Neuropsychological Evaluations For Children in South Park, PA
Neuropsychological Evaluations For Children in South Park, PA
Autism spectrum disorders have become more prevalent in recent years, with approximately 1 in 54 children in the United States being diagnosed. This rise in diagnosis has increased the need for reliable and accurate learning disability assessments. We provide comprehensive testing and evaluation services in South Park, PA to help identify learning disabilities and offer personalized recommendations to support them accurately. Whether you have concerns about a child’s academic performance or want to understand better your learning style, our team of experienced professionals is here to help. If you want to schedule a consultation, please call us at 860-966-0309.
A learning disability is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to process, understand, or produce information in specific areas such as reading, writing, math, or communication. It is important to note that having a learning disability is not anyone’s fault and does not reflect a person’s intelligence or potential. Instead, it is simply a challenge or obstacle that must be overcome to reach one’s full potential.
With the proper support, accommodations, and strategies, individuals with learning disabilities can succeed academically, socially, and in their careers. We offer testing and evaluation services in South Park, PA to help individuals identify their learning strengths and challenges and develop a personalized plan to help them overcome any obstacles.
If you or a loved one are struggling with learning difficulties, Dr. Joshua Shifrin and his team in South Park, PA are here to help. Our specialized services include testing and evaluation for various conditions, including ADD/ADHD, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, learning disabilities, and nonverbal learning disabilities. Our goal is to identify individual strengths and challenges and develop customized plans to help individuals overcome obstacles. Individuals in South Park, PA can easily access our services and get the support they need to achieve academic success, build confidence, and reach their full potential. Possible learning disabilities include dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder (APD), dyslexia, language processing disorder, nonverbal learning disorder (NLD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Dr. Joshua Shifrin and his team in South Park, PA understand that learning disabilities, autism, and related conditions can create significant challenges in daily life. That’s why we offer comprehensive programs for testing and evaluation, including ADD/ADHD testing, autism, Asperger’s testing, learning disability testing, and nonverbal learning disability testing. Our team of specialists is dedicated to providing personalized assessments, tailored support, and customized plans to help individuals overcome any obstacles they may face. To learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation, visit our website at https://neuropsycheval.com/ or call us at 860-966-0309. Let us help you achieve your academic and personal goals today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pediatric neuropsychology deals with the relationship between children’s learning and behavior as it relates to their brain structure and systems. Our training in school neuropsychology allows us to take findings and make recommendations for school and community-based accommodations and supports. Learning disabilities, or other brain-based conditions, do not mean that your child is incapable of learning, gaining knowledge, or obtaining skills; instead it means that different methods of teaching or therapies must be utilized to help build skills and promote growth.
Pediatric neuropsychologists are licensed psychologists who have developed expertise in how the development of a child’s brain relates to, and impacts, their learning, behavior, and social-emotional development. They evaluate clients using a variety of assessment techniques, analyze test results, and devise targeted educational or treatments plans.
We tailor each assessment based on the referral questions or concerns presented. In general, the neuropsychological evaluation is conducted in order to assess a child’s strengths and weaknesses in neuropsychological, cognitive, and academic areas. Assessment of additional domains, such as adaptive functioning, social-emotional functioning, language and communication, and/or other areas may also be included depending on the needs of the individual. Parents and teachers are often asked to complete rating scales of behavior and skills. A developmental history and interview techniques also allow the psychologist to get a more complete picture of the child and the presenting concerns. The data from these various sources is integrated, and results are explained in a detailed report. When the assessment is completed, we meet with you to review all of the results and findings. We provide guidance and recommendations for interventions in the home setting, school setting, and community. Even if testing does not lead to a formal diagnosis, we provide detailed recommendations for improvement based on individual strengths and weaknesses. The neuropsychological report can be shared, with your permission, with other providers to help access the most appropriate treatments and interventions.
While we specialize in assessments for individuals who are currently, or planning to be, in a school setting, we will work with adults if the presenting concerns fall under an area where we have specialization. For example, an adult assessment may be appropriate for ADHD, Learning Disabilities, or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The majority of our clients are pre-school through college students, including individuals who may be homeschooled. However, we often work with adults with a history of a known or suspected brain-based disability, who are in need of initial or updated testing for college or graduate school entrance exams. Adults may also need testing to qualify for appropriate accommodations within a higher education setting.
Your child should not prepare for cognitive (IQ) or other tests. In fact, exposing your child to similar test questions or materials can make their scores invalid. The best thing to do is to have your child have a good night’s rest and eat a healthy breakfast. They can bring snacks with them to have during breaks.
You can tell your child about the assessment using developmentally appropriate language that is tailored to the concern. For example, “you are going to play games and complete activities to learn more about how your brain works.” Please ask us if you would like ideas based on your child’s specific needs. We also always talk to the children about the process at the start of the assessment and answer any questions.
A full neuropsychological evaluation generally takes about 6-8 hours of direct testing. This occurs over 1-3 sessions, usually depending on the child’s age and presenting concerns. There is also an initial intake session, and a feedback session once the report is complete.
Gifted students, with or without additional exceptionalities, have unique needs in the schools and community. We love to work with gifted children and their families to provide an understanding of their cognitive and academic capabilities, along with a comprehensive understanding of their social and emotional needs. Reports for gifted individuals can be used to help advocate for your child within the school system, or to help plan appropriately for home schooling or private placements.
When working with twice exceptional children, we understand that individual scores do not always paint the full picture of a child’s unique abilities. We use dynamic assessment techniques to understand what your child can do under a variety of conditions, and to help plan and select the most appropriate interventions to help your child reach their potential.
In order to receive accommodations on any of the College Board examinations, students must provide recent testing and documentation of a qualifying disability. Depending on the type and severity of the disability, different testing accommodations may be provided. Common accommodations include extended time, larger print, access to a reader or scribe, visual supports, or a reduced distraction environment. When we write our reports and suggested recommendations for testing accommodations or services, we provide clear rationales for recommendations based on testing observations and results. Testing companies approve accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis, so we cannot guarantee approval of every request. However, we will make sure we provide the level of detail and quality required by testing companies and college settings.
Information
Joshua Shifrin, PhD, ABSNP, NCSP
Office Address:
2 West Northfield Rd. Suite 201A Livingston, NJ 07039
Mailing Address:
52 Holiday Dr. West Caldwell, NJ 07006
Neuropsychological Evaluations
Available Remotely for NY & NJ
860-966-0309
drshifrin@yahoo.com
Thank you for visiting the online office of Dr. Joshua Shifrin. Dr. Shifrin is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey, a Diplomate of the American Board of School Neuropsychology, as well as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, who specializes in pediatric/school neuropsychological evaluations Ages 5-25. Please feel free to view this website for more information about the services Dr. Shifrin can provide for you, and your child.