Neuropsychological & Psychological Testing

Our psychologists identify a specific battery of tests to best address the questions that you have about your child. Although the fundamental elements of testing (also called assessment and psychological evaluation) are similar, we use a variety of specialized tests to obtain objective and meaningful information.

Neuropsychological evaluations examine whether there are underlying weaknesses in brain function. While behavioral and emotional functioning will also be considered in a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, the primary focus is on brain functions. Particular emphasis may be on:

• Attention/Concentration
• Intelligence
• Planning and organizing
• Reasoning
• Language use and understanding
• Memory
• Problem solving
• Processing speed
• Other executive functions necessary for multi-tasking, sound judgment, and self-control

Neuropsychological testing improves diagnostic accuracy, enhances intervention and treatment selection, and provides a roadmap for educational planning.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder impacting concentration, but also many other areas of functioning. ADHD testing is a specific form of neuropsychological evaluation in which problems with attention are the primary focus of concern.  It is common for people with ADHD to have problems with:

• Losing things
• Procrastination
• Organizing
• Restlessness
• Failing to turn in homework, even when completed
• Carelessness
• Forgetting tests and homework assignments
• “Hyperfocus” in some areas and inattention in others

Because ADHD can masquerade as laziness, carelessness, or in other sneaky ways, correctly diagnosing this condition is crucial. Our psychologists use a variety or precise measures to accurately diagnose ADHD.

Students with a warranted diagnosis of ADHD are eligible for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Common accommodations for students with ADHD include additional time on exams and assignments, distraction free environments for study and work, and note takers in classes.

Those with ADHD may also be eligible for additional time on exams such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, and GMAT. ADHD evaluations are almost always required when requesting extended time from standardized test administrators.

Nearly all Chicagoland gifted education programs require IQ testing for admission. IQ evaluations focus on assessing a child’s general intelligence, but also identify strengths within their intellectual profile. Not only can this profile help you and your child’s educators make the best decisions to advance their learning, understanding a student’s intellectual strengths can help fortify the case for admission into elite and competitive gifted programs. While IQ testing is not a guarantee for admission into these programs, nor does it constitute a full psychological evaluation, the psychologists at Tandem Psychology meet the qualification requirements of program admissions directors.

Recognizing that giftedness can create problems for some children and teenagers, Tandem Psychology gifted education evaluations also include screening for social, emotional, and behavioral problems.

Psychoeducational testing helps to clarify problems that a child, teen, or young adult is experiencing in school or college. The process involves assessment of the student’s academic potential as well as their current functioning. It testing includes testing intellectual ability, academic achievement, and attention and then integrating that data with observations and history about the child (often from parents and teachers).

Learning disabilities - such as dyslexia/reading disorder,  dysgraphia/writing disorder, verbal language disorder, math disorder - can often appear to be “just” misbehavior or lack of motivation. It is common for people with learning disabilities to experience:

• Slow reading
• Poor reading comprehension
• Insecurity and/or avoidance of school
• Problems translating thoughts into writing
• Poor pronunciation
• Difficulty finishing tests
• Underdeveloped math skills
• Getting tongue tied

Many factors can impact academic success. The psychoeducational evaluation process clarifies exact strengths and weaknesses, so that the student can be supported to demonstrate their full knowledge. Often, learning disability testing is helpful to gain academic accommodations such as extra time on tests (including SAT, ACT, MCAT, LSAT, and GMAT), testing in a quiet room, supportive materials, and learning specialist support.

Psychologists can also be available to attend school meetings and/or write letters and reports (beyond the testing report), when appropriate and invited.

Accurate diagnosis is crucial to guide intervention. Psychological testing utilizes standardized measurements to differentiate between various underlying conditions. Inventories can assess for:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Personality Disorders

At times, these conditions mask themselves as acting out behaviors, problems in relationships, inattention, communication problems, addictions, and lack of drive among others. A full psychological evaluation considers coping skills, lifestyle factors, age, medical factors, and environmental factors to quickly arrive at a more objective understanding of the underlying problem.

