Dr. Katz’s evaluations are guided by the concerns/questions you raise about your child.
Some of these include:
- Questions about a diagnosis
- You see your child’s potential but have concerns about his/her learning and school performances
- Determining appropriateness and effectiveness of your child’s supports, placement, or intervention services
- Determining eligibility and support for continued eligibility of testing accommodations
- Teachers have raised concerns.
- You’ve seen work samples or hear his/her reading and you can sense the challenges.
- You see your child is working harder and spending more time on homework than his/her peers, but the grades are not reflecting the effort.
- Your child is actively avoiding work and you are faced with managing their resistance.
- Your child has a medical condition that may impact learning.
Modalities (Virtual vs. Face-to-face options):
- Hybrid (combined virtual and in-person evaluation)
- In-person evaluations
- Initial meetings with parents and feedback will be virtual.
- 100% virtual evaluations*
* The appropriateness of completely virtual evaluations are determined on a case-by-case basis
What is a neuropsychological evaluation?
Neuropsychological evaluations are thorough assessments of cognitive, academic, behavioral, social, emotional, and adaptive abilities. The evaluation looks carefully at potential reasons for learning struggles and integrates information from several different sources in order to gain insight into an individual’s learning. You can think of it as a tool for identifying and understanding the strengths and obstacles regarding you or your child’s ability to think, learn, and perform daily life activities. Based on the findings of the evaluation, Dr. Katz can recommend various research-based strategies and resources for helping students succeed in school and in life. The evaluation is a dynamic and interactive process. It is my goal to touch base with parents and be accessible throughout the evaluation.
When is a neuropsychological evaluation recommended?
A neuropsychological evaluation may be recommended when:
- There are are questions about a diagnosis
- You see your child’s potential but have concerns about his/her learning and school performances
- Determining appropriateness and effectiveness of your child’s supports, placement, or intervention services
- Determining eligibility or continued eligibility for testing accommodations
- Teachers have raised concerns.
- You’ve seen work samples or hear his/her reading and you can sense the challenges.
- You see your child is working harder and spending more time on homework than his/her peers, but grades are not reflecting the effort.
- Your child is actively avoiding work and you are faced with managing their resistance.
- Your child has a medical condition that may impact learning.
What is a pediatric neuropsychologist?
Pediatric neuropsychologists are licensed psychologists who have training in both clinical psychology and neuropsychology. They have special training in how the brain develops and use this training to evaluate and help children and adolescents with learning, neurodevelopmental, and brain disorders.
Pediatric neuropsychologists help parents, teachers, and physicians to:
- Understand the brain may relate to struggles seen at school, home, or with peers
- Understand how a child learns best
- Understand why a child may have behavior problems
- Help a child deal with thinking or behavior problems
- Identify neurological or psychiatric problems
- Help match expectations to a child’s specific strengths and weaknesses
- Work with other doctors and teachers to develop the best treatment and school plan for a child
Are there virtual testing options?
Yes! Modalities:
- Hybrid (combined virtual and in-person evaluation)
- In-person evaluations
- 100% virtual evaluations *
* The appropriateness of completely virtual evaluations are determined on a case-by-case basis
What steps are you taking to ensure a safe, clean environment?
In light of current COVID-19 concerns, patients will be required to wear appropriately fitted masks and wash hands upon entering the office. Temperatures will be taken. Dr. Katz will also be wearing a mask. A face shield may be worn by Dr. Katz as well. All materials are sterilized and the office is regularly cleaned and disinfected. A distance of approximately 6 feet will be maintained between Dr. Katz and your child. Please reschedule your appointment if your child or any family member has had a fever or illness in days prior to the initial office visit.
Do you take insurance?
Who performs the testing? Do you use technicians or students in your practice?
How do I tell my child about the evaluation?
Parents often ask me, what do I tell my child who is coming in for an evaluation?
Please feel free to share this message with your child or use it as a base for your own discussion with your child/teen. The more comfortable you are feeling about the testing, the more your child will feel at ease.
–
Hi,
You can call me Nicole. We all have things we are good at. We all have things that we find hard.
When I was your age, I was good at tennis and math. I thought Spanish class and soccer were really hard! My job is to figure out what you are good at, and what is hard for you. That way, we can figure out how to make school more of the things you are good at and easier.
I’m going to ask you to solve some puzzles, play with blocks, draw, work on an iPad, and do some of the things you do in school, like reading, writing, and math. You may like some of the tasks. You may find some tasks boring. Some tasks or questions are easy. Some things are harder. Most things we do will start off being easy, and then they get hard. No one gets all the answers correct. If you are doing your best, you are doing it right. If a task is fun and easy, that helps me learn about you. If a task is challenging, it helps me learn about you too. Your ideas matter. Just remember, all I want you to do is try your best.
At some point when we meet, I’m also going to ask you about your feelings. Everyone has feelings. Some feelings, such as happy, proud, and relaxed make learning easier. Some feelings, such as worried, sad, and angry, can make learning harder. You can tell me what you are feeling at any time, so I can help you.
I get to work with kids every day. Sometimes kids are in prekindergarten. Others are in third grade, high school, or even college! Some kids have black hair, some kids have pink hair, and some kids do not have hair. Some kids have freckles. Some kids wear glasses. Some kids laugh at my jokes. Some kids prefer to tell me jokes. Everyone is different. Whatever kind of kid you are and whatever you look like, if you are you, I will like you. I can’t wait to meet you soon.
Warmly,
Nicole
Do you do testing for SAT/ACT and ‘High Stakes’ test accommodations?
How is a Neuropsychological Evaluation different from a school psychological assessment?
A neuropsychological evaluation assesses a broader range of skills than a school psychological assessment. For example, a psycho-educational evaluation typically includes behavioral observations, a measure of intelligence, and measures of academic skills. Alternatively, a neuropsychological evaluation often includes an assessment of intellectual functioning, academic skills, attention, executive functioning, language development, visual-spatial processing, visual motor skills, fine motor skills, social skills, emotional and behavioral functioning, and adaptive functioning.
Oftentimes, the goal of a school psychological evaluation is to determine eligibility for special education. In contrast, the goal of neuropsychological evaluations are to identify the underlying difficulties contributing to the child’s learning and behavioral issues. Neuropsychologists may provide diagnoses as well as recommendations for school and home. Neuropsychologists also have extensive training and experience with complex learning, behavioral, developmental, medical, and neurological disorders.