Adults often report not being able to function as effectively on a day-to-day basis. A wide variety of neurological and mental health problems can be the reason behind the difficulties that you are experiencing. For example, disorders such as ADHD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder result in poor attention and concentration and impulsive behaviors. Conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis or dementia also have a significant impact on how you function. They can make the simplest tasks seem extremely difficult.

Neuropsychological evaluations can be performed for a wide array of reasons, including problems with a spouse, work, or academics for adults. Adults sometime are not  able to function as effectively on a day-to-day basis. A wide variety of neurological and mental health dysregulation can be the reason behind the difficulties, including ADHD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder leading to  poor attention and concentration and impulsive behaviors. Cognitive functioning can also be affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, dementia, HIV, Lupus. Simplest tasks seem extremely difficult for patients with mental dysregulation.

The neuropsychological evaluation can help clinicians and patients in several ways to clarify the diagnosis, which means that we are looking to uncover the reason or reasons why certain problems exist. Such testing also provide a detailed profile of your areas of cognitive and emotional strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to understand what you are able to do well and those areas where you can benefit from improvement. This information  aid you, your family, and clinicians in developing an intervention plan that will help to improve overall functioning. 

Adults may seek a neuropsychological evaluation for the following reasons:

• Transitioning to post-secondary can be a challenge, particularly if you have a learning disability or a disability which requires accommodation. The 504 plan or IEP which followed you through school does not follow you into college, though it can help create a history for accommodations and assistance. There are many resources available at the college and university level, both in class and for entrance exams, qualifying exams, and licensing exams. It is important to keep in mind that there is no guarantee that you will receive accommodations. One of the most frequent recommendations is a standardized assessment by a licensed professional to document the areas of strength and areas you will need accommodation. Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which limits a major life activity (can be concentration or thinking) or bodily function U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, 2014).

(At the post-secondary level, the key factor is the accommodation cannot change the core content of the course. Links for information on accommodation to entrance exams, license exams, bar exam, medical license exam, as well as college itself are listed below. Information is generally obtained through a neuropsychological exam. Funding for the testing is the responsibility of the student, not the school (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, 2011)).

• This exam is also helpful in ferreting out issues in those who have undergone a neurological insult, such as brain injury, stroke, meningitis, and are high functioning but there is some residual disability. Because of the test’s multifactorial assessment of the person’s auditory, visual, and reasoning on multiple levels, it provides a comprehensive picture of the patient’s ability to safely function independently.

• Testing can also assist in differentiating the cause of ‘forgetfulness’ in some older adults. The are often seen at the request of a family member or physician when physical work ups have been inconclusive, to help determine if it is a dementia related issue or if it is related to depression.

• Finally, some people are referred for testing to determine if there is an organic versus psychiatric cause for symptoms they may be having.  

Many times, adults who come in for neuropsychological testing are functioning well, holding a job, raising a family, etc. but feel like they ‘have a bunch of balls in the air’ or must work that much harder. They are often very bright and achieved high academic success early until multi-tasking, distraction, different learning techniques came into play. Testing can help identify your best learning style, best memory style, and best compensatory techniques to be more successful.

Psychological testing can be useful in following conditions:

• Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias

• Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

• Brain Tumors & Cancer

• Endocrine Disorders

• Epilepsy & Seizure Disorders

• Klinefelter Syndrome & Other Sex Chromosome Abnormalities

• Learning Disorders: Reading (dyslexia), Math & Writing

• Motor Neuron Diseases (als, Sma, Pbp, Pls)

• Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Sports Concussion

• Traumatic Brain Injury

Please contact Farkhanda Khan  if interested in evaluation: fkhan@nepajax.com    904-990-4564 

REFERENCES

ACT.org. (2019). Requesting accommodations and English learner (EL) supports. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act-educator/accommodations.html

ADA National Network. (2019). What are a public or private college-university’s responsibility to students with disabilities? Retrieved from https://adata.org/faq/what-are-public-or-private-college-universitys-responsibilities-students-disabilities

Collegeboard.org. (2019). Services for students with disabilities: Accommodations on College Board exams. Retrieved from https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/

ETS.org. (2019). GRE/ Praxis/ TOEFL: Disability documentation guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.ets.org/disabilities/documentation/

LSAC.org (2019). LSAC policy on accommodations for test takers with disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsac-policy-accommodations-test-takers-disabilities?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzPG50Lv35AIVD__jBx2jXAIYEAAYASAAEgKtAfD_BwE

MyFLLicense.com. (2019a). State of Florida instruction booklet request for examination accommodations for examinees with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/servop/testing/documents/adareqst.pdf

MyFLLicense.com. (2019b). Application for candidate’s requesting special testing accommodations. Retrieved from http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/servop/testing/documents/ada_applic.pdf

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. (2011). Students with disabilities preparing for postsecondary education: Know your rights and responsibilities. Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section. (2014). ADA requirements: Testing accommodations. Retrieved from https://www.ada.gov/regs2014/testing_accommodations.pdf