Preparation and What to Expect
You may be scheduled for a half day (e.g., 2.5 to 3.5 hours) or closer to a full day (e.g., 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM or even 4:30 PM). We work with people at their pace and tolerance and offer breaks appropriate to the timeframe and patient needs. Sometimes, people need to split testing across two days.
You will meet with your neuropsychologist for an interview prior to the date of testing or that same day. Tests most commonly are administered by a neuropsychometrist (also called neuropsychological testing assistant) who is working with your neuropsychologist, but sometimes tests will be administered directly by your neuropsychologist.
We select tests to provide information about your brain functioning in a variety of areas relevant to your presenting concerns, which may include attention, concentration, motivation, fine motor and sensory abilities, language and visuospatial skills, executive skills (e.g., problem solving and organization), memory, intellectual functioning, and emotional or personality functioning. This is used to inform diagnosis and treatment planning. Your provider will guide you through all of the testing. There is nothing medically invasive. Tests involve answering questions, trying to pay attention and memorize information, paper and pencil tasks, computerized tasks, and written questionnaires.
Many people feel anxious about testing. We want people to feel comfortable and be able to do their best, and to that end, we strive to make the testing experience as calm and relaxed as possible.
Try to get a good night's sleep, but do not take medication for sleep unless you always do this as prescribed. Try not to change routines or medications (unless necessary) in the several weeks prior to your evaluation. If you are coming in for a presenting concern of ADHD and are already taking a stimulant medication for this condition, please inquire in advance as to whether it would be best for you to hold that medication the morning of testing.
Wear comfortable clothes and have layers to make sure you can remain comfortable throughout the day in terms of temperature.
Bring or wear hearing aids and corrective lenses if needed. You will need to be able to read things and look at visual materials.
You may wish to bring a snack and drink (and lunch if you are doing a full day of testing unless you would rather go out).