Edward M. Hallowell's Blog, page 10

What Is Neuropsychological Testing?

Neuropsychological Testing: What Is It and Why Do It?

People often talk about “testing” or “neuropsychological assessment.”  What is this assessment? Why do people have it done? Finally, what does it entail?

Neuropsychological testing is usually recommended if you are looking for accommodations for school, standardized testing or work.  Furthermore, neuropsychological testing may be recommended if the clinician suspects underlying learning issues or has other questions that the clinical interview does not answer.

Answer the questions below to determine if you or your child should have a Neuropsychological Assessment.  If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, read more and consider scheduling an assessment. 

Questions for Parents:

Do you have a child who struggles in school?
Are there gaps in your child’s performance in different areas? 
Interested in understanding how your child learns best?
What are their strengths?
What are their challenges?
Concerned about whether your child is struggling simply due to ADHD? 
Or if there are underlying learning disabilities?
Do you think that your child might need accommodations to give them the best shot at reaching their learning potential?
For older children, are you concerned that your child may need accommodations to do their best on standardized testing?
Interested in having you and your child’s school learn strategies to best help them learn and achieve?

Questions for Adults:

Have you ever wondered about your ADHD diagnosis,?
What are the signs that you have it? l 
Did you ever wonder how your brain works?
Curious about your strengths and weaknesses?
Perplexed why you’re not able to do certain things as easily as your peers?
Wondering if it’s just ADHD or if something else is going on too?

What is neuropsychological assessment and why is it important?

Neuropsychological assessment consists of:

a series of tests, completed between one day and a handful of days;
evaluating one’s intellectual abilities;
academic processes;
achievement;
memory;
language skills;
visual-motor coordination;
reasoning abilities;
executive functioning skills; and
attention.

Furthermore, testing can also look at whether there are underlying psychological issues that are impacting learning or day-to-day functioning.

What To Expect:

Clinicians select a series of tests that makes the most sense for each individual. These tests are based on the concerns you, your child, or your child’s school may have. Some tests are completed using paper and pencil, and others are verbal or computer-based.  Questionnaires are completed by patients and those who know the patients well. As part of the testing process, this is always followed by a comprehensive clinical session.

Through the use of neuropsychological assessment, parents learn more about how their children process information. As a result, they can determine whether a learning disorder is present.  Likewise, this can be used to come up with strategies to optimize their ability to learn. In addition, the assessment can be used to build a system of accommodations in school.  Most noteworthy, it can be used to help them reach their potential and thrive in their environment. 

Neuropsychological Testing for Adults

Likewise, neuropsychological testing can also be useful for some adults, enabling them to:

understand more about how their brains work, or
to assess cognitive concerns, whether related or unrelated to ADHD.

As a  result, this can help adults to better understand themselves and how they can work most efficiently. 

NOTE: Outside the ADHD world, neuropsychological testing is also often used to:

assess for damage related to brain-affecting diseases or
traumatic brain injuries

When is the best time to do testing?

Neuropsychological testing is a time-consuming endeavor, in most cases occurring over multiple days of at least a few hours each day. As such, testing sessions are typically scheduled for early in the day to maximize alertness. Since children are off from school, summertime and school vacations are often ideal times for children to complete testing.

Scheduling a Neuropsychological Assessment

So if you are interested in pursuing or learning more about a neuropsychological assessment at The Hallowell Centers, you can set up an appointment with our intake coordinator.  To schedule an appointment at The Hallowell Center, simply call the number below for the center closest to you. 

 New York City at 212-799-7777 or

 Boston MetroWest  at 978-287-0810  

San Francisco at 415-967-0061

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Neuropsychological Testing: What Is It and Why Do It?

People often talk about “testing” or “neuropsychological assessment.”  What is this assessment – why do people have it done, and what does it entail?

If your answer to any of the following questions is “yes,” you may wish to read further.

For Parents: Do you have a child who struggles in school? Are there gaps in your child’s performance in different areas? Are you or your child’s school interested in understanding how your child learns best? What are their strengths and what are their challenges? Do you have questions about whether your child is struggling simply due to ADHD or whether there are underlying learning disabilities? Do you think that your child might need accommodations to give them the best shot at reaching their learning potential? For older children, are you concerned that your child may need accommodations to do their best on standardized testing? Do you or your child’s school need strategies to best help them learn and achieve?

For Adults: Have you ever wondered about your ADHD diagnosis, like wished to have more concrete signs that you have it?  Did you ever just wonder how your brain works? Curious about your strengths and weaknesses? Concerned about why you’re not able to do certain things as easily as your peers, and wondering if it’s just ADHD or if something else is going on too?

What is neuropsychological assessment and why is it important?

