A psychodiagnostic or neuropsychological evaluation is an investment of time and money, and if you are seeking a psych eval, you want to make the most of your investment. In this series, I’ll share some tips for how to do that.
How to Prepare Before Your Neuropsych Testing Day
Testing makes a lot of folks nervous. That is totally normal. Even if you are worried about testing, there are a few things you can do before your testing day to make things as easy on yourself as possible.
Clear your schedule on testing day. You don’t want to be rushing from something else to testing, or worrying about when you will finish. Get someone to cover for your usual responsibilities (like school drop off, cooking dinner, etc) and take the day off of work.
Plan ahead for food. No one thinks clearly when they’re hungry! Bring water, small snacks, and a packed lunch, or check out the area near the office ahead of time and figure out a place for a very quick bite at lunch time. Testing lunch breaks are usually short, because there is a lot to get through.
Bring anything you need to hear, see, write, or get around. Testing can involve writing, reading, and listening, so bring glasses, hearing aids, and any other adaptive equipment you use regularly.
Take any usual medications. If you take prescribed medications daily, or as needed, take whatever you would normally take on the day of testing. The exception would be anything that makes you drowsy or clouds your thinking (e.g., a pain medication you rarely take).
Don’t use substances or alcohol in the days before testing. Avoid any substances that could impact your thinking, and consequently, your test results. Don’t use cannabis or alcohol, or other recreational drugs, before testing. In a perfect world, you would avoid cannabis for at least one month before testing, and alcohol for at least one day.
Get a good night’s sleep. Do your best to get to bed early and rest, because that will help you give your best on testing.
What to Expect on Neuropsych Testing Day
People often show up for testing very unsure what they are in for. Here are some general ideas of what to expect from psych testing.
A lengthy interview. Psychologists need information about your personal history, including your social history, medical history, mental health history, educational background, and work history. This helps us understand whether any of these factors play a role in the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Paper and pencil testing. Some testing requires you to write or draw on paper.
Computer or tablet testing. Some tests are automated or presented digitally or require you to do a task on a computer.
A few short breaks. Typically, the evaluator will offer breaks when there is a good point in testing (meaning, the break won’t interfere with any timed tasks or memory tasks). You are also welcome to ask for a break if you need one!
No immediate results. This is tough for folks, especially after a long day of testing, when you really just want to know the results. But scoring, interpreting, and writing up a report from testing takes quite a lot of time. In fact, for many types of reports, the time spent working on things apart from the patient is actually more than the hours spent with the patient in direct testing. So, you will need your patience.
What to Expect After Neuropsych Testing
After testing, here’s what to expect.
A few weeks of waiting. It takes usually anywhere from two to six weeks for the testing report. As I mentioned above, there is a lot of work that goes into the process after your part of the testing is complete, and this takes time.
A feedback session. After your report is done, you’ll meet with your psychologist to discuss the testing results. This is usually a half hour or less, and gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your results, diagnosis, recommendations, and anything else in the report.
Recommendations. You probably sought testing because you wanted to insight and guidance about where to go next. The recommendations in your psychological eval report are tailored to you, and you should read them carefully and follow up on each one. This is how you get the most value out of your investment in testing.
A copy of your report for your own use. Your psychologist will give you a paper or digital copy of your testing report. Treat these like gold, especially if you are using them for accommodations at school or work. Regardless, you may need or want the report in the future, for example, if you have cognitive changes for any reason, a previous report can serve as a baseline. It is always a good idea to save your report so you can access it if you ever need it again.
Neuropsychological testing is a big investment of time, money, and effort. These are some ways you can make the most of a psych eval!
Begin A Neuropsychological Assessment in los angeles, ca
Psychological testing can sound like a trying experience, but the benefits are very much worth the work. Dr. Reger provides psychological assessments at multiple locations in Southern California. You can schedule an appointment by following these steps:
Contact (424) 262-1925 to schedule your appointment
Meet with a Los Angeles Psychologist for psychological testing
Gain a better understanding of yourself!
Other Services Offered with Dr. Reger in Los Angeles, CA
I am happy to offer psych evaluations and a variety of other assessments. Other assessments include cognitive and dementia testing, pre-surgical assessments, and med-legal evaluations. I also provide mental health services including individual therapy, counseling for older adults, and mental health consultations and presentations.