Anyone regret getting child a neuropsych. eval.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

This makes sense. But in our case, the kid with the ADHD/DMDD diagnosis, all of this was done. Getting testing is a step in the process. It’s not the full process. At least not for us and we didn’t use the generalist pediatrician either. I didn’t comment on the full process, which actually lasted a couple of years. Not all providers are created equal and it takes time to figure out best practices.

Your knee jerk responses don’t necessarily reflect people’s reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

This makes sense. But in our case, the kid with the ADHD/DMDD diagnosis, all of this was done. Getting testing is a step in the process. It’s not the full process. At least not for us and we didn’t use the generalist pediatrician either. I didn’t comment on the full process, which actually lasted a couple of years. Not all providers are created equal and it takes time to figure out best practices.

Your knee jerk responses don’t necessarily reflect people’s reality.

Sigh. I’m not saying never to get testing. I’m talking about the battery of tests that is overkill in many many situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

This makes sense. But in our case, the kid with the ADHD/DMDD diagnosis, all of this was done. Getting testing is a step in the process. It’s not the full process. At least not for us and we didn’t use the generalist pediatrician either. I didn’t comment on the full process, which actually lasted a couple of years. Not all providers are created equal and it takes time to figure out best practices.

Your knee jerk responses don’t necessarily reflect people’s reality.

Sigh. I’m not saying never to get testing. I’m talking about the battery of tests that is overkill in many many situations.

You don’t know what people are doing with respect to testing. You used the term “full” neuropysch. No one is saying that they’re getting every test know to man. They’re using a typical term to describe a set of tests. You’re doubling down on the specific makeup of the tests in a some obsessive way. It’s remarkable, actually.

If your overall point is this industry tends to over-test and not every professional is competent, point taken. Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

This makes sense. But in our case, the kid with the ADHD/DMDD diagnosis, all of this was done. Getting testing is a step in the process. It’s not the full process. At least not for us and we didn’t use the generalist pediatrician either. I didn’t comment on the full process, which actually lasted a couple of years. Not all providers are created equal and it takes time to figure out best practices.

Your knee jerk responses don’t necessarily reflect people’s reality.

Sigh. I’m not saying never to get testing. I’m talking about the battery of tests that is overkill in many many situations.

It looks like you could benefit be having a full neuropysch yourself. Judging by your posts on this thread, you have several issues that really should be addressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason.

I mean, I’m not the one who posted this thread. Clearly a lot of other people agree. I’m sure in some cases it is indicated but the knee-jerk “pay $8000 for a full neuropsych” advice is misleading. And also the reason why places like Children have had to outright say that they won’t schedule neuropsychs except for the kids that really need them (eg epilepsy or brain tumor).

[Anonymous]

Do what you can afford. Or get the school to pay for it, if it’s desperately needed. The full neurology test is worth it, but not if it puts you in debt and makes it hard to pay for rent.

My kids main disability isn’t ADHD, but I so wish I had known what she had earlier. It haunts me.

[Anonymous]

I do not regret it but for our ADHD DC it was not an earth shattering revelatory document. It did help us find some more subtle issues (like a need for speech therapy) that we wouldn't have been able to ferret out. It's a gateway to treatment.

We are being asked by DC's school to update the testing. I'm neutral about it, but understand the need as it has been 8 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason.

I mean, I’m not the one who posted this thread. Clearly a lot of other people agree. I’m sure in some cases it is indicated but the knee-jerk “pay $8000 for a full neuropsych” advice is misleading. And also the reason why places like Children have had to outright say that they won’t schedule neuropsychs except for the kids that really need them (eg epilepsy or brain tumor).

Institutions like Children's and KKI have had to limit their criteria for evaluations because of the immense need creating unmanageably long wait-lists. You make it sound like they looked at their multiple years long wait-lists and thought, "these people don't really need evaluations" instead of "we do not have the capacity to serve all these people so we need to prioritize".

You also seem to think it's fine to delay accurate diagnosis. It can be tough to untangle multiple concerns like social issues, learning issues and mental health issues. The time it takes to do that costs money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason.

I mean, I’m not the one who posted this thread. Clearly a lot of other people agree. I’m sure in some cases it is indicated but the knee-jerk “pay $8000 for a full neuropsych” advice is misleading. And also the reason why places like Children have had to outright say that they won’t schedule neuropsychs except for the kids that really need them (eg epilepsy or brain tumor).

Institutions like Children's and KKI have had to limit their criteria for evaluations because of the immense need creating unmanageably long wait-lists. You make it sound like they looked at their multiple years long wait-lists and thought, "these people don't really need evaluations" instead of "we do not have the capacity to serve all these people so we need to prioritize".