Neuropsychological assessment consists of a series of tests, completed over somewhere between one day and a handful of days, evaluating one’s intellectual abilities, academic processes and achievement, memory, language skills, visual-motor coordination, reasoning abilities, executive functioning skills, and attention. Testing can also look at whether there are underlying psychological issues that are impacting learning or day-to-day functioning. Clinicians select a series of tests that makes the most sense for each individual, based on the concerns you, your child, or your child’s school may have. Some tests are completed using paper and pencil, and others are verbal or computer-based.  Questionnaires are completed by patients and those who know the patients well, and a comprehensive clinical interview always takes place as part of the testing process.

Through the use of neuropsychological assessment, parents can learn more about how their children process information; they can also determine whether a learning disorder is present. This can be used both to come up with strategies to optimize their ability to learn and to build a system of accommodations in school, if necessary, to help them reach their potential and thrive in their environment.  Neuropsychological testing can also be useful for some adults, enabling them to understand more about how their brains work, or to assess cognitive concerns, whether related or unrelated to ADHD; this can help adults to better understand themselves and how they can work most efficiently. (Outside the ADHD world, neuropsychological testing is also often used to assess for damage related to brain-affecting diseases or traumatic brain injuries.)

When is the best time to do testing?

Neuropsychological testing is a time-consuming endeavor, in most cases occurring over multiple days of at least a few hours each day. Typically testing sessions are scheduled for early in the day to maximize alertness. Summertime and school vacations are often ideal times for children to complete testing since they are off from school.

If you are interested in pursuing or learning more about neuropsychological assessment at The Hallowell Centers, you can set up an appointment with our intake coordinator by calling The Hallowell Center:  

 New York City at 212-799-7777 or

 Boston MetroWest  at 978-287-0810  

San Francisco at 415-967-0061

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Exclusive Q&A with Dr. Hallowell

If you’ve been dying to ask Dr. Hallowell questions about ADHD, now is your chance. Terry Matlen is offering an exclusive Q/A webinar with Dr. Hallowell. This FREE session is geared towards women with ADHD, but all are welcome.

Here are the details:

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2019

Time: 1:00 to 1:30 pm Eastern Time (New York Time)

Where: Online

Submit your question(s) either during the event or email them to Terry ahead of time at terry@ADDconsults.com 

Make sure to REGISTER NOW as space is very limited. It’s not every day that you get to ask Dr. Hallowell questions.  First come, first served!

Learn  more about ADHD and Gender issues HERE.

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ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment – What You Should Know

Getting an ADHD Diagnosis:  Make sure you consult with a well-trained specialist. The doctors who have the most training in ADHD are child psychiatrists. If you are an adult, be aware that all child psychiatrists also are trained in adult psychiatry. Ask the person you see if he or she has extensive experience in working with patients in your age group. It is imperative that you consult with a professional who has extensive experience. If you can’t find such a person, start by calling the department of psychiatry at the medical school nearest to you.

The diagnosis rests upon a careful history taken from the identified patient as well as at least one other person, such as parent, spouse, sibling, or close friend, as well as, if possible, teacher comments.

You should develop a comfortably connected relationship with the person diagnosing and treating you so that you can turn to him or her with trust whenever the need arises.

The history may be supplemented by neuropsychological testing. This is paper-and-pencil testing that includes puzzles and games. It’s actually often fun to take these tests. They are not diagnostic of ADHD, but they add valuable information.

Treatment begins with education. The patient and concerned others need to learn what ADHD is, and what it is not. A diagnosis of the mind, like ADHD, must be fully understood if it is to be mastered and made good use of. At its best, ADHD can become an asset, rather than a liability, in a person’s life. But, for this to happen, the person has to develop a deep appreciation for how ADHD works within him or her. To understand ADHD, a person could begin with one of my books, like Delivered From Distraction, or with some other book on the topic. Just be sure you read a book by a highly qualified expert who writes clearly and well.

Treatment proceeds with a restructuring of one’s life. Usually, disorganization is a leading problem in the life of the person who has ADHD. Often an organizational coach can help enormously in developing new habits of organization and time management.

Treatment should also include physical exercise, at least 4 times per week. Dr. John Ratey’s work and his book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, notes that physical exercise is one of the best treatments we have for ADHD.  Learn more about Treating ADHD.

Proper nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of ADHD in all ages. The key simply is to eat well, avoid junk food and sugar, eat whole foods, and don’t self-medicate with carbs, as many people with ADHD are tempted to do.

If you missed Dr. Hallowell’s Distraction Q&A on ADHD, getting a late in life diagnosis and more, LISTEN NOW!

If you think you might have ADHD, CLICK HERE to learn what the Hallowell Centers can do for you.

