Escondido, California
Neuropsychological testing
Assessment of memory, attention, and cognitive functioning after a head injury, a stroke, cancer treatment, or changes that have come on with age. Conducted and interpreted by a licensed psychologist at our Escondido office, serving North County San Diego and southwest Riverside County.
What testing gives you
Getting a clear answer about how your brain is working
Testing measures memory, attention, and thinking directly, so you find out what is actually happening rather than guessing. It also establishes a baseline, which means any future change can be measured against it rather than estimated. These are the situations we see most.
AgingChanges in memory or thinking that came on gradually. Testing shows what is typical for your age and what is not, and sets a baseline to compare against later.
Traumatic brain injuryAfter a head injury, stroke, or seizure. Testing establishes where functioning stands now, which is the reference point recovery gets measured from.
After cancer treatmentCognitive effects that can follow chemotherapy or radiation. Testing documents them, which matters when others assume it is only fatigue.
Substance useTesting shows what recovery has already restored and where support is still worth putting in. Where anxiety is also part of the picture, we offer anxiety counseling.
Testing also identifies attentional difficulties, including ADHD in adults who were never assessed for it. Where learning rather than memory is the concern, see psychoeducational testing, and for the full range of evaluations we provide, see psychological testing.
Neuropsychological evaluations take place at our Escondido office, and we see patients from across North County San Diego including San Marcos, Vista, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Ramona, and Fallbrook, as well as southwest Riverside County. Our guides for patients and families cover what to expect from testing.
Who conducts the evaluation
A licensed psychologist, start to finish
Testing is administered, scored, and interpreted by a doctoral level psychologist. We do not employ psychometrists or testing technicians.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Kennedy is our full time assessment psychologist at the Escondido office and conducts evaluations from the first session through the feedback appointment. She also leads our autism and ADHD evaluations.
- Doctor of Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
- Licensed clinical psychologist in California
- Trained at the Autism Discovery Institute, Rady Children's Hospital
- Reports written and signed by the psychologist who conducted the testing
Dr. Erich Haezebrouck, PsyD consults with the practice on neuropsychological testing. His doctoral specialty is psychodiagnostic assessment, completed at the University of Denver with pre-doctoral training at Arkansas State Hospital. More about our clinicians on the who we are page.
What to expect
How the evaluation works
Three appointments, with the testing itself usually completed in one visit.
Intake
About an hour, before any testing. We go through your medical history, what has changed, when it started, and what makes it better or worse. Bring any relevant records, imaging reports, or a list of current medications.
Testing
Two to six hours depending on the questions being answered, with breaks. Some of it is conversation, some is paper and pencil, some is on a computer or iPad. Nothing is invasive and nothing is timed against you unfairly.
Scoring
Your results are compared against normative data for your age and background, which is what separates expected change from something that warrants attention.
Report
A written report within 30 days, describing what the testing found and what to do with it. Rush turnaround is sometimes available.
Feedback
An hour with the psychologist who conducted the testing, going through the findings in person. Bring whoever you would like with you.
You do not need a referral to schedule, though we work readily with physicians who send patients to us and will send the report directly to your care team once you sign a release. See psychological testing for full policies.
Common questions
Before you call
Is this the same as a brain scan?
No. Imaging shows the structure of the brain. Neuropsychological testing measures how it is working: memory, attention, language, problem solving, and processing speed. The two answer different questions, and results are often more useful together than either alone.
How do I know whether this is normal aging?
That is one of the most common reasons people come in, and it is exactly what testing is designed to answer. Your results are compared against normative data for your age and educational background, so the report can distinguish expected change from something worth following up.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No. You can schedule directly. We also work readily with physicians who refer patients to us, and will send the report to your care team once you sign a release.
How long does it take?
The intake is about an hour. Testing runs two to six hours depending on what is being assessed, with breaks, and is usually completed in a single visit. The written report follows within 30 days, and rush turnaround is sometimes available.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes, and many people do. A spouse, adult child, or friend is welcome at the intake and at the feedback session. Testing itself is done one to one, but you will not be left to absorb the results alone.
What do I bring?
A list of current medications, and any relevant medical records or imaging reports if you have them. If a physician referred you, bring whatever they sent. Nothing else is required.
What if the testing shows something serious?
The report describes what the testing found and what to do next, including any referrals worth making. You are told the findings in person by the psychologist who did the testing, not by letter, and nothing is sent to anyone without your signature.
Does insurance cover neuropsychological testing?
Psychological testing is private pay. We provide an itemized superbill you can submit for possible out of network reimbursement, and we accept credit and debit cards, HSA, FSA, and CareCredit. See psychological testing for full policies.
I think the problem might be attention rather than memory.
Testing covers both, and attentional difficulties are among the things a neuropsychological evaluation identifies. If ADHD is the specific question, see ADHD testing. If the concern is learning rather than memory, see psychoeducational testing.
Find out where things actually stand
Neuropsychological testing at our Escondido office, serving North County San Diego and southwest Riverside County. No referral required.
No waitlist · Licensed psychologist start to finish · Also offering ADHD, autism, and psychoeducational evaluations
From our clinical team