CONSULTATION
Dr. Mukherjee provides neuropsychological consultations for individuals, families, and other professionals, including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists. Consultations include reviewing prior medical, psychiatric, vocational, and educational records in order to answer questions such as: whether further consultations should be sought with other specialists, whether a Neuropsychological Evaluation is recommended, and the benefits of such an evaluation.
Dr. Mukherjee adopts an active problem-solving approach during the consultation to understand the findings and inform educational, vocational, and treatment planning.
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Dr. Mukherjee uses a battery of standardized measures to assess the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning of preschool and school-age children, adolescents, and adults. These evaluations can be used to help diagnose or rule out different conditions as well as to describe the impact of a condition on a person’s functioning in a variety of environments (e.g., school, home, social, job).
Reasons for Neuropsychological Evaluation:
Neurological conditions such as hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizures), neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, or a brain tumor
A brain injury as a result of an accident, concussion, or infection
Other medical problems that place a child or adult at an increased risk of brain injury such as certain genetic disorders or treatment for cancer
Exposure to toxins such as lead, street drugs, and inhalants or to alcohol prior to birth
A neurodevelopmental diagnosis (e.g., Autism) that requires a comprehensive evaluation
To assess developmental delays for early intervention purposes
To assist in discerning the presence and type of Learning Disability
To assist in diagnosing ADHD
To help with educational planning – make decisions about schools and services through Individualized Education Program that will be a good fit for the child
To determine if one may qualify for accommodations and modifications for standardized tests (e.g. SAT, MCAT) or in college
Admission to specialized schools
Areas of Assessment in Neuropsychological Evaluation:
Attention/concentration
Intellectual functioning
Executive functions (i.e., planning ability, shifting, inhibiting unwanted responses, organizing, modulating emotions, etc.)
Language processing (i.e. both expressive and receptive language abilities)
Memory (i.e. visual and verbal)
Visual-spatial reasoning
Sensory perception
Visual-motor integration and Fine-motor skills
Academic skills (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic)
Social/emotional functioning
Adaptive Functioning Skills
Steps Involved in Neuropsychological Evaluation:
The first step of the neuropsychological assessment is an in-depth clinical interview (approx 1.5 hours) with the parents or adults, which consists of a comprehensive history and review of all available medical, psychiatric, vocational, and educational records. Prior to the meeting, parents/adults are asked to complete questionnaires to provide information about background and current functioning.
For the evaluation of children/adolescents, behavior rating forms are given to parents and sent out to the teachers.
Testing is conducted over two, half-day sessions, typically from 9:00 – noon. For younger children, the session will be shorter and may require an additional day. Dividing the testing sessions into two days avoids the fatigue and stress that can accompany all-day evaluations. For adults, the timings can be adjusted depending on their needs.
Telephone contacts may be made with professionals either currently working or who have previously worked with the patient.
Once all of this is completed, a face-to-face feedback session is held with parents or adults to review the findings of the evaluation, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations.
After this meeting, a full report is written, detailing the reason for the testing, the history, the tests used, the results, the diagnostic impression, and finally, the recommendations for interventions.
Follow-up consultations with professionals (e.g., school personnel, therapists, and/or other agencies) and referral resources (e.g., therapists, speech pathologists, reading specialists) are provided if needed.