PSA on neuropsychs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why you felt the need to start your own thread on this. Your opinion is not monolithic and you continue to refuse to understand what people are actually saying on the subject.

(also I am not the only person posting this but it is interesting that despite believing you know the universal truth based on yours and everyone’s experience, you are threatened by an opposite minority view. So threatened that you need to post a special call-out. Talk about hostile!)

The OP does not read as hostile at all, but you certainly do. OP's PSA is very useful to confused parents who are in the first throes of considering professional involvement. I don't think your comment serves anyone.

So the only comments that serve anyone are the ones you agree with. got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

The person who is hating on neuropsych evals (I think it’s you) keeps insisting there are downsides besides cost, but then it always comes back to cost.

Cost is a very real consideration, and these evaluations are not cheap. But there are few other downsides perhaps inconvenience or not really enjoying the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

Yes my kid may have different needs than yours. That is how disabilities work - they do not all look the same. Not sure why you think that is some sort of gotcha or reason to be snarky. This is why multiple posters are asking you to STOP. You are being rude and unhelpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

The person who is hating on neuropsych evals (I think it’s you) keeps insisting there are downsides besides cost, but then it always comes back to cost.

Cost is a very real consideration, and these evaluations are not cheap. But there are few other downsides perhaps inconvenience or not really enjoying the test.

I am not PP, but you are 100% wrong with your statement that, other than cost, there is never any downside to doing neuropsych evaluation.
If you are the person who made this claim, then you should know that your insistence on this statement spurred a chain reaction of negative comments.

I cannot speak for other posters who argued with you, but, personally I am not against neuropsych evaluations. However, from my own experience I can confidently state that they can be a wrong choice and not just because of the cost.

In the previous thread I have suggested that people should share what made their evaluation successful in order to help others. Our evaluation would have gone better if I had more info beforehand. I have a couple of categories that we could use as a starting point if you are genuinely interested in helping others. Making broad statements how there can never be a downside is wrong.

Also, would you mind sharing whether you are a parent, a provider, or both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

The person who is hating on neuropsych evals (I think it’s you) keeps insisting there are downsides besides cost, but then it always comes back to cost.

Cost is a very real consideration, and these evaluations are not cheap. But there are few other downsides perhaps inconvenience or not really enjoying the test.

I am not PP, but you are 100% wrong with your statement that, other than cost, there is never any downside to doing neuropsych evaluation.
If you are the person who made this claim, then you should know that your insistence on this statement spurred a chain reaction of negative comments.

I cannot speak for other posters who argued with you, but, personally I am not against neuropsych evaluations. However, from my own experience I can confidently state that they can be a wrong choice and not just because of the cost.

In the previous thread I have suggested that people should share what made their evaluation successful in order to help others. Our evaluation would have gone better if I had more info beforehand. I have a couple of categories that we could use as a starting point if you are genuinely interested in helping others. Making broad statements how there can never be a downside is wrong.

Also, would you mind sharing whether you are a parent, a provider, or both?

I’m a parent, an adult who had three neuropsych evals, a former special ed teacher, and now an attorney. My three personal evaluations have varied in quality. All were still very useful, even the one where the student psychologist at GW gave slightly incorrect instructions that skewed two of the emotional-focused tests to suggest anxiety. I got incredible data and information about myself, and it was easy to contextualize the error.

Of course there is a certain amount of error in all diagnostics and assessments. I cannot imagine dissuading a family struggling with a child with behavioral and/or learning issues from seeking an evaluation that will lend insight to any treatment and educational team, and will provide important tips for parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

The person who is hating on neuropsych evals (I think it’s you) keeps insisting there are downsides besides cost, but then it always comes back to cost.

Cost is a very real consideration, and these evaluations are not cheap. But there are few other downsides perhaps inconvenience or not really enjoying the test.

I am not PP, but you are 100% wrong with your statement that, other than cost, there is never any downside to doing neuropsych evaluation.
If you are the person who made this claim, then you should know that your insistence on this statement spurred a chain reaction of negative comments.

I cannot speak for other posters who argued with you, but, personally I am not against neuropsych evaluations. However, from my own experience I can confidently state that they can be a wrong choice and not just because of the cost.

In the previous thread I have suggested that people should share what made their evaluation successful in order to help others. Our evaluation would have gone better if I had more info beforehand. I have a couple of categories that we could use as a starting point if you are genuinely interested in helping others. Making broad statements how there can never be a downside is wrong.

Also, would you mind sharing whether you are a parent, a provider, or both?

I’m a parent, an adult who had three neuropsych evals, a former special ed teacher, and now an attorney. My three personal evaluations have varied in quality. All were still very useful, even the one where the student psychologist at GW gave slightly incorrect instructions that skewed two of the emotional-focused tests to suggest anxiety. I got incredible data and information about myself, and it was easy to contextualize the error.

