Neuropsychological Evaluations and Therapy for Children with Attention and Learning Challenges and Brain Injuries

Family Compass offers a wide range of treatment approaches for children and adolescents with attention disorders, learning disorders, brain injuries, and related challenges.

We never mistake a label for a child. Understanding a child’s individual strengths and weaknesses is essential to our treatment model. Even children with the same diagnosis have differences in the challenges that they face and the treatments that will work for them. Our practice provides comprehensive neuropsychological and educational assessments to understand the child’s unique attention capacities, learning styles, emotional functioning, and behavioral responses.

The evaluation includes a detailed developmental history, observations of the child, questionnaires, and standardized testing. Co-existing conditions, such as anxiety, sleep problems, mood changes, and behavioral challenges are examined to determine the impact of additional contributors to problems in everyday living for the child.

The Neuropsychological Evaluation Process

Parents initially meet with the clinician who will serve as the primary coordinator for that family. A subsequent meeting to get to know the child through conversation and play follows. Next, we conduct two three-hour neuropsychological and educational testing sessions. With the parents’ permission, we seek input from teachers and other professionals who know the child.

Based on all the information gathered, a detailed and comprehensive report is prepared for the parents. This report provides a roadmap of the child’s cognitive and emotional strengths and weaknesses with specific, individually-tailored recommendations. A meeting with the parents to discuss the report and recommendations is a vital part of this evaluation process.

Recognizing the importance of coordinating with the schools, we offer follow-up consultations with school staff and other professionals involved in the child's care. We also regularly schedule follow-up meetings with the child and family to make certain that the intervention plan is on track. This follow-up is critical to ensure that the child continues to progress, is achieving goals, and thriving.

To read more about neuropsychological assessment, see the American Psychological Association Parent Guide to Pediatric Neuropsychology.

Treatment Services

Our clinicians focus on discovering ways to diminish areas of weakness while simultaneously developing strengths to help the child achieve success at school and home. Treatment services may include the use of behavioral techniques, determining whether medication may be helpful, and advocacy or consultation with the school system.

Parental guidance sessions empower families by teaching them to cope with and address troublesome behaviors and provide them with knowledge and skills necessary to support their child’s development.

We provide neurofeedback as an alternative or supplement to medication for ADHD, as well as other disorders. We are also proud to be one of the first practices in the United States offering Cogmed Working Memory Training, an innovative new computer-based training program to help children with attention deficits.

Individual therapy, family therapy, social skills training, or in-home behavioral support, can be provided as needed.