For those people who crave more information about ADHD, we have put together a suggested reading list HERE.  

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The Pennies Are Everywhere!

The other day one of my patients was talking about her father, who died in 1981. “He started college in 1929, and we all know what happened that year. So college came to a sudden end for my father. He became incredibly tight with money from then on, to the point of putting locks on the rotary phones and picking up pennies when he saw them on the sidewalk as if he’s just struck gold.”

This patient, whom I’ll call Sarah, was raised Jewish but now follows a non-traditional spiritual path. She has strong spiritual views, but they do not fit any standard faith or religion. But she delighted in telling me how often she sees pennies all over the place, ever since her father died. “The pennies are everywhere,” she said, with an elated giggle, her red curly hair bouncing, belying her 60 years of age. “It didn’t take me long to realize it was my dad sending me those pennies, letting me know he was watching over me from the other dimension.” She sat back with a wide smile of satisfaction on her face.

As some of you who read this newsletter know, I, myself, believe in God. I’m an Episcopalian. But I’m not doctrinaire. I like the prayer that goes, “Lord, please help me always to search for the truth, but spare me the company of those who have found it.”

My version is that God is Love. Where you find love, there you find God. Where there is no love, God is absent. Today’s world is painfully short on love. It seems that love is a really tough sell. Why people reject it beats me. Because there’s nothing better. And without it, we wither.

It’s there for the taking, love is. As Sarah said, the pennies are everywhere. Love is all around, if we will but reach out and give it, reach out and receive it, if we will but come out of hiding. Don’t hold back.

Pat a dog. Smile at the check-out lady. Help the mom with the crying baby. Forgive a friend you know you want to make up with. Think of three things you’re grateful for. Say “Thank you” to two people today and say “I’m sorry” to one. Stop and talk to the panhandler, whether or not you chose to give him money. Go a day without reading or watching news and use that time to give others compliments.

Look for the pennies. You will find them everywhere.

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Try Judging Less, Understanding More

Dr. Hallowell shares some thoughts on reserving judgment in our “Gotcha!” world in this week’s Distraction mini episode. It’s time to cut each other some slack, says Ned, as he likens our current social climate to a meat tenderizer. We are all flawed and we need each other’s understanding, not judgment!

There’s an old French proverb he loves that goes, “Tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner,” which Evelyn Waugh translated and quoted in Brideshead Revisited, “To understand all is to forgive all.”

LISTEN NOW and learn Dr. Hallowell’s thoughts on why we should try and understand before we judge.

Distraction wants to hear from you! What do you think? Are we too quick to judge each other nowadays? Send an email or voice memo with your thoughts to connect@distractionpodcast.com.

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We’re Hiring: ADHD Professionals San Francisco

San Francisco – The Hallowell Center of San Francisco, located in the downtown area, is seeking to expand. We are currently seeking part-time clinicians (Educational Therapists, Board certified psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, social workers, or nurse practitioners) to join our team. Candidates must have experience in working with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and associated disorders including anxiety and depression. They must demonstrate excellent diagnostic and clinical skills.

The Hallowell Center is a multidisciplinary private practice with offices in New York, Boston, and San Francisco that provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for a full range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental issues in children and adults. The San Francisco office primarily treats adolescents and adults but is considering adding services for children as well. Founded by Dr. Edward Hallowell, the Hallowell Center uses a strength-based model to help all of their clients recognize and reach their full potential. 

Applicants must align with our strength-based approach and have the ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team. Because our San Francisco office is small applicants must, in addition, be flexible and fairly independent. We are particularly looking for self-starters interested in growing with and helping us build our team. There is room for growth and flexibility within our practice and the position could conceivably expand to full time. The position is fee for service and anyone hired must be willing to work some evenings and/or Saturdays.

We are particularly interested in clinicians with the following skills:

Psychiatrists or Nurse Practitioners who can provide medication evaluations and ongoing medication management. Training and/or experience in integrative approaches a plus
Couples therapists experienced in working with couples where ADHD is an issue
Clinicians/educators/coaches who are knowledgeable and skilled in helping clients develop executive function skills, including high school and college age students 
Group therapist that has used protocols for ADHD
Clinicians trained in DBT or EMDR, who have used these models to treat ADHD.
Neuropsychologists

Candidates have the option to bring their current clients into the practice.

If you are interested, please reply to: gabrielle@hallowellsfo.com

Please forward this message to potentially interested colleagues. Thank you.

 

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Strategies for Minimizing ADHD’s Impact on Relationships

I’m excited to welcome you to Season 4 of Distraction. It’s great to be back and to have my wonderful wife Sue join me for our first episode. Her speciality is working with couples where one or both partners have ADHD.

