Psychological Evaluation For Adult
Could You Benefit From The Clarity A Psychological Evaluation Offers?
Are you an adult who suspects you may have a neuropsychological issue—such as Dementia, Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a learning disability, or an anxiety, psychotic or bipolar disorder—that requires testing to confirm? Is your lack of understanding of why you feel and act differently than others holding you back from your full potential? Have you previously attempted to diagnose yourself only to realize that what you need is a professional evaluation to determine what’s going on?
If you struggled to keep up in school as a child, you may suspect you have a learning disability. These challenges with learning may have impacted your self-esteem and now that you’re an adult, you want to get to the bottom of it. Maybe you worry your memory is failing or wonder if you have ASD because you feel as though you’ve never truly understood the world or your place within it.
You Might Be Running Into Issues At Work
Perhaps the problems you’re having at work related to memory loss, executive function, or socialization have made you realize that you don’t process information or relate to others like your peers. Unlike your family who is used to your idiosyncrasies and habits, the objectivity your workplace offers has highlighted your neurodiversity as an adult. Perhaps for the first time, you’re realizing the impact your thoughts and feelings are having on your life.
You might be worried about what the long-term consequences of not receiving an accurate diagnosis will be, fearing you won’t realize your potential unless you get the help you need.
As much as the goal of a neuropsychological evaluation tailored for adults is to provide you with a diagnosis, it’s equally important to rule out what is not going on with you. The good news is once you receive the correct diagnosis, you can determine what to do next.
We Don’t Always Get Diagnosed With Psychological Disorders Or Learning Disabilities As Children
Although ADHD, ASD, and learning disabilities are often perceived as conditions that are usually detected when we’re children, many of us reach adulthood before receiving a diagnosis. According to Learning Disabilities of America, “some individuals do not receive an evaluation until they are… adults in the workforce.” Further, an article published in Scientific American reported on two studies that determined the symptoms of ADHD sometimes first appear in adults.
The reality is that many of us went through school without anyone realizing we had ADHD, ASD, a learning disability, or a psychological disorder. Unfortunately, many schools are ill-equipped to identify these issues, especially if we overcompensated in other ways to conceal how much we were struggling. However, this delayed diagnosis often results in us labeling ourselves as incompetent or unintelligent for a majority of our lives rather than recognizing the special gifts we possess.
We May Fall In The Trap Of Attempting Self-Diagnosis
Many of us have already decided we know what our diagnosis is after looking up our symptoms online, never bothering to receive a professional evaluation. However, many of the symptoms we experience overlap with various psychological disorders and learning disabilities. Without an accurate diagnosis, we are unable to identify the appropriate treatment for our issues.
If we identify ourselves with our weaknesses or limitations, it takes a lot of courage for us to face the truth of an accurate diagnosis. Even though we’re adults, we’re afraid that testing for a neuropsych issue will confirm our deepest fears: that we’re “dumb” or “weird.”
However, a psychological evaluation tailored for adults is the best way for you to acknowledge the significant strengths you have so you can finally release the unnecessary shame you’ve been carrying for too long.
A Psychological Evaluation For Adults Provides The Answers And Guidance You Need
As an undiagnosed adult, you might exaggerate your weaknesses, allowing them to carry too much weight in your self-identity. But this depiction of yourself isn’t accurate. As a neuropsychologist who helps adults with psychological evaluations every day, Dr. Val has witnessed how the truth of an accurate diagnosis can help set people free. By dispelling shame and offering solutions, clients embark on a journey of healing.
Unlike children who are still in school and under their parents’ care when they receive a diagnosis, you have to be your own advocate as an adult. If you have an assortment of symptoms that seem confusing, you need a thorough evaluation to determine what the core issues are.
It takes vulnerability and courage to face your challenges head-on. Understanding the truth of what you’re facing, negative or positive, allows you to formulate a clear path forward.
An Overview Of The Process
Once you contact Dr. Val, she will call or email you back within 24 hours. After an initial intake phone call to gather some preliminary information about you, she will send you the appropriate questionnaires to fill out and we will schedule your in-person appointments.
The evaluation process can take 2 weeks to a month, depending on how many appointments are needed—usually 2 to 3—and if the supporting questionnaires are completed on time. You will be asked to provide any past medical or psychological records you may have. Once you have returned the paperwork, attended your appointments, and completed the questionnaires, it usually takes two weeks for you to receive your report with diagnosis.
Another appointment will be scheduled to review the results of your psychological evaluation and develop a comprehensive plan for further action and support. The full neuropsychological evaluation report for adults will provide you with a diagnosis if appropriate.
Getting the right help is dependent on the correct diagnosis. The biggest benefit for adults who receive neuropsych testing is that the diagnosis allows them to get treatment that specifically addresses their particular issue while identifying their strengths. The report you will receive is understandable and actionable, eliminating unnecessary psychobabble that can be confusing.
In addition to thoroughly explaining your diagnosis, Dr. Val will provide you with referrals for treatment, offering a list of qualified specialists who can help you. She will give you recommendations about your diagnosis, including books and studies, life changes that might be helpful to make. Additionally, she may suggest you meet with your primary care provider to discuss potential medications that may be beneficial.
Having an accurate diagnosis allows you to receive treatment through therapy, self-care practices, and perhaps medication. It provides you with a clearer picture of your strengths so that your weaknesses no longer define you. The help and support adults receive after undergoing a psychological evaluation offers renewed hope for a life free of shame.
But You May Wonder Whether A Psychological Evaluation For Adults Is Right For You …
Isn’t obtaining a neuropsychological evaluation for adults expensive?
In general, insurance companies reimburse 80 percent or more of the cost of psychological and psychometric testing for adults to diagnose learning disabilities, ASD, ADHD, Dementia, and other psychological disorders. If you have questions related to insurance, our insurance specialist can help you gather the information your provider will need for preauthorization. We can also provide you with a superbill you can submit to them to determine coverage. And although you will be responsible for the payment at the first meeting, we will provide you with the paperwork to receive reimbursement for it.
I’m afraid if I undergo neuropsych testing for adults, the results will be shared with others.
If you’re an adult who receives a psychological evaluation, no one will know the results of any evaluation that’s performed except you. Because Dr. Val is in private practice, none of her records are contained in a database—all results will be highly confidential. However, if you use private insurance for reimbursement, they will be privy to the diagnosis.
For adults who want a psychological evaluation, does obtaining the correct diagnosis take a long time?
Receiving an accurate psychological evaluation is an interactive process that requires your participation and willingness to be honest with yourself. If you are committed to getting through the questionnaire and evaluation process promptly, your report can usually be completed within a few weeks. And once you have the appropriate recommendations and referrals you need, you can begin taking steps to get help.
Knowledge Gives You The Power To Identify Your Gifts And Flourish
Once you better understand your strengths and weaknesses, you can seek out the right tools to unlock your full potential. If you would like to find out more about the neuropsychological evaluations for adults Dr. Val offer, please contact her today
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