You also seem to think it's fine to delay accurate diagnosis. It can be tough to untangle multiple concerns like social issues, learning issues and mental health issues. The time it takes to do that costs money.

I absolutely think Children’s and KKI looked through their waitlist and realized that a good percentage don’t need the full neuropsych testing.

AGAIN - the point I am making is not about diagnosis but the belief that an expensive, resource intensive “full neuropsych” is the only way to get a diagnosis. Most of us have limited financial resources and it is better to spend them on therapy and focused assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason.

I mean, I’m not the one who posted this thread. Clearly a lot of other people agree. I’m sure in some cases it is indicated but the knee-jerk “pay $8000 for a full neuropsych” advice is misleading. And also the reason why places like Children have had to outright say that they won’t schedule neuropsychs except for the kids that really need them (eg epilepsy or brain tumor).

Institutions like Children's and KKI have had to limit their criteria for evaluations because of the immense need creating unmanageably long wait-lists. You make it sound like they looked at their multiple years long wait-lists and thought, "these people don't really need evaluations" instead of "we do not have the capacity to serve all these people so we need to prioritize".

You also seem to think it's fine to delay accurate diagnosis. It can be tough to untangle multiple concerns like social issues, learning issues and mental health issues. The time it takes to do that costs money.

I absolutely think Children’s and KKI looked through their waitlist and realized that a good percentage don’t need the full neuropsych testing.

AGAIN - the point I am making is not about diagnosis but the belief that an expensive, resource intensive “full neuropsych” is the only way to get a diagnosis. Most of us have limited financial resources and it is better to spend them on therapy and focused assessment.

It's obviously not the only way in general to get n ADHD or ASD or other diagnosis. Nobody has said that. But it is the only way to get correct diagnoses for some kids and it gives more than that, specifically recommendations for supports that are specific to a kid based on a comprehensive look at their needs.

[Anonymous]

OP I don’t regret it but we didn’t have the absolute clarity coming out of it that some people get. We got an anxiety diagnosis which we basically knew and ADHD, just impulsivity and hyperactivity, no inattentive, was the other part, but it was a question mark and we had to fumble along for another year and half before we figured it out

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason.

I mean, I’m not the one who posted this thread. Clearly a lot of other people agree. I’m sure in some cases it is indicated but the knee-jerk “pay $8000 for a full neuropsych” advice is misleading. And also the reason why places like Children have had to outright say that they won’t schedule neuropsychs except for the kids that really need them (eg epilepsy or brain tumor).

Institutions like Children's and KKI have had to limit their criteria for evaluations because of the immense need creating unmanageably long wait-lists. You make it sound like they looked at their multiple years long wait-lists and thought, "these people don't really need evaluations" instead of "we do not have the capacity to serve all these people so we need to prioritize".

You also seem to think it's fine to delay accurate diagnosis. It can be tough to untangle multiple concerns like social issues, learning issues and mental health issues. The time it takes to do that costs money.

I absolutely think Children’s and KKI looked through their waitlist and realized that a good percentage don’t need the full neuropsych testing.

AGAIN - the point I am making is not about diagnosis but the belief that an expensive, resource intensive “full neuropsych” is the only way to get a diagnosis. Most of us have limited financial resources and it is better to spend them on therapy and focused assessment.

It's obviously not the only way in general to get n ADHD or ASD or other diagnosis. Nobody has said that. But it is the only way to get correct diagnoses for some kids and it gives more than that, specifically recommendations for supports that are specific to a kid based on a comprehensive look at their needs.

You totally understand what a “neuropsych” is (probably because there is no standard meaning). It is not some super duper diagnostic technology better than others. It does not generate recommendations for your particular kid. It is a battery of cognitive tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found it helpful. One DS was tested at six years old and it put us on the right track immediately. He has dyslexia and it was very helpful to push us to get the right intervention and really lean into it. It’s made all the difference in the world.

The 2nd DS was a bit of a surprise. We didn’t know what the heck was going on with him and got him tested when he was 10 because we thought he had dyslexia because of the genetic factor. Nope. Very very much ADHD. We didn’t know what ADHD could look like and thought it was x when it can be y, z, and m. Almost off the charts. Reading intervention/tutoring would do zero for all that and the only thing that helped him academically and socially is stimulants. He’s in such a better place now and he has an improved understanding of his reactions and impulses.

None of the above would have been possible without the neuro-psych.

You don’t need a “full neuropsych” to diagnose the issues you listed.

You are correct. With the first one, we did the psycho educational testing instead. But with the second one, we absolutely needed the full neuropysch. Trust me.

