Tag Archive for: ADHD
Neuropsychological evaluations for kids
How can neuropsychological testing benefit my child?
- Testing can identify your child’s learning style and cognitive strengths.
- Additionally, an evaluation will help our neuropsychologists recommend adjustments to implement at school and/or at home.
- Furthermore, neuropsychological testing can help determine any appropriate therapies such as speech or Applied Behavior Analysis.
My child has a recommendation for a neuropsychological evaluation, now what?
- First, schedule an appointment. Testing appointments are available Monday to Friday, and all appointments begin at 9 a.m.
- Next, your doctor provides you with parent and teacher rating scales that you will fill out and return on the day of the testing appointment.
- Lastly, a Family Child Advocate will work with you to schedule the testing and feedback appointments.
Where is pediatric neuropsychological testing done?
All neuropsychology testing is currently carried out in our Des Plaines clinic. The Early Childhood Developmental Assessments take place in multiple clinics. Additionally, the intake and neuropsych testing appointment take place in our Des Plaines clinic, and the speech and OT appointments typically scheduled in the clinic nearest the family.
In order to help accommodate families, our 3 psychologists visit other clinics for intakes and feedbacks. See our website for scheduling.
Who conducts neuropsychological testing?
Conducting the appointment is one of our expertly-trained, master’s level neuropsychology technicians or doctoral-level diagnostic students. These professionals go through the same rigorous training program as our in-house technicians. Testing is monitored throughout the day by one of our psychologists and Training Coordinator.
Due to this testing model, we are able to see upwards of 20 kids per week! As a result, this means less time until you and your child can begin the process of getting the help he/she needs! Certainly, we do our best to get your child in for testing in a timely manner to avoid any long wait lists.
NSPT offers services in the following locations: Bucktown, Evanston, Deerfield, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, and Mequon!
If you have questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (866) 815-6592 and speak to one of our Family Child Advocates!
Neuropsychological testing for kids at NSPT
A child receives a referral for neuropsychological testing when there are concerns about one or more areas of development. Certainly, these areas of concern can include cognition, academics, attention, memory, language, socialization, emotional regulation, behavioral concerns, motor difficulties, visual-spatial, and adaptive functioning. Testing can identify your child’s learning style and cognitive strengths. Lastly, through testing, our neuropsychologists can recommend accommodations to implement at school and at home.
What is a neuropsychological evaluation?
A neuropsychological evaluation aids the psychologist in determining a diagnosis.
Such as:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Specific Learning Disorder
- Language Disorder
- Emotional and behavioral disorders
How do I know if my child needs a pediatric neuropsychological evaluation?
An evaluation is usually recommended if your child has a medical condition such as Down syndrome, epilepsy, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). So, the goal of the evaluation is to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses. With this information, we can provide the right treatment recommendations, determine progress and response to intervention, and monitor functioning.
After your pediatrician has made a referral for a neuropsychological evaluation, you need to schedule an intake appointment. Typically, each intake appointment is one hour long.
Is my child eligible for testing at NSPT’s neuropsychological testing center?
Due to our growing team, we are able to test a larger population. Most noteworthy, we offer three types of testing services:
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- Early Childhood Developmental Assessment
This is a multidisciplinary approach where our team works with a speech therapist and occupation therapist to assess children ages 15 months to 3 years, 11 months with developmental concerns ranging from socialization, language, and motor development. Each of the 3 scheduled testing appointments are typically on separate days. - Neuropsychological Evaluation
NSPT’s standard neuropsychological evaluation for individuals ages 4 through college-age. - Adult ADHD assessment
This is a new service we are now offering to adults who are interested in an ADHD evaluation. Typically, this is a one-day, 4-hour evaluation.
- Early Childhood Developmental Assessment
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What should I expect during the neuropsychological intake?
- Your first appointment is centered around talking with the psychologist about your areas of concern. Therefore, you will be asked to do the following:
- Provide information about your child’s history.
- Including medical, developmental, academic, attention, behavior, motor, and social history.