So if your partner has ADHD, you’ll want to listen to this week’s DISTRACTION Podcast S4 Ep 1. Sue talk about the realities of being married to someone with ADHD. Her insights shed light on how to navigate the frustrations of being the “non-ADHD” half of the couple, and what predicts whether a relationship will succeed.

Dr. Hallowell shares his 20 Relationship tips HERE.

You can learn more about ADHD and Relationships HERE.

If you’re struggling with ADHD and relationship issues, click here to learn how Couples Therapy at the Hallowell Center can help.

Follow Dr. Hallowell’s ADHD and Marriage Blog with Melissa Orlov.

If you have a question for me, you can email or send a voice memo to: connect@distractionpodcast.com or call 844-552-6663.

Thank you for being a part of my podcast community!

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Distraction Season 4 starts August 27th

Exciting announcement! Join Dr. Hallowell and his wife Sue Hallowell for the brand new Season 4 of Distraction Podcast coming tomorrow Tuesday, August 27th!  You can listen to the episode at www.distractionpodcast.com  

“Distraction,” is the podcast hosted by Dr. Hallowell.  These podcasts offer hands-on advice and famous and fascinating guests share their experiences and methods of coping and connecting. While Dr. Hallowell has helped millions free themselves from the distractions and tendencies of ADHD, he now extends that same sound and accessible guidance to anyone suffering from the harried pace of modern life — whether at home, at school, in the workplace, or at play.

Click HERE to get Dr. Hallowell’s 10 Key Principles to Focus in a World of Distraction and other Resources for managing your crazybusy life.

 

 

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Help Your ADHD Child Get Ready For School

Tips for Getting Children with ADHD Ready for Back to School

The weather will soon be turning cooler and those long, lazy days of lounging poolside or spending every waking moment with best friends while away at summer camp are quickly coming to an end. But with every end, comes a new beginning and an opportunity for change. Back to school time brings bright possibilities and the chance for a clean slate to introduce new organizational strategies into your home.

Organization doesn’t just happen and children with ADHD need scaffolding and support to help organize themselves and their environments. Each family will have their own way of setting up certain systems and it is important to communicate as a family so that the systems are clear to all family members. The first day of school is no time for drastic changes in household schedules. Hold a family meeting 2-3 weeks prior to the first day back at school and discuss expectations, consequences, and brainstorm ideas to help each day flow more smoothly.

Children should be eased back into their school routines gradually. A major change in routine for most kids over the summer is sleep. It is scientifically proven that sleep affects mood, behavior, attention, learning and all biological function; therefore, it is critical that children get enough (quantity) and quality sleep. During the last 2 weeks of summer, reintroduce a school year bedtime and spend the hour before relaxing, talking about the day, reading books, or singing songs to wind down. This time should help the child physically and emotionally transition to a calmer state. Set the alarm closer and closer to the time he or she needs to wake up in the morning.

If mornings are chaotic, agree as a family what everyone needs to do to be out the door and when. Try doing as much the night before as possible. Have a visual schedule posted for kids to know exactly what is expected of them and how long each task should take. Try to do practice runs in the last few weeks of summer and make necessary adjustments so that everyone is set up for success when school starts.

Another thing that changes in the summer are meal times. Plan meals and snack times according to the school routine and get your children used to these times and eating the types of foods they will have at school.

Create a central calendar that you color code for each family member and post his/her activities, responsibilities, etc. Predictability, structure, and routine are the keys to success for all children, and especially those with ADHD. The calendar also relieves parents from answering repeated questions regarding the schedule!

Before school starts, make a list of school supplies to be purchased. Pick a day to do back to school shopping and STICK TO YOUR LIST! Otherwise, it can be hectic and overwhelming for all, but mostly to your wallet!

Be sure to make time each day for FUN and connect with your child! Spend time playing a game, walking in the park, reading a story, or anything that works for your family and is specifically time spent bonding with your child. When children feel connected, they are less likely to worry or be anxious. As a parent, you need to be positive! Beliefs determine behaviors. Be optimistic, be loving, and try to help your child get over their fears of transition and change so that they will look forward to the new school year ahead with enthusiasm and vigor!

Prepare for September!

Is it Time to Address Your Child’s Emotional, Cognitive and Academic Concerns?:

–    Problems with learning, slow processing speed

–    Academic underperformance

–    School work overwhelm

–    Attention and concentration problems

–    Emotional regulation and self control difficulties

–    Self-esteem issues

–    Overwhelm, panic, worry or anxiety feelings

–    Trouble sleeping

–    Test, public speaking or social anxieties

–    Difficulty implementing executive function strategies

The Hallowell Centers offer Neuropsychological and Academic Testing, and the EARS program, designed to help your child dramatically improve their school grades in short time frames. 

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