Of course there is a certain amount of error in all diagnostics and assessments. I cannot imagine dissuading a family struggling with a child with behavioral and/or learning issues from seeking an evaluation that will lend insight to any treatment and educational team, and will provide important tips for parents.

That is wonderful that you had a good experience with the three of your own evaluations.

However, how is suggesting to provide the advice on how to make an evaluation successful dissuading anyone from doing it? I have already shared what I wish I knew and what would have helped us and didn’t discourage anyone not to pursue it.

You should follow your own advice, share what worked for you, or what worked well for your students and families, and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

The person who is hating on neuropsych evals (I think it’s you) keeps insisting there are downsides besides cost, but then it always comes back to cost.

Cost is a very real consideration, and these evaluations are not cheap. But there are few other downsides perhaps inconvenience or not really enjoying the test.

I am not PP, but you are 100% wrong with your statement that, other than cost, there is never any downside to doing neuropsych evaluation.
If you are the person who made this claim, then you should know that your insistence on this statement spurred a chain reaction of negative comments.

I cannot speak for other posters who argued with you, but, personally I am not against neuropsych evaluations. However, from my own experience I can confidently state that they can be a wrong choice and not just because of the cost.

In the previous thread I have suggested that people should share what made their evaluation successful in order to help others. Our evaluation would have gone better if I had more info beforehand. I have a couple of categories that we could use as a starting point if you are genuinely interested in helping others. Making broad statements how there can never be a downside is wrong.

Also, would you mind sharing whether you are a parent, a provider, or both?

I’m a parent, an adult who had three neuropsych evals, a former special ed teacher, and now an attorney. My three personal evaluations have varied in quality. All were still very useful, even the one where the student psychologist at GW gave slightly incorrect instructions that skewed two of the emotional-focused tests to suggest anxiety. I got incredible data and information about myself, and it was easy to contextualize the error.

Of course there is a certain amount of error in all diagnostics and assessments. I cannot imagine dissuading a family struggling with a child with behavioral and/or learning issues from seeking an evaluation that will lend insight to any treatment and educational team, and will provide important tips for parents.

That is wonderful that you had a good experience with the three of your own evaluations.

However, how is suggesting to provide the advice on how to make an evaluation successful dissuading anyone from doing it? I have already shared what I wish I knew and what would have helped us and didn’t discourage anyone not to pursue it.

You should follow your own advice, share what worked for you, or what worked well for your students and families, and move on.

I never gave that advice! You’re conflating multiple posters.

[Anonymous]

New poster and I say this every time, our neuropsychs have been massive massive wastes of money and time. The $15 k we spent on them should indeed be in a trust for our kid who was helped not a bit by them. It is a child and need specific issue no doubt. Like they all are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

The person who is hating on neuropsych evals (I think it’s you) keeps insisting there are downsides besides cost, but then it always comes back to cost.

Cost is a very real consideration, and these evaluations are not cheap. But there are few other downsides perhaps inconvenience or not really enjoying the test.

I am not PP, but you are 100% wrong with your statement that, other than cost, there is never any downside to doing neuropsych evaluation.
If you are the person who made this claim, then you should know that your insistence on this statement spurred a chain reaction of negative comments.

I cannot speak for other posters who argued with you, but, personally I am not against neuropsych evaluations. However, from my own experience I can confidently state that they can be a wrong choice and not just because of the cost.

In the previous thread I have suggested that people should share what made their evaluation successful in order to help others. Our evaluation would have gone better if I had more info beforehand. I have a couple of categories that we could use as a starting point if you are genuinely interested in helping others. Making broad statements how there can never be a downside is wrong.

Also, would you mind sharing whether you are a parent, a provider, or both?

I’m a parent, an adult who had three neuropsych evals, a former special ed teacher, and now an attorney. My three personal evaluations have varied in quality. All were still very useful, even the one where the student psychologist at GW gave slightly incorrect instructions that skewed two of the emotional-focused tests to suggest anxiety. I got incredible data and information about myself, and it was easy to contextualize the error.

Of course there is a certain amount of error in all diagnostics and assessments. I cannot imagine dissuading a family struggling with a child with behavioral and/or learning issues from seeking an evaluation that will lend insight to any treatment and educational team, and will provide important tips for parents.

That is wonderful that you had a good experience with the three of your own evaluations.

However, how is suggesting to provide the advice on how to make an evaluation successful dissuading anyone from doing it? I have already shared what I wish I knew and what would have helped us and didn’t discourage anyone not to pursue it.

You should follow your own advice, share what worked for you, or what worked well for your students and families, and move on.

