Psychological Testing

Dr. Newman provides psychological testing services for children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of neurodevelopmental and psychological concerns. Psychological testing is an evaluation process by which a psychologist collects structured information in an attempt to clarify answers to questions about an individual’s diagnosis, level of functioning, and/or what types of interventions are likely to be most effective. This process can result in greater diagnostic accuracy and provide specific targets for intervention that were not previously recognized as areas of need.

Psychological testing is not always necessary prior to beginning treatment, particularly when the reasons for seeking treatment are clear. However, it is not uncommon for medication and/or counseling to fail or take longer than expected because the treatment plan is based on an inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis and/or conceptualization. For example, it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether a child’s social, emotional, behavioral, and/or academic difficulties are due primarily to a neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, learning disability, etc.) or an emotional or behavioral disorder (e.g., anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, etc.). This is particularly true when children seem to exhibit many different kinds of challenges simultaneously (e.g., distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsivity, temper tantrums, aggression, and difficulties getting along with peers). Psychological testing can be most helpful when parents feel like they’re unsure what the root cause of their child’s difficulties is, or when they’ve already tried various forms of treatment with little success. Testing may also be required to provide a formal diagnosis before insurance will reimburse for treatment.

ADHD Evaluation

An ADHD evaluation includes a diagnostic interview as well as tests of intelligence, attention, executive functioning, and behavioral functioning. This results in an ADHD diagnosis (or rules out the diagnosis), and provides related clinical and educational recommendations if appropriate.

Psychoeducational Evaluation

A Psychoeducational Evaluations results in more comprehensive educational recommendations than a simple ADHD evaluation, including investigating whether there may be a Specific Learning Disorder (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia) and/or ADHD. It includes everything that’s included in an ADHD evaluation, as well as additional tests of academic functioning (i.e., reading, writing, math) and memory and learning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Evaluation

This evaluation includes a diagnostic interview as well as tests of social communication, intelligence, attention, executive functioning, language skills, motor functioning, social communication, adaptive functioning, and emotional and behavioral functioning. Although the overarching focus of this evaluation is on determining whether the individual has ASD (and if so, how it impacts his/her functioning), it can result in other neurodevelopmental, emotional, and/or behavioral diagnoses as appropriate.

Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)

This type of evaluation is reserved for children and adolescents who have already been evaluated by their school district, but whose parents disagree with the results of the school-based evaluation or the conclusions drawn from it. In such cases, parents are entitled to request that the school district pay for an independent practitioner to perform an evaluation. The scope of an IEE is dependent on the specific areas of disagreement, and will be determined in conjunction with your school district.

Personality Evaluation

This type of evaluation is most appropriate for individuals with complex psychological symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, risky behaviors, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and/or pervasive patterns of behavior that are destructive to themeselves or significant others. It may also be appropriate for individuals with histories of trauma and/or attachment disruption. Diagnoses are made as appropriate, and recommendations are usually focused most heavily on identifying appropriate clinical services and guiding the focus of treatment.

Comprehensive Psychological Evaluation

This type of evaluation is most useful when an individual or parent has a wide range of concerns and isn’t sure how to begin narrowing down their challenges and needs. Comprehensive psychological evaluations include testing in most or all of the psychological domains described above.

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Serenity Springs Counseling & Wellness
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Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526-5385

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