Here at S.W. Zimostrad, PhD, and Associates, we specialize in pediatric neuropsychological assessment. Working with children and adolescents requires certain skills and clinical abilities, and we pride ourselves in our ability to connect and work with youth.
Every case is different, and the tests used to assess your child’s abilities and functioning will vary, depending on the history of the current problem(s), current symptoms, medical and family history, and academic, social, and vocational needs. Common areas of assessment include overall intellectual functioning, basic academic assessment, assessment of executive functioning, memory, processing speed, motor functioning, and social/emotional functioning. Testing is not typically stressful for children, and most kids tolerate it quite well. In addition, many tasks resemble games, and your child may be asked to touch images on an iPad, draw pictures, and build puzzles with colored blocks. Breaks and rest times can be incorporated as needed, and children and free to bring snacks and comfort items with them to the assessment.
The length of your child’s assessment will vary, and depends largely on the pace at which they proceed through individual tasks. Some children proceed more quickly, and some children proceed more slowly. The most important thing is that the child does their best. While individual times may vary, a typical assessment will start at 9:00am and end around 2:30 – 3:30pm. A one to one-and-a-half-hour lunch break typically occurs at 11:30am. Please note: We do not have a designated eating area/lunch room at our offices.