Neuropsychological evaluation?

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain what a neuropsychological evaluation is and when someone should get one? I see so many conflicting descriptions and recommendations. Is there an actual definition of what this testing is (compared to psychological testing, or even psychoeducational, for example)? I know any evaluation will be tailored to the individual patient. From some descriptions I've read, it seems that these evaluations may be nearly identical.

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I am a psychologist who mostly conducts what I call psychoeducational evaluations. I assess cognitive ability, processing, memory, emotions, behavior, social skill, attention, and executive functioning, as well as educational achievement, charge around $3500, and provide diagnoses. The main difference between what I provide and a neuropsych are the inclusion of a few specific tests that assess similar constructs to what I assess. I find that I give fewer measures than some neuropsychologists but end up with similar results. Many of us even utilize evaluation tools that have the phrase "neuro" in the title, such as the NEPSY. The main reason I don't call myself a neuropsychologist is that I don't have a board certification in that area, but I find that for most cases, the approach I use is helpful in understanding what is going on.