Neuropsychological Evaluation in Hermosa Beach

Is a neuropsychological evaluation right for your child?

Some children don’t fit neatly into one question. You may have tried tutoring, therapy or a school plan, and still feel you’re missing part of the story. A broader evaluation may help if you notice some of these:

• Your child seems to have several problems at once, such as attention, learning and anxiety, and it's hard to tell which comes first
• Your child forgets new information quickly, even when they paid attention
• Work gets done correctly but very slowly
• Your child gets lost in multi-step directions, or struggles with puzzles, maps or copying from the board
• Past testing didn't fully explain what you see at home and school
• Your child has a medical history, such as premature birth, seizures or a concussion, and you've noticed changes in learning or behavior

A medical history doesn’t mean something is wrong. It does mean the evaluation should take that history into account. When a medical condition is involved, your child’s medical team may also be part of the picture. If a different specialist would be a better fit for your question, Dr. Paul will tell you.

When families choose a broader evaluation

Families usually choose a broader evaluation for one of three reasons:

• The concerns overlap. Attention, learning, mood and social struggles can feed each other. A broader evaluation helps sort out what is driving what.
• Earlier answers didn’t fit. A past diagnosis or school plan hasn’t helped as expected, and you want a fuller look.
• There is a medical history. Premature birth, seizures, a concussion or another condition affecting the brain can change how a child learns. Testing can show how thinking skills are working now, to guide school and home support.

What does the evaluation look at?

A neuropsychological evaluation covers more ground than other testing. It looks at how different thinking skills work together, and how they connect to behavior and emotions. Dr. Maddison Paul, a licensed clinical psychologist with postdoctoral training in psychological and neuropsychological assessment, looks at:

• Memory: learning and recalling new information, both heard and seen
• Attention: focusing, sustaining effort and shifting between tasks
• Processing speed: how quickly your child takes in information and responds
• Executive function: planning, organizing, starting and finishing tasks, and flexible thinking
• Language: understanding and using words, sentences and conversation
• Visual-spatial skills: making sense of shapes, space and visual detail, and hand-eye coordination
• Emotional functioning: mood, anxiety, behavior and how your child copes
• Academic skills: reading, writing and math, when school is part of the concern

MP Wellness uses a dynamic, individualized assessment approach, with current, evidence-based psychological assessment tools selected for each person’s needs and presenting concerns. The report lists every measure used.

How does it compare with a psychoeducational evaluation?

Both evaluations test thinking and academic skills and end with a written report. The difference is scope.

Not sure which fits? Read psychoeducational vs. neuropsychological evaluation, or start with the psychoeducational evaluation page.

What happens, step by step

Testing takes about 8–10 hours of one-on-one time, spread over 4–5 sessions of 2 hours each so your child can do their best without getting worn out. About 3–4 weeks after the last session, we meet for a 2 hours feedback session.

What you receive

• A written report in plain language, with scores explained
• A profile of your child's strengths and weaker areas across every domain tested
• A diagnosis when one fits, and an explanation of what best accounts for the concerns
• Recommendations for school, home and any other providers involved
• A feedback session to go through the results together and answer your questions

If you would like us at a school or IEP meeting, that is billed separately at $250 per hour.

With your permission, the report can be shared with your child’s pediatrician, neurologist, therapist or school. It can also serve as a baseline if your child’s doctors want to track changes over time.

Testing days are paced for your child. Most of the tasks feel like puzzles, questions and short activities, and there are breaks along the way. For ideas on what to tell your child beforehand, see preparing your child for testing day.