If you or your child is wondering whether ADHD or autism explains day to day challenges, a neuropsychological evaluation can provide clarity. Below is a plain‑language guide to what happens before, during, and after testing, along with tips to help you prepare.
What a Neuropsych Evaluation Is
A neuropsychological evaluation is a structured series of interviews, questionnaires, and standardized tests that examine how the brain supports thinking and behavior. For ADHD and autism questions, the goals are to:
- understand attention, executive function, memory, language, processing speed, learning, and social communication
- document strengths and challenges across home, school, and work settings
- provide a clear diagnosis when appropriate
- translate findings into practical recommendations and referrals
Who Might Benefit
- Children who struggle with focus, impulsivity, or social communication
- Teens who have uneven academic performance or social difficulties
- Adults who always suspected ADHD or autism but were never evaluated
- Anyone whose current supports are not working and needs a clearer plan
What Happens Before Your Appointment
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Intake and goals
You complete brief questionnaires and a history form. Your clinician clarifies referral questions, medications, medical and developmental history, and what decisions the results will inform.
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Records gathering
With permission, the clinician may review report cards, prior testing, IEPs, 504 plans, therapy notes, or workplace feedback.
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Scheduling
Testing is usually booked in a morning block when focus is best. Younger children often do better across two shorter sessions.
What to Expect on Evaluation Day
- Check in
You meet your clinician, confirm the plan, and ask questions. - Clinical interview
Conversation covers symptoms, history, daily functioning, and goals. For children, a parent or caregiver participates. - Behavioral observations
The clinician notes attention, activity level, frustration tolerance, and social communication in a natural way while you work. - Standardized testing
You complete paper‑and‑pencil tasks and iPad or computer measures. Breaks, snacks, and pacing are built in. - Rating scales
You and someone who knows you well may complete checklists about attention, hyperactivity, organization, sensory needs, or social skills. - For autism questions
Expect structured play or conversation tasks that sample social engagement, eye contact, communication, flexibility, and restricted interests. - Length
Plan on 4 to 8 hours of testing time total, often split across one or two days depending on age and referral question.
What Is Tested
While each evaluation is tailored, common areas include
- Cognitive abilities such as reasoning, working memory, and processing speed
- Attention and executive skills including sustained focus, inhibition, set‑shifting, planning, and organization
- Learning and memory for verbal and visual information
- Academic skills when school or workplace accommodations are part of the question
- Language and visual‑spatial skills
- Adaptive functioning or day to day skills
- Autism measures that look at social communication, reciprocity, sensory differences, and behavioral flexibility
After Testing
- Scoring and analysis
Your clinician compares your results with age‑based norms and integrates data from interviews, rating scales, observations, and records. - Feedback session
You receive a clear explanation of findings, diagnoses if applicable, and time for questions. - Written report
The report summarizes results in accessible language, outlines accommodations, and gives an action plan. Schools, colleges, testing agencies, or employers can use this to consider supports such as extended time, reduced distractions, note‑taking help, or communication coaching. - Next steps
Recommendations may include therapy, coaching, medication consultation, school or workplace supports, or community resources for social skills and daily living.
How to Prepare
- Sleep well and eat a balanced breakfast
- Take prescribed medications as usual unless your prescribing clinician advises otherwise
- Bring glasses, hearing aids, and relevant records
- For kids, explain that the visit is like brain puzzles and conversation, not a pass or fail test
- For adults, bring examples of challenges and successes from home and work to make feedback actionable
Why Choose SF Stress & Anxiety Center
At SF Stress & Anxiety Center, licensed psychologists and neuropsychologists provide comprehensive ADHD and autism evaluations for children, teens, and adults. We tailor testing to your questions, offer clear recommendations you can use right away, and coordinate with schools, physicians, and workplaces when you request it. If you are ready to get answers, schedule a call to start your neuropsychological testing process in the Bay Area or via secure telehealth intake.
