Neuropsychological and Psychological Testing Service

About the service

The Neuropsychological and Psychological Testing Service at McLean Hospital offers diagnostic testing and comprehensive evaluations of cognitive abilities (e.g., memory, concentration, problem solving, language, etc.), emotional functioning, and personality.

We also offer accommodations testing, specializing in evaluations for students with academic or learning difficulties who are seeking accommodations at school or for standardized college and/or graduate school exams, such as SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT.

Part of Mental Health and Psychiatric Services

Neuropsychological and psychological testing

Neuropsychological and psychological testing is available to individuals ages 16 and older with a variety of conditions. We offer culturally sensitive assessments in Spanish.

Evaluations are particularly useful for complex cases, understanding the relationship of coexisting conditions, and helping to separate and rule out conflicting diagnoses.

Testing can also help to clarify complex diagnostic questions, guide treatment decisions, and assist clinical teams with medication and treatment recommendations. In cases where individuals may not be progressing in treatment, evaluations can help identify cognitive and emotional issues affecting their progress and assist clinicians in adjusting treatment plans accordingly.

Our service is beneficial for those who:

• Have impaired cognitive functions due to medical, neurological, neurodegenerative, and/or mental health issues
• Have emotional issues affecting their functioning
• Are not progressing in mental health care and seek to identify complicating factors
• Have experienced cognitive decline due to stroke, brain injury, substance misuse, or other traumas

For adults with conditions like Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s, MS, or epilepsy, evaluations help identify cognitive strengths, weaknesses, and patterns to guide treatment and support for patients, their caregivers, and treatment teams.

For individuals with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, cognitive and psychological testing can guide treatment and medication decisions.

We conduct assessments via interviews, paper-and-pencil tests, and some computerized tasks, overseen by our experienced neuropsychologists. The evaluation includes formal, objective measures and evaluates symptoms and diagnoses, such as neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia), mood and personality disorders, psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia), and impaired cognitive function.

Our evaluations are conducted on an outpatient basis and can vary in length, with the option to break them into multiple sessions if needed. Each evaluation is tailored to the individual and their specific concerns.

Accommodations testing

Each standardized test organization is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide accommodations to students with documented needs.

Accommodations are alterations in the way tasks are presented, allowing students with academic or learning difficulties to complete assignments on equal terms with others. They do not alter the content of assignments, give students an unfair advantage, or change what a test measures. Accommodations enable individuals to demonstrate their abilities.

Our self-pay testing service is conducted on an outpatient basis and can take 4 to 6 hours, though it may be broken into two days if needed.

The assessments involve interviews, paper-and-pencil tests, and some computerized tasks, all administered and interpreted by our experienced neuropsychologists. We also review academic history, reports of past evaluations, and documentation of current and past accommodations.

Based on the evaluation results, we will provide specific documentation to support accommodation requests.

Accommodations testing is available to individuals ages 16 and older. It is best suited for students who:

• Have been diagnosed with an academic disability or suspect they have one and are seeking accommodations for standardized exams
• Have ADHD, learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia), acquired brain injuries from concussions, or psychiatric issues that may impact school performance

Most college-age students seeking evaluation have already been diagnosed and typically receive academic accommodations. Those applying for standardized exams (e.g., SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, GMAT, LSAT) will need a recent re-evaluation tailored to the specific exam’s requirements. Each exam has distinct criteria for the evaluative instruments it accepts when considering accommodation requests.

Types of accommodations

Accommodations fall into six categories, determined by the student’s specific needs and history and assessed through testing.

• Presentation: Large print, fewer items per page, reading test instructions aloud, repetition of instructions
• Response: Verbal answers, dictating responses to a scribe or speech-to-text software, using a computer (with or without spell check), or writing answers directly in the test booklet
• Time: Frequent breaks, extended time for test completion
• Location: Special lighting or acoustics, minimal distractions, preferential seating.
• Scheduling: Changing the order of subtests, testing at a specific time, or spreading sections over different days
• Other: Test preparation, snacks during breaks, on-task prompts, or other reasonable adjustments tailored to the student’s needs

The nature and extent of accommodations are dependent on evaluation results.