- Inform the psychologist of any current, or past, services your child receives, such as:
- speech-language therapy
- occupational therapy
- physical therapy
- individual therapy
- academic tutoring
What to bring to the neuropsychological intake:
- You and your child
- Completed intake paperwork
- Similarly, any prior psychological/neuropsychological evaluation (if applicable)
- Your child’s most recent 504 Plan or IEP (if applicable)
- Additionally, any recent private intervention evaluation (e.g., speech-language therapy, occupational therapy)
- Certainly, don’t forget your child’s most recent report card or standardized exam scores
- Finally, any relevant medical information (e.g., EEG report, CT/MRI scan report)
Lastly, after the intake, you will schedule the testing session for your child. Most of the time, testing is completed in one day (5 hours of testing). Occasionally, the testing will be completed over two days. The psychologist will create a neuropsychological battery based on the areas of concern. However, the battery is subject to adjustment on the day of testing. Typically, this occurs if another area of concern arises during the testing session.
To sum up, a pediatric neuropsychological evaluation can also help to determine any appropriate therapies such as speech or Applied Behavior Analysis. For more FAQ, click here.
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Deerfield, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines and Mequon! If you have questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (866) 815-6592 and speak to one of our Family Child Advocates!
What Are Executive Function Skills?
Many of us have heard executive functioning used in terms of our children at school and at home. But what does it mean? 
Executive Function – a Definition
Executive functions are necessary for goal-directed behavior. When we use the phrase “executive functioning skills,” we are describing a set of cognitive skills that control and regulate other behaviors and abilities. Our thought processes influence attention, memory and motor skills. (minddisorders.com).
Executive functioning skills help us to learn and retrieve information, plan, organize, manage our time, and see potential outcomes and act accordingly. When these processes work without difficulty, our brains do these tasks automatically, often without our awareness.
High Executive Function
In children and adults, those with high executive function skills are able to:
- Initiate and stop actions
- Make changes in behavior
- Plan for the future
- Manage time wisely
- Anticipate possible consequences
- Use problem-solving strategies
- Use senses to gather information
For instance, the ability to initiate and stop actions may include working on a project for school or studying for an allotted time. Monitoring ones changes in behavior includes being able to act appropriately in a given situation and alter that behavior as needed. Planning for the future and managing time may include not procrastinating due to understanding the consequences of doing so.
Low Executive Function
When one is deficient in executive function skills, it may be difficult to plan and carry out tasks. The person may seem unable to sustain attention and feel overwhelmed by situations others find easier to navigate.
People with deficits in this area may also have comorbid diagnoses (meaning they go together). These include, but are not limited to: Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder, Autism, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Executive functioning deficits may run in families (learningdisabilities.about.com).
So, a child with executive functioning deficits may be able to pay attention to a lesson, until something new is introduced that requires a shift in their attention or that divides their focus. Children lacking in executive functioning skills also may have issues with verbal fluency.
Additionally, a child (or adult) with low executive function may have social problems. Executive functioning skills allow us to anticipate how others might feel if we do or say something. Those with low executive function may have difficulty interacting with others. Because they sometimes do not think things through before saying them, people with executive functioning deficits may blurt out inappropriate or hurtful comments, leading others to avoid them.
Working with your child, a therapist, and creating structure at home and accommodation plans at school are all ways to provide help for your child.
Increasing executive functioning skills will enable her to become a more organized, less stressed and less frustrated individual as she grows into a world of ever-increasing pressures.
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Deerfield, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, and Hinsdale! If you have any questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140!
Back to School with ADHD
Executive functioning skills are daily requirements for everyone, especially for school-age children who are required to be organized, pay attention, plan, and manage their time. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) often struggle with executive functioning tasks that can negatively impact their attitude towards school, academic achievement and performance, and overall emotional well-being. 
Common experiences of children with ADHD include:
- Difficulty remembering to submit or complete assignments
- Forgetting instructions
- Poor organizational skills and planning
- Avoidance of difficult or time consuming tasks
- Emotional dysregulation
It is imperative that preparations are made to provide skills and systems that will assist children with ADHD to have a successful school year and to enjoy learning.
Some steps to prepare your child with ADHD for the school year include:
- Create structure at home, teach and practice executive functioning skills.
