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If you, as an adult, or your child seem to be struggling with aspects of attention, learning, memory, executive functioning, mood, or behavior, an evaluation may be necessary. Testing can help better understand if these areas are below what is expected for age and what other factors may be influencing these difficulties. For giftedness, the question may be is your child being challenged enough.
However, there may be reasons not to seek an evaluation. If testing was recently completed (roughly within the past 6 months) and there have not been any changes that would affect the brain, it might not be the right time for more testing. If there were struggles in school, but your child is doing better with interventions, it may be best to see if the interventions help. Schools also do certain types of evaluations – you can ask to learn more.
Refer to the ‘Evaluations’ page for details about each type of evaluation. In general, evaluations involve an initial interview or intake with parents or the young adult patient. If testing is needed, an interview with the child or other key family member, will be scheduled as will testing. We will also communicate with other key people, such as teachers, therapists, or physicians.
Testing is typically done in a single day ranging from 2-6 hours with breaks, depending on the type of evaluation. However, testing can be broken up into two days if needed. About 1-2 weeks after testing, we will schedule a feedback session in which we discuss results of the evaluation and next steps. A readable and comprehensive report will be finalized within two weeks of the final feedback. You can share this with whomever you would like.
The full evaluation process can generally be completed within 4-8 weeks, depending on your availability. Shorter time frames are also possible. Evaluations are individualized. The amount of testing depends on multiple factors including the patient’s age, the question the patient or family is seeking to answer, as well as the patient’s ability to complete testing. For children and teens, expect to spend the length of a school day doing tasks and tests – generally 4 to 6 hours.
There may be minimal testing involved if there is only a question of ADHD. However, every individual is different and there may be a reason to do some cognitive testing. Regardless, the evaluation process will involve several sessions, including an intake, an in-person meeting where testing and/or completion of questionnaires will take place, and a feedback session. A report will follow.
Learning or special education assessments typically measure intelligence or IQ and academic achievement. At times, school-based evaluations also involve other tests or questionnaires to understand a child’s cognitive abilities, mood, or behavior. Neuropsychology evaluations assess these areas but take a broader approach to understanding thinking skills.
Executive functioning refers to the set of mental skills that help us plan, organize, manage time, remember details, and follow through on tasks. These skills are like the “air traffic control system” of the brain—helping us shift between activities, stay focused, and regulate our emotions.
You or your child may benefit from executive functioning support if daily routines feel overwhelming, tasks are often started but not finished, time management is a frequent struggle, or school or work performance is impacted by organization or attention difficulties. In children and teens, this might look like missing assignments, difficulty transitioning between activities, or frequent forgetfulness. In adults, it may appear as chronic procrastination, trouble meeting deadlines, or difficulty balancing responsibilities.
Executive functioning training or therapy can provide structured strategies, accountability, and emotional support to strengthen these skills. Many people find this especially helpful during times of transition (such as moving to middle school, high school, college, or a new job) or when stress or anxiety makes it harder to stay on track.
People consider therapy for many different reasons. You or your child might benefit if stress, anxiety, or mood changes are starting to interfere with daily life, relationships, or academic or work performance. Some individuals also find therapy valuable when navigating transitions—such as starting high school, moving to college, or adjusting to new responsibilities—and want extra support with coping strategies and self-confidence.
Therapy does not always have to mean long-term treatment. Sometimes a short-term “booster” can be helpful, especially if you’ve worked on skills in the past and want to refresh or build on them.
At CNS, we offer evidence-based therapy tailored to your needs. Our new therapist, Dr. Hollie Duonnolo, specializes in working with adolescents and adults (roughly ages 12-50) who experience ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, depression, or chronic health conditions. Her approach is warm and collaborative, combining practical tools for stress management, motivation, and organization with the emotional support needed to create lasting change.
If you’ve been wondering whether therapy might help, it may be the right time to reach out and start a conversation.
We are not in-network within any insurance company. However, CNS is an insurance-friendly practice. We will provide all necessary paperwork including details about services provided, dates of service, diagnostic codes, time spent, and procedure codes. Some patients choose to file a claim with their insurance company and be reimbursed for some or all of the cost of the evaluation. We are happy to help you know what to ask your insurance company about out-of-network benefits
Payment is expected at the time of the scheduled appointment. You may want to ask your insurance about the following:
Insurance companies may ask for diagnosis codes or for your provider’s “NPI number” or “EIN.” We happily provide this information to you if you need it.
Therapy Services and Executive Function Training are provided at $250 for the initial intake appointment and $200 for follow-up sessions (50 minutes).
A full neuropsychological evaluation costs $5000. The fee includes record review, the intake appointment, patient/parent interview, all testing, scoring, and interpretation, consultation with others, one 50-minute feedback session, and a comprehensive report. We will never include ‘hidden fees.’ We are happy to collaborate with schools or other providers. However, we do charge an hourly rate ($250/hour) for attendance at in-person or virtual school meetings. Commute time (if >20 minutes) is charged at 50% (hour round trip commute = $125).
Yes. You can use the pre-tax funds you have set aside in these healthcare accounts. You can pay directly using the card or pay by check or credit card and submit a receipt to be reimbursed by your HSA/FSA. If you do not have an HSA/FSA, you can ask your company’s human resources about starting one.
Consultation appointments are available immediately. Initial intake appointments both for therapy and evaluations are typically scheduled within 2 weeks. For those pursuing evaluations, testing is completed ~1-2 weeks after.
All communication with patients, parents, and other providers or team members is done through an email communication system that is compliant with Health Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, Rule 104-91). Telehealth sessions are also conducted through a HIPAA-compliant system.
I hope your family is staying safe and healthy. In-person evaluations are currently being offered. Telehealth visits are options for portions of the evaluation. Click here for more information.
Please contact us. Send an email and we will get back to you within 2 business days.
