PSA on neuropsychs

[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.

Why?

We did two for my oldest, who desperately needed multiple accommodations, and to understand his own complex psych profile. They were immensely helpful. Then we did one for my second, who functions well, but who had concerns and wanted to be evaluated. It did turn out there was a diagnosis, but the condition is so mild it does not require accommodations in school. However, we learned a great deal about how mild cases can present, and we do not regret paying that much.

I am not one to throw money out of the window. I carefully researched our provider and was quite sure I wanted to spend that much to further our understanding of our kids and get them the help they needed.

I do agree with the poster who said that a full neuro is sometimes not the appropriate first step, especially when the kid is very young. It's two days of testing! My oldest had many shorter evals done, starting practically from birth, since he was born with medical issues, and had a global development delay. First we saw his pediatrician, who referred us to a developmental pediatrician, who diagnosed him with multiple delays. Then as a preschooler, he had a battery of tests done by his preschool which flagged certain things. And then he had an evaluation for ADHD at 6 years old. All these were helpful in their own way, since there was no way he could have sat for hours of testing at that age. His first neuro was right before middle school, when he could understand that it was a serious endeavor. The second was in high school.

[Anonymous]

So, my dc had a neuropysch several years ago, and a dx, which really helped us understand what was going on with them and got good ideas to move forward.

I used a provider that took our insurance. Actually, we were on a waitlist for two other places that also did, as well. It did take nearly a year to get it, but only cost me the insurance co pay (it was FEHB BCBS $175 at the time, I think it's 225 now).

I'm not sure what the poster who keeps talkig about 'preparation' for the neuropysch means, but I guess what we did was make sure all paperwork was filled out beforehand and that dc got a good nights sleep and breakfast beforehand. It was broken into two half days and dc enjoyed it. We did something fun after both days (new playground).

On the advice of dc's drs, we are going to do a new one (typical at mid childhood) as they are having some academic struggles and this will help us know how to help dc. Not sure yet how long the wait is (I'm not local to this board) but I think it's less now.

[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?

Not the PP but this is a broad opinionated statement with no reason. What are YOUR reasons besides cost. Bullet note the negatives for the child and family

[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?

Interesting that you state this so definitively without giving any reasons why. How is one to decide whether it is the right or wrong choice for them without any additional guidance?

[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 billion

[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 billion

Which thread suggests getting a neuropsych as the first step? The ones I see pertain to kids who are currently getting services/therapy or were until very recently. I think y'all have created a straw man here just to entertain yourselves.

[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.

I’m OP and I absolutely agree with this. This was our path with one child and for another where the symptoms were very complicated and behavior was a real issue, we did neuropsych. We got the diagnoses we needed to pursue accurate treatments. Eight years later child us thriving and we wouldn’t be here without the correct diagnoses.

I posted because there are absolutely times and places for neuropsychs.

The aggressive poster has an axe to grind and seems to think they are a grift. My intention is for parents to feel supported and know that it can be a really good option especially when things are confusing and/or other things have been tried.

I have no idea what the intentions of the aggressive poster is. Truly.

[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.

I’m OP and I absolutely agree with this. This was our path with one child and for another where the symptoms were very complicated and behavior was a real issue, we did neuropsych. We got the diagnoses we needed to pursue accurate treatments. Eight years later child us thriving and we wouldn’t be here without the correct diagnoses.

I posted because there are absolutely times and places for neuropsychs.

The aggressive poster has an axe to grind and seems to think they are a grift. My intention is for parents to feel supported and know that it can be a really good option especially when things are confusing and/or other things have been tried.

I have no idea what the intentions of the aggressive poster is. Truly.

[Anonymous]

The 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.

^^

I’m OP and I absolutely agree with this. This was our path with one child and for another where the symptoms were very complicated and behavior was a real issue, we did neuropsych. We got the diagnoses we needed to pursue accurate treatments. Eight years later child us thriving and we wouldn’t be here without the correct diagnoses.

I posted because there are absolutely times and places for neuropsychs.

The aggressive poster has an axe to grind and seems to think they are a grift. My intention is for parents to feel supported and know that it can be a really good option especially when things are confusing and/or other things have been tried.

I have no idea what the intentions of the aggressive poster is. Truly.

[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 billion

Which thread suggests getting a neuropsych as the first step? The ones I see pertain to kids who are currently getting services/therapy or were until very recently. I think y'all have created a straw man here just to entertain yourselves.

Thank you! This is a great point and I am adding it to my list from the previous thread. In the interest of not confusing me with someone else, I will call myself PP_X.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 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.

^^

I’m OP and I absolutely agree with this. This was our path with one child and for another where the symptoms were very complicated and behavior was a real issue, we did neuropsych. We got the diagnoses we needed to pursue accurate treatments. Eight years later child us thriving and we wouldn’t be here without the correct diagnoses.

I posted because there are absolutely times and places for neuropsychs.

The aggressive poster has an axe to grind and seems to think they are a grift. My intention is for parents to feel supported and know that it can be a really good option especially when things are confusing and/or other things have been tried.

I have no idea what the intentions of the aggressive poster is. Truly.

Who is the aggressive poster you are referring to? Identify by date and time stamp. ~PP_X

[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?

Interesting that you state this so definitively without giving any reasons why. How is one to decide whether it is the right or wrong choice for them without any additional guidance?

I state this definitely, as it is my personal experience. I have also recommended creating tips for parents how to prepare based on where things went wrong for us, so that other people don’t make the same mistake. This is very different then starling people to just do it because there is no downside other than the cost (several people claim that on both recent threads) or to entirely avoid because there is no benefit (I am not that poster btw).

I am copy-pasting my post from my previous thread in terms of suggestions I think would have made difference in our case. If you or anyone else is really trying to be helpful (many posters are already), then focus on expanding the list below in terms of additional details that you can share. In a perfect world, evaluators would have a list like this one and share it with parents ahead of evaluation . Maybe we were just unlucky, but we went in with none of the below:

- having reports from other therapists,
- have a written detailed parental feedback for the evaluator before they do the evaluation
- looping in with your school and teachers, so they can work together with you, and,

Additional suggestions from other posters:
- choosing an evaluator who is the best fit for the issues your child seems to be having (I am not sure that most people can do this, because those of us who have complicated cases cannot possibly know who would be the right person - anyone who can shed light on this please chime in)
- not doing it as a first step - poster who recommended this, can you elaborate and add what you mean? Do you mean go to pediatrician first hot something along those lines?

~ PP_X

[Anonymous]

Didn't the provider give you those forms to fill out before the appointment? Did you check your email?

[Anonymous]

I am a new poster. Many neuropsych evals later for 2 of our kids, I feel somewhat ambivalent about them. For us, it was most helpful for accommodations, and for that reason alone, they were necessary.

But - I sort of hate them at the same time. We’ve used different providers, all of whom came highly recommended, and were never impressed. Some of the providers made diagnoses literally without doing the appropriate tests/strictly following the criteria, and don’t get me started on the cut and paste jobs and mistakes in the reports. I have come away from each eval feeling terrible. It isn’t denial about my kids’ issues, but it’s a feeling that the data in the reports aren’t that helpful and that for all that money, the only real value are the accommodations.

[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 billion

Which thread suggests getting a neuropsych as the first step? The ones I see pertain to kids who are currently getting services/therapy or were until very recently. I think y'all have created a straw man here just to entertain yourselves.

PLENTY of threads have an OP that says "i think my kid has ADHD" and someone is like "get a neuropsych!!" which is cart before the horse territory.