- Encourage your child to make a to-do list for each day and check off items at the end of the day (parents can also create a list of their own and model this behavior for their child).
- Create a system that helps with organization of room and or study area, so items and books can be easily stored and located.
- Teach and model accountability by checking in at the beginning and end of the day.
- Allow appropriate natural consequences and implement logical consequences for behaviors.
- Allow your child to advocate for themselves at home, so that they will be confident to advocate at school.
- Work with your child to teach responsibility and develop skills.
- Play games that reinforce executive functioning skills (i.e. Jenga, Max, Distraction, AnimaLogic, and No Stress Chess).
- Maintain daily routine during days off and weekends.
- Get a neuropsychological assessment, so that school-based accommodations can be put in place.
Overall, ensure that your child is learning to manage their time, is building good habits, and is completing tasks.
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Deerfield, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, and Hinsdale! If you have any questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140!
Here’s What You Can Expect from a Neuropsychological Evaluation
A child may be referred for a neuropsychological evaluation when there are concerns about one or more areas of development. This can include cognition, academics, attention, memory, language, socialization, emotional, behavioral, motor, visual-spatial, and adaptive functioning. 
A neuropsychological evaluation aids the psychologist in determining an appropriate diagnosis, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Specific Learning Disorder, Language Disorder, and emotional and behavioral disorders. An evaluation can also be recommended if your child has been diagnosed with a medical condition such as Down syndrome, epilepsy, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of the evaluation would be to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses in order to provide appropriate treatment recommendations, determine progress and response to intervention, and monitor functioning.
After your pediatrician has made a referral for a neuropsychological evaluation, you will need to schedule an intake appointment, which is typically an hour long.
What to Expect During the Neuropsychological Intake:
- Inform the psychologist about your areas of concern
- Provide information about your child’s history
- Including medical, developmental, academic, attention, behavior, motor, and social history
- Inform the psychologist of any current, or past, services your child receives (e.g., speech language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, individual therapy, academic tutoring)
What to Bring to the Neuropsychological Intake:
- Completed intake paperwork
- Any prior psychological/neuropsychological evaluation (if applicable)
- Your child’s most recent 504 Plan or IEP (if applicable)
- Any recent private intervention evaluation (e.g., speech language therapy, occupational therapy)
- Your child’s most recent report card or standardized exam scores
- Any relevant medical information (e.g., EEG report, CT/MRI scan report)
After the intake, you will schedule the testing session for your child. Most of the time, testing is completed in one day (5 hours of testing), but occasionally the testing will need to be completed over two days. The psychologist will create a neuropsychological battery based on the areas of concern; however, the battery could be adjusted on the day of testing. Typically, this occurs if another area of concern arises during the testing session.
What to Bring on the Day of the Neuropsychological Test:
- Plenty of snacks and lunch
- Completed paperwork and rating forms
- Any prior evaluations that were not brought to the intake
After testing is complete, you will return for a one hour feedback session approximately two weeks later, with the clinician to review the testing data, any diagnoses determined based on your child’s profile, recommendations for home and school, and any intervention services to foster your child’s development.
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Deerfield, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, Hinsdale and Mequon! If you have any questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140!
What Comes After the ADHD Diagnosis?
Many times parents leave a doctor’s office with more questions than when they came in. This is true for medical doctors as well as for clinical psychologists. After a parent is informed that his or her child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) the next phase is to start to develop a treatment plan to help the child reach his or her potential. Treatment of ADHD should be thought of as a possible three tier system: medication, therapy, and school based accommodations. 
Medication for ADHD
Research indicates that stimulant medication is one of the primary treatments of choice for ADHD. Many parents are very cautious and scared about putting their child on medication. One of my first pieces of advice for parents is to stay away from doing their own on-line literature search. Anyone who has access to a computer and the internet is capable of creating their own website. A website that I refer parents to all the time is www.chadd.org which is the national resource on ADHD. The literature this website provides is empirically supported and often times created by some of the biggest names in ADHD research. The other piece of advice I give to parents is to schedule a meeting with the child’s pediatrician and have a discussion regarding medication; from how the medication works to what possible side effects to look out for.