Evaluation, or testing, is a multi-step process. It includes collecting background information, administering tests, scoring and interpreting tests, and writing a report that explains the results of the testing and provides specific recommendations for appropriate accommodation, treatment, and intervention. It may also include consulting with school staff or other mental health professionals, when appropriate.

Testing may sound intimidating or even scary. It is actually fairly straightforward and many people actually find it fun. Here is the process:

1. Consultation - After making an initial inquiry, the psychologist will provide a free, 20-minute consultation in order to understand your desire for testing. The psychologist will also familiarize you with the testing process.
2. Interview - Your psychologist will meet with you (and possibly consult with others including educators, doctors, and therapists) to gather information about your (or your child’s) medical, emotional, educational, social, or behavioral functioning background. The psychologist will also interview you about the current symptoms or problems and goals of testing. Parents, clients, and client’s teachers may be provided questionnaires and asked to return them at test administration. The interview step usually takes 60-90 minutes.
3. Planning - Your psychologist will then choose the most appropriate type of testing to address your needs and you will be provided estimates of the cost. At this time, you will be required to pay half of the expected costs and testing will be scheduled.
4. Test Administration - Tests are administered face-to-face by a psychologist and may include writing or drawing, solving puzzles or answering questions, and responding to things presented on a computer, and academic tasks. Most people find some of the tests to be quite easy and others to be difficult. It is important to work as hard as possible on all of the tests in order for the results to be most informative. (Note: Depending on the complexity of the client and the reason for testing, testing may occur over one or multiple sessions and is best conducted in the daytime. While the psychologist’s time spent on the entire evaluation is greater, this portion of the evaluation usually takes 6-10 hours.
5. Scoring, Test Interpretation, Report Writing - Your psychologist will then take a couple weeks to score tests, interpret the results of test scores, and write a detailed report that details their findings, diagnoses, and individualized recommendations. The client will not be present for this step. It usually takes the psychologist 8-10 hours to complete scoring, interpretation and report writing.
6. Follow-up - When your psychologist completes the report, you will pay the remaining balance of the costs and a follow-up session with you will be scheduled. During this meeting the psychologist will share the results of testing, recommendations, and provide you a copy of the report. Routine follow-up meetings take 1 hour. Occasionally, Tandem psychologists also consult with your child’s educators or the referring provider.

Tandem psychologists want to observe and test the best version of you. Before test administration:

• Allow for a good night’s sleep
• Eat breakfast (you’ll be told to bring lunch if test administration is expected to last longer than 4 hours)
• Take medications as usual
  Wear your glasses, contact lenses, and/or hearing aids, if applicable
• Bring completed questionnaires you were provided during the interview process, including those from teachers and parents
• If you, or your child, has had any neuropsychological, psychological, ADHD, IQ, or educational testing done in the past, bring those reports
• If you, or your child, has had an IEP or 504 Plan, please bring those records

Costs vary depending on the types of tests administered and time required to complete a thorough evaluation. Tandem Psychology’s billing team will provide you with an estimate of the costs (whether you are using insurance or not) after the diagnostic interview. You will be required to pay half of the estimated costs prior to testing with the remainder of costs due upon receipt of the evaluation report.

Tandem Psychology’s billing team will verify your insurance coverage and submit claims to in-network insurers on your behalf. (Please note that insurance coverage often does not cover psychological testing at all, considers large portions of testing “non-covered services,” or woefully undercovers the costs.) You will be refunded for in-network insurance payments made to Tandem Psychology on your behalf. Psychological evaluations are usually covered by HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) plans and payments from HSA and FSA accounts are accepted by Tandem Psychology.

If you're looking for a complete psychological evaluation or neuropsychological testing in Chicago, you’re in the right place. Tandem Psychology has a team of experienced, highly effective psychologists in our Lakeview/Roscoe Village/Southport office. Contact us today to set up a psychological testing appointment.