How do you get an appointment with a neuropsychologist?

[geekparent]

Do you have to have a referral?

I tried to get my daughter one at the local children's hospital where she sees a "clinical specialist" and was told that seeing how she already has a diagnosis, they don't feel she needs to be seen?! What do I have to do to get her evaluated?

 

[JJJ]

Why do you want her to see a neuropsychologist?

What is her current diagnosis? Is she on medications? Is the "clinical specialist" a doctor or a therapist?

How old is she?

 

[gcvmom]

When I called to make our appointment, my position for wanting the evaluation was that I wanted to find out how my son's diagnosis might be impacting his ability to learn and what kind of supports would be best for him in school and at home. That was reason enough for the people at our local children's hospital to make the appointment for him.

 

[geekparent]

Why do you want her to see a neuropsychologist?

What is her current diagnosis? Is she on medications? Is the "clinical specialist" a doctor or a therapist?

How old is she?

I want her to see a neuropsychologist because she's never seen one. Her diagnosis of anxiety was done by a therapist, and the newer diagnosis of ADHD was done by the clinical specialist after having a school inventory checklist and home inventory checklist done.

Her diagnosis are anxiety and ADHD Impulsivity/Hyperactivity. She's on generic zoloft and concerta. The concerta worked fine for about 3 weeks and then she resorted back to acting out, screaming, hitting, kicking and having general meltdowns and tantrums at school. She's been put on behavioral probation and will be asked to leave the school if she has another "episode," which I know will happen eventually (it's a private school).

The clinical specialist is an RN whose trained to see and diagnosis children at the hospital. I was looking for a business card to put all those lovely letters up here, but can't find one.

Forgot to include: I want to be certain she has been diagnosis correctly. She's 7yo.

 

[gcvmom]

Her medications may not be right, or her diagnosis may not be right, or BOTH.

What does the clinical specialist say about the latest behavior issues?

 

[geekparent]

Her medications may not be right, or her diagnosis may not be right, or BOTH.

What does the clinical specialist say about the latest behavior issues?

He's the one who upped her Concerta when I first reported that she had gone back to the "old" behavior.

Of course, she's been placed on behavioral probation at school. The way it's going, she'll be "asked to leave" soon enough. Is getting kicked out of school enough to warrant a neuropsychologist evaluation?

 

[gcvmom]

Does she have a 504 plan or an IEP at school? Does the school understand about the issues you are struggling over with her right now?

So did she just go up to 27mg from 18, or is she now at 54mg? Are you saying that she's gotten worse, despite the bump in medications? If so, have you reported this to the clinical specialist? I'd be on the phone leaving multiple messages a day until they got her in to rethink the medications. And yes, any and all of these issues could warrant a neuropsychologist evaluation. Clearly, something's not working.

 

[geekparent]

No, there is no 504 or IEP because it's a private school and one was never offered or suggested to me (by her psychologist or the clinical specialist).

Yes, she just went up to 27mg to 18mg, and things are escalating out of control. I have left two messages for the clinical specialist, but he's not responded yet. I really, really want to get her a full neuropsychologist evaluation, but I can't seem to get either of the children's hospitals in the area to heed me because "she already has a diagnosis."

 

[smallworld]

Any way you can ask to take her off Concerta to see if her behavior improves? It's been known to happen.

 

[smallworld]

In addition, did the tantrums begin after she started taking generic Zoloft?

 

[jal]

Check either the internet or your phone book. You can have them done independently from a hospital, if you are running into roadblocks there. I found a practice of doctors for my difficult child when he was 4 yrs old. They did neuropsychs and forensic psychs. My insurance covered it. All we had to do was pay minimal co-pays. I probably should've waited until he was older, but it was a stepping stone for us and the interventions we've used.

 

[geekparent]

Check either the internet or your phone book. You can have them done independently from a hospital, if you are running into roadblocks there. I found a practice of doctors for my difficult child when he was 4 yrs old. They did neuropsychs and forensic psychs. My insurance covered it. All we had to do was pay minimal co-pays. I probably should've waited until he was older, but it was a stepping stone for us and the interventions we've used.

What do you look under on the internet or in the phone book? I've tried looking and didn't find anything. Maybe I wasn't looking in the right place.

 

[geekparent]

In addition, did the tantrums begin after she started taking generic Zoloft?

No, the tantrums and meltdowns were there from before we (finally) got someone to listen to us and not blame all of her issues on our horrible parenting skills (not in so many words, but that's what it came down to). She was having them at school and I think having her teachers back us up helped get us to at least not be told that we needed to learn to parent.

The tantrums temporarily went away when she started the zoloft back in November, but then came back with a vengeance at the end of January. That was when she was put on Concerta. Then February was good with no incidents and boom! The last week in February, it was all backsliding and slippery slope, back to the old behavior except worse.

Now here we are, with the Concerta upped for only four days and she's terrible. It's been a constant warzone all night with everything leading to arguments and tantrums and "I hate you" and screaming.

 

[smallworld]

So do the tantrums only occur at night when the Concerta is wearing off?

 

[geekparent]

So do the tantrums only occur at night when the Concerta is wearing off?

No, they first started up again, last week, during school when the Concerta was supposed to be still in her body. One of them started at 9 in the morning!

 

[smallworld]

How much generic Zoloft is she taking?
Have you thought about discontinuing the Concerta to see if she does better? It can make pre-existing anxiety worse.

 

[jal]

I typed in neuropsychologists in (the state where you live). I came up with 9 independents as a start.

 

[agee]

Concerta made my son very depressed. He was only on it about 2 days before we took him off. I have no doubt he would've acted like your daughter had we kept him on. As it was he just went around looking like there was a black cloud over his eyes.
As for the neuropsychologist exam - we are in the midst of ours and basically, all I did was look up "neuropsychologist" in google along with our address. First we saw a neuropsychiatrist for a full exam and a new diagnosis (difficult child's was previously ADHD/ODD but now it's different and I think it will change as we're trying new things) and when I asked for a neuropsychologist exam for school they hooked me up. It's a private clinic and very expensive but we're working it out. I am much happier with this practice than with our previous doctors since they seem to be much more holistic and experienced with kids like mine.
Good luck.
A

 

[JJJ]

If you can get the clinical specialist to refer you for neuropsychologist testing, that would be the fastest route. Or, if she needs to be hospitalized, INSIST on the testing while she is in-patient.

 

[DaisyFace]

if she needs to be hospitalized, INSIST on the testing while she is in-patient.

Based on my experience...all my "insisting" ws useless. difficult child was never given thorough neuropsychologist testing while hospitalized.

I wouldn't necessarily count on a hospital stay to get testing done.