Therapy for ADHD
Children and families often get referred for therapy when the child is diagnosed with ADHD. I am a proponent of therapy that is done correctly. There first needs to be a focus on what the targets of the therapy are as well as what specific goals will be worked on in the sessions. The therapy goals need to be specific and measureable. There needs to be some metric implemented to assess for change in the child’s behavior. Finally, parents must be active participants in the therapy. There needs to be homework assignments to work on during the week as well as specific strategies that parents can implement in the moment to help modify behavior.
School Accommodations for ADHD
The final domain that needs to be considered after a child was diagnosed with ADHD is accommodations in the classroom setting to help alleviate symptoms of inattention and impulse control which have a negative impact on the child’s academic performance. Many times after I diagnosis a child with ADHD, I discuss with the parents about creating a 504 Plan in the academic setting. A 504 Plan consists of a variety of classroom and testing based accommodations to help address academic symptoms of ADHD. The plan is always individually tailored based upon the specific concerns that a child exhibits.
The diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is only the first step of helping the child. Parents frequently will have to seek out outside resources such as pharmacological intervention, therapy, and school based accommodations in order for their child to reach his or her potential.
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Deerfield, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, and Hinsdale! If you have any questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140!
Executive Functioning Skills: How Can I Help My Child?
Executive Functions are a set of higher order mental processes that allow an individual, or in this case, children; the ability to control their thoughts, actions, and attention in their ever-changing
environment. Often, children can present with executive functioning issues as a result of many different factors such as Autism and ADHD.
Below are some executive functioning skills and how they present in both individuals with normal and poor executive functioning, and some tools/strategies for parents:
| Skill | Example | Tools |
| Organization | Your child has trouble being organized or often loses, or misplaces items. | Create a “home space” for your child’s items. This can include simply labeling areas of the home where items should be stored, so your child knows where to place items and lowers the risk of loss. Make checklists or use planners to help your child create a schedule. |
| Working Memory | Your child easily forgets what they just heard, or what they were asked to do. | Make connections in every lesson. Have you ever heard of ROY G. BIV? – this is how most people remember the colors of the rainbow. When teaching new content such as tying a shoe use cute, age appropriate analogies such as the bunny rabbit in the hole. Also, helping your child visualize information by writing it down, drawing pictures, and even becoming the teacher are great tools as well. |
| Self-monitoring | Your child may not seem aware of themselves such as when they are doing well. | Behavior charts are a great tool to help your child self-manage their own behavior. Choose an important behavior for your child to manage and how often you would like for your child to “check in” on this behavior. |
| Task Initiation/Planning and Prioritizing | Your child takes forever to get started on a particular task or has trouble planning activities. | Break whole tasks down into smaller achievable steps. If the desired result is for your child to complete an entire homework sheet, maybe setting a goal to do the first 2 problems together can be a happy medium. Also allowing your child to take breaks or receive rewards between tasks are a good strategy as well. |
| Flexibility | Your child often has trouble with new ideas, transitions and spontaneity. | Visual schedules and first/then language are your biggest friend. For a child who has trouble being flexible, try to alert your child to changes in routine as far in advance as you can. To help combat rigidity such as not wanting to try a new food, try to approach slow and steady first. This can include tasting a small amount of a new food instead of a large portion. |
| Impulse/Emotional Control | Your child often has trouble controlling their emotions and impulses when they are sad, happy, or angry. | Speak and repeat. When providing directions to a child, if applicable, state the directions remembering to adhere to your child’s learner and listener styles, and then have your child repeat back to you. Use social stories and modeling: For example, if your child often gets upset when they lose a game, a social story can help teach tools on how to act in this situation. |
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Highland Park, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, Hinsdale and Milwaukee! If you have questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140 and speak to one of our Family Child Advocates!
Academic Accommodations for Children with ADHD
Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may face many obstacles in the classroom. Structure and consistency are the two main keys to success for children with
ADHD, but each case presents with its own challenges and accommodations should address the unique needs of the individual student.