Not sure why? ADHD is not actually diagnosed through neuropsychological tests (or exclusively that way).

DP

How often do you post here? How many times do people have to explain to you that some cases do need a clinician to spend a lot of time with the child and reviewing documents and questionnaires to diagnose. Like with my kid, the cognitive testing showed she was solidly average in everything except one area and that contributed to the diagnosis in addition to the condition specific diagnostic assessment.

Sometimes early intervention doesn't matter. But it often does and to get it (either for insurance to pay or just to know your kid needs it) you need a diagnosis, the earlier the better. That might mean getting the diagnosis before it is obvious to a pediatrician who might spend 15 minutes with a kid 2-3 times per year.

How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD?

You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful.

No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.”

I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead?

I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all.

I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason.

I mean, I’m not the one who posted this thread. Clearly a lot of other people agree. I’m sure in some cases it is indicated but the knee-jerk “pay $8000 for a full neuropsych” advice is misleading. And also the reason why places like Children have had to outright say that they won’t schedule neuropsychs except for the kids that really need them (eg epilepsy or brain tumor).

Institutions like Children's and KKI have had to limit their criteria for evaluations because of the immense need creating unmanageably long wait-lists. You make it sound like they looked at their multiple years long wait-lists and thought, "these people don't really need evaluations" instead of "we do not have the capacity to serve all these people so we need to prioritize".

You also seem to think it's fine to delay accurate diagnosis. It can be tough to untangle multiple concerns like social issues, learning issues and mental health issues. The time it takes to do that costs money.

I absolutely think Children’s and KKI looked through their waitlist and realized that a good percentage don’t need the full neuropsych testing.

AGAIN - the point I am making is not about diagnosis but the belief that an expensive, resource intensive “full neuropsych” is the only way to get a diagnosis. Most of us have limited financial resources and it is better to spend them on therapy and focused assessment.

It's obviously not the only way in general to get n ADHD or ASD or other diagnosis. Nobody has said that. But it is the only way to get correct diagnoses for some kids and it gives more than that, specifically recommendations for supports that are specific to a kid based on a comprehensive look at their needs.

You totally understand what a “neuropsych” is (probably because there is no standard meaning). It is not some super duper diagnostic technology better than others. It does not generate recommendations for your particular kid. It is a battery of cognitive tests.

It's honestly unclear what you think neuropsychological testing is. I asked Perplexity to define it for you. I hope this clears up your confusion. You're welcome.

Neuropsychological testing usually involves an interview, review of history/records, and a series of standardized tasks that measure attention, memory, language, processing speed, reasoning, executive skills, and sometimes mood or behavior ���. It does not usually involve anything invasive like needles, and it is used to understand how thinking and brain function may be affecting daily life ��.
What it usually includes
A typical evaluation may ask you to:
Answer questions about symptoms and daily functioning ��.
Do paper-and-pencil or computer-based tasks involving memory, problem-solving, language, and attention ��.
Sometimes complete questionnaires, and have the clinician review medical or school records ���.
About the report
In most cases, yes — it results in a written report ���. That report usually summarizes the tests, your strengths and weaknesses, and the clinician’s interpretation; it often includes recommendations, such as treatment referrals, school/work accommodations, or follow-up evaluations ����.
Is it always recommendations?
Not always in the same form. The report usually includes recommendations, but what those recommendations look like depends on the reason for testing and the clinician’s practice setting ���. Sometimes recommendations are very specific, and sometimes the report is more focused on describing cognitive strengths/weaknesses and supporting a diagnosis or treatment plan ��.
Practical expectation
A neuropsychological evaluation often takes several hours, and many clinics schedule a later feedback session to go over the results and recommendations ��. If the testing was ordered for a specific concern, the report is usually tailored to that question rather than being a generic summary ��.
A helpful rule of thumb: the testing answers “how are these brain-based skills working?”, and the report usually answers “what does this mean, and what should happen next?” ��.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No! I wish I could do one on my neurotypical kids. Such wonderful insights into what makes them tick, their strengths and weaknesses. So helpful.

Huh. Like how? I already knew all do these going in with my kid with significant challenges so I honestly found them useless. Like no utility served at all. And we already had an ADHD diagnosis and did all the therapy. I think it completely depends on your kid and the issues. Most parents of kids with issues to the degree of mine have also said they’re pretty redundant.

What a lie. My adult and teen kids both have diagnoses and we've been in the special needs sphere for 15+ years. Not a single parent ever said the neuropsych was redundant. In fact, most said they wished they could have done it sooner.

This.

It was very helpful in figuring how to work with the school wrt accommodations and remediation. Also kid has different "flavor" of disability that required a different approach.