FAQs

The evaluation day typically lasts between 4 and 8 hours, including a lunch break and short rest breaks as needed. Because session lengths can vary, we ask that examinees keep the entire day free of other appointments or commitments. Please also arrange for any caregiving needs in advance (e.g., childcare or elder care), as CFNA is unable to accommodate these on-site.

Arrival and Orientation

The day begins when the examinee is greeted by the CFNA practice manager, who will provide a brief tour of the office, including the location of restrooms, the kitchen, coffee and tea, and common areas available during breaks. The examinee will then be escorted to Dr. Mangassarian’s office, where any necessary paperwork will be reviewed and signed. If English is not the examinee’s primary language, a professional interpreter may also be present in the room to assist with the evaluation. To preserve accuracy and impartiality, the examinee’s loved ones are not able to serve as interpreters.

Clinical Interviews

Dr. Mangassarian will then conduct a thorough clinical interview with the examinee and, when possible, a collateral informant (such as a family member or close friend). This interview may last up to two hours and is focused on gathering detailed background information, including medical, educational, occupational, and psychiatric history, as well as the impact of any cognitive or emotional changes on daily functioning. If a collateral informant is present, they may be asked to complete additional questionnaires following the interview, after which they are welcome to leave or wait in our office’s common areas.

Neuropsychological Testing

The examinee will then complete one-on-one neuropsychological testing with Dr. Mangassarian in a quiet, private office. Testing is a non-invasive process conducted while seated at a desk or table and often feels like completing a series of games and puzzles. Tasks may include paper-and-pencil activities, computerized/iPad exercises, or a combination of both, designed to measure different areas of cognition.

To protect test integrity, standardization, and security, no additional individuals are permitted in the testing room, except for a professional interpreter when required. Audio and video recording of this portion of the evaluation is not permitted under any circumstances.

Neuropsychological tests are standardized, meaning that they are given in the same manner to all patients and scored in a similar manner time after time. An individual’s scores on tests are interpreted by comparing their score to that of healthy individuals of a similar demographic background (i.e., of similar age, education, gender, and/or ethnic background) and to expected levels of functioning. Scores are compared with normative samples that resemble those of the patient’s background as closely as possible. In this way, a neuropsychologist can determine whether one’s performance on any given task represents a strength or weakness.

No.  There is nothing you need to study before your neuropsychological evaluation.  Unlike a school exam, these tests are not measuring what you have learned or memorized. They are designed to reflect how your brain is currently functioning in real life, so practicing or looking things up beforehand would not improve your results and may actually make them harder to interpret accurately.

• Plan on bringing an adult family member or friend who knows you well so they can provide additional information about your history, and current concerns.
• Only the examinee can be in the room during the testing administration portion of the appointment. As such, please do not bring anyone to the appointment who cannot care for themselves (e.g., children, elderly dependent).
• The evaluation day can be anywhere from 4-8 hours. Please DO NOT schedule any other appointments on the day of your evaluation.
• Bring a current list of your medications and their dosages.
• Bring your reading glasses or hearing aids.
• Copies of any relevant medical records will be important to bring with you, if these have not been sent to our office ahead of time (e.g., MRIs, CT scans, previous neuropsychological testing reports, school records/most recent IEP plan).
• Please take your regularly prescribed medications, as scheduled. Avoid optional medications that cause drowsiness, such as pain killers, and allergy medications. It is advised to consult with your physician if you are currently taking any sleep or analgesic pain medication as it may interfere with your cognitive functioning on the day of testing.
• Do not consume alcohol, cannabis, or illicit substances 24 hours prior to your evaluation.
• Dress comfortably as you’ll be sitting most of the time.
• Please eat before the appointment, as the evaluation lasts several hours.
• Feel free to bring snacks, and a bagged lunch. There will be a one-hour lunch break. You may also purchase your lunch at any of the nearby restaurants and grocery stores.
• Bring a valid photo ID.
• Allow extra time for parking and the check-in process. Your evaluation will start promptly at the scheduled time.

Clinical neuropsychology is a specialty field within clinical psychology dedicated to understanding the relationship between brain and behavior, particularly as it applies to diagnosing brain disorders, assessing cognitive and behavioral functioning, and guiding effective treatment. Clinical neuropsychological evaluations are typically requested by healthcare providers who want a clearer picture of a patient’s thinking abilities in order to provide the best possible care. They may also be used to examine how a person is coping with medical symptoms, an injury, or an illness.

Forensic neuropsychological evaluations serve a different purpose. Rather than focusing solely on whether cognitive dysfunction is present, the forensic evaluation is designed to address a specific legal question, such as whether any identified dysfunction is causally related to a particular event (e.g., a motor vehicle accident or criminal proceeding). The forensic neuropsychologist may be called upon to provide expert testimony in court or to consult with legal teams or law enforcement.

Another key distinction lies in who requests the evaluation and who receives the results. In forensic cases, the requesting party is typically a third party, such as an attorney, insurance company, or court. As a result, findings are communicated to the requesting party rather than directly to the examinee. While the neuropsychologist must still adhere to professional and ethical standards, the examinee may not receive the results of the evaluation directly. Whether the findings are ultimately submitted to a court as evidence is at the discretion of the hiring party.

Clinical Neuropsychological Evaluations

Once the clinical evaluation is complete, the neuropsychologist prepares a comprehensive final report. This report includes the information provided by the examinee and/or an informant during the clinical interview, a review of all available records, behavioral observations, a summary of test findings, diagnostic conclusions, and any recommendations or referrals for care.

The final report is then sent to the referral source, to the examinee, and to any additional individuals the examinee has designated who are involved in providing medical or mental health care. Brief questions can be answered over the phone by the neuropsychologist, or if more extensive questions arise, a one-hour feedback appointment can be scheduled.

Forensic Neuropsychological Evaluations

In forensic cases, the process and communication of results follow a different path. The final report, which contains the same types of information as the clinical report (interview details, record review, behavioral observations, test findings, diagnostic conclusions, and recommendations), is submitted to the party who requested the evaluation, such as an attorney, insurance company, or court, rather than directly to the examinee.

Because the examinee is not the requesting party in a forensic evaluation, they generally will not receive a copy of the report or be invited to attend a feedback session, unless the requesting party has made specific arrangements for this to occur. The decision of whether to share the findings with the examinee rests with the requesting party. If the examinee has questions about the evaluation process, they are encouraged to contact the party who requested the evaluation.

Please see Fees