Learning Disability Assessments Sierra Vista, AZ
Learning Disability Assessments Sierra Vista, AZ
If your child is facing difficulties completing tasks that are age-appropriate, it could be due to a learning disability. To ensure that your child grows and thrives, it is essential to identify any learning disabilities early on and take appropriate measures to address them. At Sierra Vista, AZ, Dr. Shifrin offers neuropsychological evaluations and assessments for various learning disabilities, such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and nonverbal learning disabilities.
Our Services
Dr. Shifrin specializes in pediatric/school neuropsychological evaluations and has been an expert in the field for over 20 years. Our comprehensive programs in Sierra Vista, AZ, include:
Learning Disability Assessments Sierra Vista, AZ
We offer testing and assessments tailored to identify learning disabilities in your child. Our assessments include cognitive and academic testing, memory and attention testing, and language and visual perceptual testing.
Nonverbal Learning Disability testing
Your child may struggle with nonverbal learning disabilities, which affect skills such as spatial awareness and problem-solving. Our testing methods are comprehensive and catered to your child’s needs and age.
Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome Assessments Sierra Vista, AZ
If you notice any signs that your child might be on the Autism Spectrum, we can provide a detailed neuropsychological evaluation of your child. An early diagnosis can help our professionals develop a comprehensive treatment plan that caters to your child’s individual needs.
ADD & ADHD Testing Sierra Vista, AZ
If you suspect your child may have attentional or hyperactivity disorders, our testing can determine the root cause of your child’s challenge and provide an accurate diagnosis. With this insight, we can offer appropriate interventions to help your child manage these challenges.
Benefits of Our Services
Our services in Sierra Vista, AZ offer a range of benefits:
- Comprehensive testing to ensure accurate diagnosis.
- Individualized attention and treatment plans tailored to your child’s unique needs.
- Early identification of learning disabilities, which offers more effective long-term management of the challenges.
- Access to a licensed neuropsychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field.
Contact Dr. Shifrin Today!
If you require neuropsychological assessments in Sierra Vista, AZ, contact Dr. Shifrin today at 860-966-0309. He has extensive experience in the field and can help you identify any learning disabilities that your child may have to develop a comprehensive management plan. Early intervention can help your child gain the tools necessary to thrive in school and in life.
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
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.