The following are examples of what a child with ADHD may present in the classroom and associated accommodations:
For a student presenting with difficulties sustaining attention and following directions:
- Instructions should be kept brief and specific and presented one step at a time.
- Maintain eye contact with child while presenting instructions and have the child “teach” the instructions back to the teacher.
- Reduce task length (i.e., focus on quality of work rather than quantity) or break complex tasks into smaller pieces.
- Seat the child near the teacher and away from distractions such as doors, windows, or other students who may be disruptive.
- Provide a “quiet zone” for the student to complete tests or in-class assignments.
- Use verbal cues or signals as behavioral prompts when the child falls off task.
- Set time limits or “challenges” for completing tasks.
- Provide visual prompts for classroom routines.
For a child presenting with excessive activity and/or impulse control:
- Allow the child to stand near his or her desk or kneel in his or her chair during seated work as long as no disruption is caused.
- Use instructional approaches that encourage active responding such as talking, moving, or working at the board.
- Provide breaks for directed movement such as passing out materials.
- Reward short periods of waiting or on task behavior and gradually increase the period a child is successful.
- Encourage non-disruptive activities such as reading or doodling during times of day that have proven problematic.
- Clearly state rules and expectations, and clearly state positive and negative consequences for behaviors. Review these rules often and post visual reminders.
All children will benefit from positive feedback, reinforcement for small improvements, frequent opportunities for active participation, and assignments related to the child’s interests. Additionally, established routines and schedules, along with both verbal and visual reminders, will help any child to be successful in the classroom environment. Most importantly, remember not to assume that a failure to follow instructions is due to a lack of effort or an intentional failure to pay attention, nor is overactivity or impulsive behavior intended as an act of defiance.
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Highland Park, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, Hinsdale and Milwaukee. If you have questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140 and speak to one of our Family Child Advocates!
4 Practices Parents Can Do at Home That Will Help Children with ADHD at School
This guest blog was written by retired teacher, Joyce Wilson.
It’s common for parents of children with ADHD to be concerned for their children’s behavior at school.
But there’s no need to feel powerless. Implementing a few best practices at home will create a ripple effect and help improve your child’s behavior in the classroom, too.
- Encourage Physical Activity
Regular exercise has many benefits for children with ADHD, most having to do with increased brain function. Play games and sports with your child or simply go for a walk outside. The fresh air and bodily movement will help calm his restlessness and sharpen his focus.
It’s wise to let your child’s teacher know that taking away his recess time as a punishment is the exact opposite of what she should do if she wants to see an improvement in his behavior. Let her know how important this active time is for his mental focus.
- Encourage Organization
Teach organization and tidiness at home so your child can take these habits to school with her.
Teach her the importance of having a tidy room and work space and help her organize her school supplies. Use dividers, Post-it notes, folders, and color coordination to break her schoolwork down into a manageable, organized chunks.
- Create Structure
Your child will benefit from routine in the form of a daily schedule that runs morning to night. Keep schedules and to-do lists posted where your child can see them and include checkboxes next to each task on a list.
Sticking to a schedule helps children with ADHD persist with tasks that they might not necessarily feel like doing at the moment. Insisting they stick to a routine will help performing these tasks become habits for them. For instance, although it’s often difficult for children with ADHD to fall asleep, they still need to stick to a regular sleep schedule the best they can.
- Make Your Expectations Clear
When your child is organized, sticking to his schedule, and participating in physical activity like you’ve asked him to, make sure you’re rewarding him for his efforts and thanking him for his cooperation.
Positive reinforcement through small rewards is just one aspect of managing your child’s behavior. Set rules and make it clear to your child that you expect him to follow them at home and at school. Be specific when disciplining your child and let him know exactly how you’d like him to improve his behavior.
Be specific with your praise as well so he can continue to make you proud by doing exactly what you’ve asked him to. Giving him the praise he deserves will encourage him to continue to succeed in life at home and life in the classroom.
NSPT offers services in Bucktown, Evanston, Highland Park, Lincolnwood, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Des Plaines, Hinsdale and Milwaukee. If you have questions or concerns about your child, we would love to help! Give us a call at (877) 486-4140 and speak to one of our Family Child Advocates!