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What is Neuropsychological Testing?
What is Neuropsychological Testing?
Neuropsychological testing looks at a person’s cognitive skills, as well as other emotional and behavioral issues. It can help better understand the relationship between brain functioning and behavior, so that you can harness your strengths and improve functioning.
Testing typically includes tasks and questionnaires to look at intellect or reasoning abilities, academic skills, attention and executive functioning, memory abilities, language, visual spatial, and fine motor skills, as well as emotional and behavioral factors.
Discover the Talents of Your Brain
Discover the Talents of Your Brain
By better understanding an individual’s learning style, you can work on focusing on strengths, as well as developing strategies and/or interventions to address areas of weakness.
An evaluation can also help identify specific treatments that may be indicated and can help support you in advocating for needed services.
Dr. Trask can also be available to consult directly with a school or treatment providers to help refine recommendations.
Understanding cognitive abilities can help lead to improvements in decision making, communication approaches, academic achievement, and emotional regulation.
What to Expect
What to Expect
There are several parts to a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment
There are several parts to a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment
Intake & Screening
Intake & Screening
Meet to review history, concerns, and goals for the assessment, as well as review consent. Together, we will determine a focus for testing. Please have a list of current medications, past medical records, any previous assessments, recent report cards and/or standardized test scores, and your insurance card, as well as completed registration paperwork.
Assessment Session
Assessment Session
Administer standardized tests in an interactive 1-on-1 format. The testing session can last between 3-8 hours, depending on the person’s age and goals for testing. There will be short breaks throughout the day, as well as a longer lunch break. For children, parents are not typically in the room with their child during testing. Parent and teacher questionnaires may also be requested to get additional information.
Feedback & Recommendations
Feedback & Recommendations
Discuss results in a one-on-one meeting and next steps. In addition to results, the report will include information about potential diagnostic impressions and tailored recommendations. This session is usually held 2-3 weeks after the testing session.
How to Prepare for the Assessment
How to Prepare for the Assessment
It is important to get a good night's sleep and have a good meal before the appointment in order to perform at your best. You are welcome to bring water and small snacks to have at times while working. Please note, our office does not have dining facilities, although there are places nearby where you can drive to get something to eat. You should bring medications, glasses, and/or hearing aids, if you use them.
For children: Explain to them that they are going to do tasks and activities to help understand how their brain thinks and learns. Let them know that some things may be easy and some may be hard, that no one gets everything right and that it’s just important to try their best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What age groups do you test?
What age groups do you test?
I work with children, adolescents, and adults, from about age 3 to age 35.
What issues can you assess?
What issues can you assess?
My work focuses on cognitive issues related to medical conditions (e.g., epilepsy, head injury, cancer, genetic disorder), learning issues (e.g., learning disorder, intellectual disorder), and/or psychiatric conditions (e.g., ADHD, depression, anxiety).
Do you perform diagnostic autism evaluations?
Do you perform diagnostic autism evaluations?
I can assess cognitive strengths and weaknesses in individuals with autism to help understand their learning style; however, I do not conduct autism diagnostic evaluations.
When is a neuropsychological assessment not indicated?
When is a neuropsychological assessment not indicated?
Because neuropsychological testing requires cognitive effort, it is not useful when an individual is unable to fully participate, such as when they are not motivated to engage with the tasks, when overly fatigued, when in a state of emotional crisis, and when behavioral issues would compromise their ability to follow directions.
A school-based evaluation was just completed. This is different, right?
A school-based evaluation was just completed. This is different, right?
School-based evaluations may include similar measures, such as intellectual, academic, language, and visual-motor skills. These measures should not be repeated. Neuropsychological testing usually also includes measures of attention, executive, and memory functioning, so it can be used to supplement school testing. Insurance may also limit the frequency of testing to once a year.
Will insurance cover the evaluation?
Will insurance cover the evaluation?
Coverage varies by plan and insurance regulations may limit the amount of time spent on an assessment; I currently accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and United.
My Credentials
My Credentials
Dr. Christine Trask
I’ve committed my professional life to understanding the relationship between the brain and behavior, to understand how an individual’s history and context influences their strengths and areas of vulnerability. I am invested in helping families and individuals work to optimize cognitive skills to enhance quality of life.
Education & Training
Education & Training
Board Certified in Clinical Neuropsychology
20+ years of experience
Fellowship: University of Michigan Medical Center
Internship: University of Rochester Medical Center
Graduate School: St. Louis University
Contact Me - Let's Work Together
Contact Me - Let's Work Together
Call the phone number below to schedule an appointment.
📞 Phone
📞 Phone
📍Address
📍Address
C. Duarte & Associates
1130 Ten Rod Road, E101
North Kingstown, RI 02852
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