If you are asking yourself this question, you are not alone! As parents, it’s our natural inclination to worry about our kids’ cognitive, social, and emotional development. For many children, learning difficulties are temporary and might improve after a few months. If these concerns persist, however, it is worth investigating your child’s learning patterns more closely. About 15% of school-aged children experience learning or developmental struggles, and that rate is even higher for children experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties.
If you have such concerns, communicate with the teacher and ask questions about your child: Are they listening and following directions? Do they seem to understand concepts being taught to them? Can they do the work without extra help? Are they able to sit still and participate? Are they making friends? It may also be helpful to have a conversation with your family’s pediatrician. Academic success is not only tied to intellectual or cognitive abilities – many emotional and behavioral factors are also involved. For example, if your child recently experienced a high level of stress or a major life change, they are more at-risk for experiencing school difficulties.
If you remain concerned about your child’s progress, it is a good time to consider a neuropsychological evaluation. We will help pinpoint why your child is struggling and put a plan in place that recruits their strengths to help them with areas of vulnerabilities. The quicker the learning challenges or mental health issues are identified, the more opportunity for growth and progress!
What is a neuropsychological evaluation?
- We evaluate a child’s IQ, academic (reading/writing/math) skills, attention, executive functions, language, visual-spatial skills, processing speed, memory, fine motor functions, adaptive skills (activities used every day), social and emotional functioning, and personality
- Evaluations typically take a few hours (usually 2-5 hours, with breaks), depending on age and reason for the evaluation.
What are some of the most common reasons neuropsychological testing is recommended?
- ADHD
- Learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Anxiety and Depression
- Processing Disorders
- Giftedness
- To determine whether students might benefit from special education services or educational accommodations
What would I get out of a neuropsychological evaluation?
- Diagnosis, if applicable.
- An understanding of your child’s strengths and vulnerabilities, including how your child learns best, the reasons they are struggling, personalized learning strategies, what interventions might be most helpful given their profile, etc.
- A concise and easy to read treatment plan: Often considered the most useful component of the evaluation, we provide you with a report you can share with the school and pediatrician that details how your child performed and how to help them in areas where most assistance is needed.
If you feel like your child would benefit from an evaluation, please reach out to Oakland Neuropsychology Center (Oaklandneuropsych.com). Dr. Beaulieu and Dr. O’Neill have specialized training in pediatric and adult neuropsychological evaluations and are well-respected within the community. We would be happy to discuss your concerns in great detail and help determine if an evaluation is the best next step for your family.
