We've done IQ testing (KABC-II), achievement testing (KTEA), a couple forms of reading/writing assessments (TOWRE-2, GORT), ADD/ADHD scales plus the TOVA and the BASC, Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability (WNV), and the school's STAR, MAP, DIBELS, etc. What more will a neuropsych give us?
What you can get from a neuropsych that is beyond this is three-fold: You'll get (or should get) additional testing of executive functioning, possibly visual-motor, and other tests that help determine what the actual cause of observed discrepancies in ability/achievement scores. You'll get a trained professional's interpretation of the results (ideally you'll be able to find a pediatric neuropsychologist). Last thing you'll get is a cohesive report, with observations from the neuropsych, inclusion of developmental history you provide through a parent interview with the neuropsych, etc - all the test info, developmental history etc is going to be reviewed by one person who is looking at the big picture of how your child is functioning and who will write a report for you and give you very specific recommendations re what to do to remediate/accommodate/further testing if needed etc.
The other issue I think I'm having is every single hospital, etc. that I contacted to ask about neuropsych testing acted like I was crazy wanting to get information when my child hasn't had any head trauma or injury.
I wouldn't contact a neuropsych's office directly - around here you *can't* get in for educational testing without a pediatrician's referral. So that's where I had to start - discuss it with our ped, then get the referral. Once you have a referral you just call up and make an appointment and there are no questions asked until you fill out the information forms for the actual psych. The other thing that helped by talking to our ped was it was a way to get real input on which neuropsych to choose - because he knew from other patient's experiences.
polarbear
