Neuropsychological eval

[concernedmom2]

My daughter has simple/complex seizures. They haven't been under control for more than 2 months at a time. She is starting to show some difficulties in school. Someone suggested a Neuropsycologist. Has anyone had their child tested like this? Has it helped? Did it make the school listen?
Thanks.

[Porkette]

Hi concernedmom,

I had to have neuropsych. testing done before I had my brain surgery and just like your daughter I have complex partial, simple partial and absence sz. The testing was easy and the Dr. was able to find what areas of my brain were being affected from the epilepsy as well as what area of my brain was the most active. Just like your daughter I had a hard time in high school because of the sz. med making me so tired and hard to consentrate. From my personal experience I feel that the neurpsych. testing will be helpful to your daughter as the Dr. finds out what's going on and he can see her concentration and how her short term memory is also. I wish you and your daughter only the best and May God Bless You Both!

Sue

[Mark in Idaho]

I have had three NeuroPsych Assessments. The important issue is to try to find a NeuroPsych (PhD preferred over PsychD) that specializes or has a special interest in pediatrics and seizures. Some NP's have a big stack of biases that can skew the interpretation of the results.

Get as much referral information as you can so you get the best results possible. Maybe an Educational Psychologist would be a start for a good referral.

[Wren]

I've had a neuropsych evaluation three times .... several months before first surgery, exactly 6 months after first surgery and then again - exactly 6 months after second surgery. It's long, hard work but the revealing results are worth it.

It could tell you (and the school and her neuros) so very much about her.

The cost is staggering ....... my insurance paid every cent. I hope yours will too.

[concernedmom2]

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I always feel like im running in circles, chasing my own invisable tail. Her teachers are sure something is going on and it only seems to be getting worse. We are going to go forward with the eval (after we find the right Dr.). Fingers crossed it will give us something to work with.

[Darlene]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at a time like this. Give you girl a big hug for me. My epilepsy developed while I was in the 4th grade, and believe me it was hard for me. So as long as she stays positive in everyday life she will make it. Please keep us up to date on her.