All parents want their children to grow up strong, healthy and happy. However, for some children, achieving that can be difficult. Non-verbal learning difficulties (NVLD) can make simply sitting in class an insurmountable challenge, and they can make interaction with other people incredible difficult. For children with NVLD, completing autism neuropsychological testing is an important first step toward ensuring a happy future.
What Is the Point of Autism Neuropsychological Testing?
It’s natural to assume that the point of a neuropsych eval would be to diagnose the issue at hand. While that is part of the point, there’s more to it. By completing an autism test for your children, you will receive vital information that helps you learn how best to meet the needs of your child. This information applies to you, the parent, but also to others who play important roles in your child’s life, such as teachers and even advocates, attorneys and others.
Who Should Be Tested?
Autism neuropsychological testing should be considered for children who have received assessments in school, but for whom the recommended treatment has not proven successful. In addition, children experiencing social deficits, language learning deficits, and issues related to overstimulation (sensory) should also undergo testing.
What Areas Are Evaluated
Autism neuropsychological testing should evaluate several important areas of childhood growth and development. These should include the child’s ability to pay attention and concentrate, their visual memory, auditory and visual processing, visual-spatial functions, behavioral functioning, emotional development, personality development, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language skills, reading and comprehension skills, and more.
What Should Parents Know about Testing?
Parents should be prepared for the rigors that autism neuropsychological testing can pose for their children. In some instances, testing may require an entire day, and it will most likely be taxing on your child mentally and emotionally. It should also be noted that some results are not quantifiable. For example, social skills can only be observed, and not truly quantified. The same applies to executive functioning. The neuropsychologist’s training and experience will be required to make an informed decision regarding testing these areas.
What Does the Result Mean?
It’s important to understand that autism neuropsychological testing does not pigeonhole your child. While a diagnosis of any number of non-verbal learning difficulties is possible, the point of testing is to provide help and understanding for your child to help them live a life as happy and fulfilled as possible. Interested in learning more about autism or child neuropsychology? Contact Dr. Joshua Shifrin today. You can connect with them on Google+ for more updates!