I never gave that advice! You’re conflating multiple posters.

I’m sorry if that’s the case. Are you not the OP of this new thread?

You might be conflating multiple posters as well. I never tried to persuade anyone not to pursue an evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster and I say this every time, our neuropsychs have been massive massive wastes of money and time. The $15 k we spent on them should indeed be in a trust for our kid who was helped not a bit by them. It is a child and need specific issue no doubt. Like they all are.

I am PP suggesting to share what worked and what didn’t. I know it can be hard to provide details without giving too much personal information, but do you mind sharing why evaluation didn’t work for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neuropsych evals can be very helpful in the situations you described, but there is also a tendency on this board for people to recommend neuropsych evaluation as a first step when there are other options that may be faster, cheaper, and effective. For example, if a parent suspects their child may have mild to moderate anxiety or ADHD, an intake appointment with a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be fully effective in diagnosing, treating, and getting school accommodations.

+1. Plus the school testing can be very good - ours had basically identical results to the tests the neuropsychologist did.

That's so great! Isn't available to everyone. School districts do not have an obligation to evaluate every child. Educational impacts may not be apparent until the child is older.

Feel free to share your experiences with neuropsychs and their alternatives but please stop derailing every thread from someone who is NOT starting from square 1 and stop spreading misinformation that will confuse people who are asking for help. Neuropsychs CAN help with diagnosis, especially where the picture is mixed or unclear. Neuropsychological testing CAN help the psychologist differentiate between different underlying issues. Not not every neuropsych is successful in doing so. Feel free to share providers you recommend against that failed to.acvhieve what you expected them to achieve.

If your kid is so mildly affected they don’t even need an IEP then I guess you’re having a totally different conversation. And if neuropsych testing were free we wouldn’t be here.

Also you absolutely don’t have a lock on correct information. It’s not confusing to give people information about different types of intervention and testing.

The person who is hating on neuropsych evals (I think it’s you) keeps insisting there are downsides besides cost, but then it always comes back to cost.

Cost is a very real consideration, and these evaluations are not cheap. But there are few other downsides perhaps inconvenience or not really enjoying the test.

I am not PP, but you are 100% wrong with your statement that, other than cost, there is never any downside to doing neuropsych evaluation.
If you are the person who made this claim, then you should know that your insistence on this statement spurred a chain reaction of negative comments.

I cannot speak for other posters who argued with you, but, personally I am not against neuropsych evaluations. However, from my own experience I can confidently state that they can be a wrong choice and not just because of the cost.

In the previous thread I have suggested that people should share what made their evaluation successful in order to help others. Our evaluation would have gone better if I had more info beforehand. I have a couple of categories that we could use as a starting point if you are genuinely interested in helping others. Making broad statements how there can never be a downside is wrong.

Also, would you mind sharing whether you are a parent, a provider, or both?

I’m a parent, an adult who had three neuropsych evals, a former special ed teacher, and now an attorney. My three personal evaluations have varied in quality. All were still very useful, even the one where the student psychologist at GW gave slightly incorrect instructions that skewed two of the emotional-focused tests to suggest anxiety. I got incredible data and information about myself, and it was easy to contextualize the error.

Of course there is a certain amount of error in all diagnostics and assessments. I cannot imagine dissuading a family struggling with a child with behavioral and/or learning issues from seeking an evaluation that will lend insight to any treatment and educational team, and will provide important tips for parents.

That is wonderful that you had a good experience with the three of your own evaluations.

However, how is suggesting to provide the advice on how to make an evaluation successful dissuading anyone from doing it? I have already shared what I wish I knew and what would have helped us and didn’t discourage anyone not to pursue it.

You should follow your own advice, share what worked for you, or what worked well for your students and families, and move on.

I never gave that advice! You’re conflating multiple posters.

I’m sorry if that’s the case. Are you not the OP of this new thread?

You might be conflating multiple posters as well. I never tried to persuade anyone not to pursue an evaluation.

I’m not! Believe or not, quite a few of us share similar beliefs on the value and minuscule risks of neuropsych evals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why you felt the need to start your own thread on this. Your opinion is not monolithic and you continue to refuse to understand what people are actually saying on the subject.

(also I am not the only person posting this but it is interesting that despite believing you know the universal truth based on yours and everyone’s experience, you are threatened by an opposite minority view. So threatened that you need to post a special call-out. Talk about hostile!)

The OP does not read as hostile at all, but you certainly do. OP's PSA is very useful to confused parents who are in the first throes of considering professional involvement. I don't think your comment serves anyone.

So the only comments that serve anyone are the ones you agree with. got it.

Several people responded to you already. I don't know why you're so triggered by this discussion.