Testing Services

Dr. Parks-Cohen has 20 years of experience conducting comprehensive evaluations for children, teens, and adults. Every evaluation is geared towards helping individuals to understand their unique profile and to receive individualized recommendations to optimize their functioning and develop strategies to mitigate their areas of vulnerability. Dr. Parks-Cohen has expertise in conducting evaluations for individuals with complex learning and emotional profiles, as well as for individuals with mental illness. Neuropsychological, Psychological (social/emotional) and academic testing is available. The types of testing completed will depend on the individual's age, situation, and reasons for testing. Dr. Parks-Cohen can help an individual to determine what types of tests should be done in a 30 minute intake that can be schedule by phone.

What is Neuropsychological Testing? Evaluates attention and concentration, memory and learning, visual spatial processing, processing speed, and executive functions (planning and organization, inhibition/mental control, the ability to think flexibly, and fluency).

What is Psychological Testing? Evaluates psychological functioning, emotional coping skills, thought processes, interpersonal style and personality features. This type of testing can be helpful to inform treatment planning and help to clarify mental health diagnosis.

What is Academic Testing? Evaluates academic ability in the areas of reading, written expression, and mathematics. It helps to determine if a student is functioning at the same level compared to those in their grade, as well as inviduals who are in their age group.

Child and Adolescent Evaluations

Child and adolescent testing can be requested for a number of reasons. Sometimes parents wonder why their child seems to struggle in school despite having so many other strengths. Or they may be doing well in school, but are having trouble planning and negotiating other areas in their world. A comprehensive evaluation including Neuropsychological, Social/Emotional, and Academic Testing is the most informative way to learn about what might be occurring for the child. Dr. Parks-Cohen can be hired to attend school meetings following completion of the evaluation process.

Common reasons for testing include:

Struggling in school or with particular areas of learning.
Child begins to voice concerns about school or is less excited about learning
Better understand if a child has a particular syndrome such as ADHD, Learning Disability, Anxiety, Depression, or other neurocognitive vulnerabilities.
Inform development of 504 or Individualized Education Plans (IEP).

College Student Evaluations

Some students heading off to college know of prior learning disabilities or ADHD and want an updated evaluation to help to plan for college. Others find it surprising to find college more challenging despite doing quite well through high school. This can be for a number of reasons, although student's can misperceive this to be related to their own ability, dedication or intelligence, rather than related to an unrecognized learning disorder. Bright students can begin to lose confidence in their ability.

Common reasons for college student testing include:

Receive updated testing to request academic accommodations for the college setting.
Determine whether there are unidentified ares of neurocognitive or learning vulnerability and whether a student would benefit from specific learning strategies, academic accommodations or coaching.
A percentage of students discover the onset of psychiatric disorders early in the college career, and evaluations can help students, families and treaters to map out an appropriate plan for college and treatment.
To determine whether a student may benefit from extra time for standardized tests is also offered. All evaluations include the proper tests required by college learning centers.

Adult Evaluations

Some adults can benefit from evaluations to answer questions about their functioning or to develop treatment recommendations based on their unique neurocognitive and psychological profile.

Some reasons for adult testing include:

Feeling like concentration, attention, planning or organization is more challenging than before.
Informing individualized treatment for individuals with Mental Illness.
Determining whether there are memory or other cognitive impairments present that are associated with aging.