FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions & Answers
About the Evaluation
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A neuropsychological evaluation is a targeted assessment of cognitive functioning using standardized tests. Rather than administering a fixed battery to every patient, the evaluation is tailored to the referral question, measuring the domains most relevant to your specific situation. Results are interpreted alongside your medical history, symptoms, and daily functioning to produce a precise picture of how your brain is working and why.
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Cognitive screenings (such as the MoCA or MMSE) are brief tools used to flag potential concerns. They are not designed to identify the nature, severity, or cause of cognitive difficulties. A neuropsychological evaluation uses a targeted selection of validated measures, typically two to three hours of cognitive testing, and yields a specific diagnostic formulation with individualized recommendations, not a pass/fail score.
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Neurologists focus on the structural and physiological aspects of the nervous system. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat psychiatric conditions, often with medication. A neuropsychologist specializes in the relationship between brain function and behavior, using detailed cognitive testing to characterize how neurological or psychiatric conditions are affecting thinking, memory, and daily life. These disciplines are complementary.
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A comprehensive evaluation covers: intellectual and premorbid functioning, attention and working memory, processing speed, learning and memory across verbal and visual modalities, language and semantic processing, visuospatial and visuoconstructional abilities, and executive functions including reasoning, planning, and cognitive flexibility. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression, apathy, and behavioral change, are also formally assessed, as they frequently co-occur with neurological conditions and can significantly affect cognitive performance and its interpretation.
Who Should Be Evaluated
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Adults experiencing changes in memory, attention, language, or other cognitive abilities, whether gradual in onset or following a specific neurological event such as stroke, head injury, or diagnosis of a systemic medical condition. Evaluations are also appropriate for those with established neurological diagnoses requiring functional characterization, individuals facing treatment or capacity decisions, and those whose cognitive symptoms occur in the context of complex medical or neuropsychiatric presentations.
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Evaluations are available for adults of all ages. While a significant portion of neuropsychological referrals involve older adults presenting with memory concerns, evaluations are equally relevant for younger adults dealing with ADHD, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, or the cognitive effects of psychiatric and medical conditions.
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Memory changes are frightening, and the fear of Alzheimer's is one of the most common, and most isolating, experiences people bring to this practice. The honest answer is: a neuropsychological evaluation is the most precise tool available for answering that question. Not every memory change signals a neurodegenerative process. Normal aging, depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, medication effects, and thyroid dysfunction can all affect memory significantly. An evaluation identifies which patterns are present, how severe they are, and what is most likely causing them, so you can stop guessing and start understanding.
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Yes. A baseline evaluation during healthy midlife, typically in your 40s or 50s, creates a personal reference point against which any future changes can be measured. This makes it far easier to detect meaningful decline early, when intervention options are greatest. Many people find it useful simply to know where they stand, independent of any concern.
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Self-referrals are accepted. You do not need a physician's referral to schedule an evaluation. That said, it is often helpful to inform your primary care provider or specialist, as the evaluation report may inform their treatment decisions.
Logistics & Preparation
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Cognitive testing typically takes two to three hours, not a full day. The evaluation is targeted to the referral question, so only the measures that are actually needed are administered. The full process, from intake through the feedback session and written report, takes approximately three weeks.
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Get a full night of sleep before your appointment and eat a meal beforehand. Bring any glasses, hearing aids, or other devices you normally use. There is no need to study, neuropsychological tests assess your current, everyday cognitive functioning.
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A family member or caregiver is welcome to participate in the clinical interview portion. They would not be present during the testing itself, as the assessment measures your independent performance.
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After testing, your performance scores are calculated, interpreted, and integrated with your history and any available records. A feedback session is scheduled to review findings with you. A detailed written report is then provided, summarizing the evaluation, diagnoses, and individualized recommendations.
Specialized Evaluations
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Yes. Presurgical evaluations establish a cognitive baseline and characterize risk prior to neurosurgical procedures, including epilepsy surgery and deep brain stimulation for movement disorders. Findings are used to inform surgical candidacy, anticipate functional outcomes, and guide post-operative monitoring. Referrals are accepted from neurosurgeons, epileptologists, and movement disorder specialists.
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Yes. Independent medical examinations are available for insurance, occupational, and legal purposes. An IME provides an objective, third-party neuropsychological opinion addressing specific referral questions regarding cognitive status, functional capacity, and causation. Please contact the practice to discuss the referral question before scheduling.
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Yes. Forensic evaluations are available in legal contexts, including personal injury, disability determination, competency assessment, and capacity opinions. Forensic work is conducted with strict adherence to professional standards for objectivity and scientific rigor. Please contact the practice prior to scheduling to discuss scope, timeline, and suitability.
Fees & Insurance
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MAP Neuropsychology is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. Upon request, a superbill can be provided for you to submit to your insurer for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
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Fees are determined by the scope and complexity of the evaluation. The fee for your evaluation will be confirmed at the time of the initial consultation.
The example below reflects an optional payment schedule for a standard evaluation. More complex cases may vary.
Example payment schedule · $3,750 evaluation
Scheduling deposit: $1,000
Due when appointment is booked
Reserves clinical interview and cognitive assessment appointments and is credited toward them
Clinical interview: $500
Covered fully by deposit
Cognitive assessment, scoring, record review, interpretation, and report preparation: $2750
$2,250 due on the day of testing
$500 deposit already paid
Report & feedback
$500 due upon release of written report
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A notice of at least 48 business hours is required for cancellations or rescheduling. For cancellations with less than 48 business hours' notice or failure to attend:
Interview late cancellation/no-show fee: $250.
Testing late cancellation/no-show fee: $500.
If an appointment is cancelled with at least 48 business hours' notice, the corresponding deposit amount will be refunded.
If, following the clinical interview, testing is determined not to be clinically appropriate, any remaining deposit amount will be refunded.
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