Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get the school to do a full neuropsych. Check wih Wrightslaw.com and look up VA regulations as well. Pretty sure you can push the school to do it if you put the right things in writing. Don't expect them to just say "sure!" with a verbal request. It is A LOT of work for them and everyone is overworked. Not sure what kind of evidence you need to provide to justify an eval, but it can be done and it's free through the school.

They don't have to unless there's cause.

THAT IS UNTRUE. They have to do it if you ask. (Not a neuropsych-PP is mixed up. Schools to a psycho-educational eval. NOT neuropsych)

NP here. You are incorrect and should read the law. The school does NOT have to evaluate if asked. If the school determines evaluation is not warranted, they can decline to evaluate. In that case, the parent can invoke her right to an IEE, obtain one at her own expense and then request reimbursement. The school must reimburse reasonable and customary costs unless they take the parent to due process and a hearing officer determines reimbursement is not warranted.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/test.iee.steedman.htm

To make any kind of determination, the school has to do an evaluation of some sort. It doesn't have to be a neuropsych or psychoeducational testing. It can be a review of grades or class performance or a classroom observation. It can be a simple test. The school can decide what constitutes a reasonable evaluation. But they can't just say, "We don't even need to look at your child."

I would never take advice from someone who equates 'evaluation' with 'review of grades or class performance or a classroom observation'.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, what makes a neuropsych eval "medically necessary"? Our insurance will cover psychological testing but the neuropsycholgical testing has to go to the insurance company's medical director for review to determine medical necessity.

I'm the PP that went to Stixrud. Unfortunately, in our case, if we had a referral from a physician, it would have been partially covered. DS was dealing with depression and anxiety, which were medical diagnoses (as opposed to educational). Our ped was no help at all and the psychiatrist we started with was also not very helpful, so neither of them recommended testing, but the school and therapist did. It was totally the right step and we learned a lot of very helpful information, but because a doctor hadn't referred us, none of it was covered. (Check with your insurance.)

Anonymous wrote:OP here, what makes a neuropsych eval "medically necessary"? Our insurance will cover psychological testing but the neuropsycholgical testing has to go to the insurance company's medical director for review to determine medical necessity.

Depends on your insurance carrier.

If you can document that your pediatrician or another physician is recommending it for medical reasons that can help. Just be clear with anyone you talk at the insurance company that you are concerned about your child medically not educationally.

So say "we want to rule out attention deficits and anxiety disorders' (the two often look alike), not we are concerned with Larlo's grades or behavior in school.

OP here, what makes a neuropsych eval "medically necessary"? Our insurance will cover psychological testing but the neuropsycholgical testing has to go to the insurance company's medical director for review to determine medical necessity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone chime in about their experiences at KKI, Children’s, and Stixrud? Also, how to you explain to your child what all the testing is about?

I answered this on the other thread too.

I told my kids that we were going to see a brain specialist to learn more about how his individual brain worked. That the results would allow both us and his teachers to understand how to help him learn.

Thanks - this is excellent.

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone chime in about their experiences at KKI, Children’s, and Stixrud? Also, how to you explain to your child what all the testing is about?

I answered this on the other thread too.

I told my kids that we were going to see a brain specialist to learn more about how his individual brain worked. That the results would allow both us and his teachers to understand how to help him learn.

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone chime in about their experiences at KKI, Children’s, and Stixrud? Also, how to you explain to your child what all the testing is about?

We had a wonderful experience at Stixrud. Currently waiting for a spring appointment at Childrens for another DC and hoping for a cancellation spot.

Can anyone chime in about their experiences at KKI, Children’s, and Stixrud? Also, how to you explain to your child what all the testing is about?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get the school to do a full neuropsych. Check wih Wrightslaw.com and look up VA regulations as well. Pretty sure you can push the school to do it if you put the right things in writing. Don't expect them to just say "sure!" with a verbal request. It is A LOT of work for them and everyone is overworked. Not sure what kind of evidence you need to provide to justify an eval, but it can be done and it's free through the school.

They don't have to unless there's cause.

THAT IS UNTRUE. They have to do it if you ask. (Not a neuropsych-PP is mixed up. Schools to a psycho-educational eval. NOT neuropsych)

NP here. You are incorrect and should read the law. The school does NOT have to evaluate if asked. If the school determines evaluation is not warranted, they can decline to evaluate. In that case, the parent can invoke her right to an IEE, obtain one at her own expense and then request reimbursement. The school must reimburse reasonable and customary costs unless they take the parent to due process and a hearing officer determines reimbursement is not warranted.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/test.iee.steedman.htm

To make any kind of determination, the school has to do an evaluation of some sort. It doesn't have to be a neuropsych or psychoeducational testing. It can be a review of grades or class performance or a classroom observation. It can be a simple test. The school can decide what constitutes a reasonable evaluation. But they can't just say, "We don't even need to look at your child."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get the school to do a full neuropsych. Check wih Wrightslaw.com and look up VA regulations as well. Pretty sure you can push the school to do it if you put the right things in writing. Don't expect them to just say "sure!" with a verbal request. It is A LOT of work for them and everyone is overworked. Not sure what kind of evidence you need to provide to justify an eval, but it can be done and it's free through the school.

They don't have to unless there's cause.

THAT IS UNTRUE. They have to do it if you ask. (Not a neuropsych-PP is mixed up. Schools to a psycho-educational eval. NOT neuropsych)

NP here. You are incorrect and should read the law. The school does NOT have to evaluate if asked. If the school determines evaluation is not warranted, they can decline to evaluate. In that case, the parent can invoke her right to an IEE, obtain one at her own expense and then request reimbursement. The school must reimburse reasonable and customary costs unless they take the parent to due process and a hearing officer determines reimbursement is not warranted.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/test.iee.steedman.htm

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get the school to do a full neuropsych. Check wih Wrightslaw.com and look up VA regulations as well. Pretty sure you can push the school to do it if you put the right things in writing. Don't expect them to just say "sure!" with a verbal request. It is A LOT of work for them and everyone is overworked. Not sure what kind of evidence you need to provide to justify an eval, but it can be done and it's free through the school.

They don't have to unless there's cause.

THAT IS UNTRUE. They have to do it if you ask. (Not a neuropsych-PP is mixed up. Schools to a psycho-educational eval. NOT neuropsych)

Dr. Anthony Henley, Springfield, VA