meeting to provide interpretation about the testing results, review diagnostic impressions, and discuss treatment recommendations. This meeting will take place about 3-4 weeks after the completion of the above process (dependent on the receipt of outside records and appointment availability for both yourself and the provider) and will last approximately 30-45 minutes.
You will not receive your report at this time as it is not uncommon for new information to be presented in this review session. You will typically receive your report if authorized within 1-2 weeks following this feedback session (again dependent on the complexity of the case).
In addition to the stages of the Neuropsychological Evaluation described above, other services are sometimes necessary. For example, your psychologist may find it helpful to speak with other professionals involved in your care, or your child’s care. Such professionals can include teachers, physicians, counselors, or other psychologists. For some children, a school observation may be recommended to provide a better idea of how your child is functioning in his or her educational setting. In some cases, your evaluation may include an interview with your closest family member(s) and/or significant other(s). If consultation with outside parties is necessary, you will be asked to sign an Authorization to Release Information form prior to any communication unless communication is allowed under HIPAA.
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Common Questions
1. Can I leave My Minor Child and leave the office?
- The True Balance office is not able to accommodate children outside of a scheduled appointment time.Unattended children in the waiting room can represent a safety issue, as no supervision is available during this time. Parents and guardians are asked to arrive no earlier than five minutes before their child’s appointment. You will need to stay the entire time. We do not offer childcare services
2. Will my Insurance Cover this service?
- At times, insurance companies do not fully reimburse psychological or neuropsychological testing services, whether your clinician is an in-network or out-of-network provider.
- There are two main situations when this occurs: 1) the insurance company does not consider psychological testing “medically necessary” for “experimental” or “investigational” diagnoses. Diagnoses considered “experimental” or “investigational” vary depending on the insurance carrier or 2) when insurance companies reimburse fewer hours than billed. For example, some insurance companies only reimburse up to 12 hours of psychological testing, whereas 15-20 hours are typically billed for a full evaluation.
- It is your responsibility to verify coverage with your insurance company prior to consenting to services. While we make every effort to verify benefits and coverage and obtain authorization for services prior to beginning services, you are ultimately responsible for knowing your coverage and for all charges. Please let us know if you have questions or concerns in this area.
3. Will I receive my report at the last session?
- You will not receive your report at this time as it is not uncommon for new information to be presented in this review session. You will typically receive your report if authorized within 1-2 weeks following this feedback session (again dependent on the complexity of the case).
4. Why am I billed for more time than I was with the Psychologist?
- Your psychologist will need to compile records, score assessments, conduct interviews, and write the evaluation. This cannot be completed in the time that the provider will see you face to face. This additional time is a billable service even when you are not present.
