Category: Practice Information

Updates on Our New, Expanded Location!

We are excited to announce that we are now open in our new, expanded space! This larger space will allow us to see patients and clients more quickly and reduce wait times for appointments. Our new space is located in the Village Suites at 210 E. Street Road, Suite 3D, Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053. We are located on the 3rd floor, above Coldstone Creamery, Andale Latino Grill, and Panera Bread. When arriving to our office, follow the signs in the parking lot for Village Suites (to the left of the building when you enter from Street Road). There is plenty of free parking available between our office and Lucky Strike bowling alley next door. See our photos below for pictures of our space. We look forward to serving you in our new location!

Entrance to the building:

Main building lobby (take the elevator to the 3rd Floor and go to Suite 3D at the end of the hallway):

Entrance to Suite 3D (signs are coming!):

Our waiting room:

Dr. Manfredi’s Office:

Our therapy spaces:

Our testing spaces:

Looking forward to seeing you in our new space soon!

Urgent Message Regarding I-95 Highway Collapse

In Practice Information

Early in the morning of June 11, 2023, a fire caused the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 to completely collapse near the Cottman Avenue exit, while the southbound lanes buckled and are structurally unstable. As a result of this major roadway collapse, Interstate 95 is now closed in both directions between Woodhaven Road and Aramingo Ave indefinitely. It is expected to take months or more to repair this major highway. Since our office is located near the incident, we expect several potential complications for clients coming for in-person appointments:

Since all traffic will be diverted off of I-95 south at Woodhaven Road, which is near our office, we expect the immediate vicinity of our office (Woodhaven Road, Knights Road, Street Road, Route 1/Roosevelt Boulevard) to be highly congested. Please leave extra time when coming to an appointment at our office.
For those traveling to our office from points north on Interstate 95 south, you should still be able to exit at the Street Road exit. However, expect delays in the immediate vicinity (as described above).
For those traveling to our office on the PA Turnpike or Route 1, the Street Road exit remains open and is quite close to our office. However, expect delays and congestion.
For those traveling from Philadelphia and points south, Route 1/Roosevelt Boulevard is an alternate route, though heavy congestion is expected. You may also be able to cross over into NJ via the Ben Franklin or Walt Whitman bridges and take 295 or Route 130 north and cross back after passing the damaged area. Expect significant delays and leave a lot of extra time.
For therapy appointments, you can switch to a virtual appointment if needed. To change your appointment to virtual, please call or text (215) 515-2388 and we can make that change.
For evaluation appointments, we can conduct initial interview appointments and feedback sessions virtually if needed, though testing still needs to be done in-person. We can try to adjust the start time of your in-person testing appointment (based on availability) so that you can travel at a less congested time when feasible. Call or text our office at (215) 515-2388 and we will try to accommodate you.
In-person meetings, school observations, or other off-site services may be canceled or postponed if the travel time required for our staff will be excessive. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis and as additional information becomes available.

For more information about detours and alternative routes, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website here. This website will also provide updated information as it becomes available.

Health and Safety Procedures Updated 2-28-2022

In Practice Information

Updated February 27, 2022

Our office has reviewed health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local public health authorities. As the COVID-19 situation has changed and we seem to be moving into a more endemic phase, our office is revising our health and safety procedures, effective February 28, 2022. Please see below for our office’s new health and safety procedures.

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. In order to continue to serve our clients and patients, Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC has put in place the following preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our office. In order to participate in in-person appointments in our office, we ask that you read through this document carefully. By participating in an in-person appointment at our office, you acknowledge that you understand the risks of an in-person appointment and agree to the procedures below. Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC reserves the right to change or modify these procedures at any time in order to protect the health and safety of our patients, clients, and employees and/or to comply with local, state, or federal mandates or public health directives.

Masks Optional During Periods of Low to Moderate Risk

Our office will move to a “mask-optional” policy based on the level of risk in Bucks county. Under periods of low to moderate risk based on information from the CDC, masks will be optional for both employees and clients who come for in-person appointments. Masks will be required of all employees and clients during periods of high risk, based on the CDC data above.

If you or someone in your household has been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you let us know. During the first 5 days after exposure, appointments will either be conducted via telehealth or rescheduled. We ask that all employees and clients wear masks at all times in our office for 10 days following a potential COVID-19 exposure. If you test positive or show symptoms, please do not come for an in-person appointment until symptoms have resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of symptom-reducing medication or you have a negative COVID-19 test.

Continued Telehealth Appointment Options As Appropriate and Based on Preference

Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC will continue to continue to make telehealth appointments available for services that can be completed via telehealth. These services include, but are not limited to, therapy/counseling appointments, executive functioning/academic coaching appointments, psychological or neuropsychological testing interviews and feedback sessions, clinical and professional consultations, attendance at meetings, ASD diagnostic evaluations (for ages 3-7), and career assessments. Psychological, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological test administration will require in-person appointments; testing will not be administered virtually, with the exception of the specific types of assessment noted above.

Virtual appointments will be conducted using Sessions, Zoom, or SpruceHealth; all of these platforms are HIPAA-compliant in order to protect privacy and provide a high-level of security.

Due to state licensing laws, virtual appointments can only be conducted with clients/patients who are located within the states where the clinician is licensed or where PSYPACT has been approved and the clinician is a PSYPACT-approved provider (click here for more information).

School/Home Observations and Meeting Attendance

School and home observations will be conducted at the discretion of the clinician and the policies of the site. School observations may be canceled or discontinued at the clinician’s discretion. Our clinicians will continue to participate in meetings virtually as requested, in order to utilize our time most effectively.

Conclusion

We thank you for your continued support of our efforts to continue to serve our clients and patients while also adopting to new processes and procedures. We are attempting to balance the integrity and quality of our services, the needs of our clients and patients, and the health and safety of those we encounter in our work. We reserve the right to change or modify these procedures at any time as circumstances change or to comply with local, state, or federal mandates or public health guidance.

Revised Safety Protocols for In-Office Visits

In Neuropsychological Evaluations, Practice Information, Psychotherapy

Updated May 17, 2021

Our office recognizes the CDC’s recent guidance on lifting mask restrictions for vaccinated individuals. However, as a healthcare setting that serves many individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to age or health condition, as well as many individuals with underlying health conditions that may be more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, at this time our office will continue to require masks for all in-person appointments at all times. Please see below for our office’s health and safety procedures.

Effective May 1, 2021

Continued Telehealth Appointments As Appropriate

Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC will continue to continue to make telehealth appointments available for services that can be completed via telehealth. These services include, but are not limited to, therapy/counseling appointments, executive functioning/academic coaching appointments, psychological or neuropsychological testing interviews and feedback sessions, clinical and professional consultations, attendance at meetings, ASD diagnostic evaluations (for ages 3-7), ADHD screening evaluations, and career assessments.

Virtual appointments will be conducted using GoToMeeting (with SpruceHealth as a back-up, if necessary); both of these platforms are HIPAA-compliant in order to protect privacy and provide a high-level of security.

Due to state licensing laws, virtual appointments can only be conducted with clients/patients who are located within the states of PA, DE, AL (starting 6/1/2021), AZ, CO, DC, GA, IL, KY (starting 6/29/2021), MO, NE, NH, NV, NC, OH (starting 7/26/2021), OK, TX, UT, VA, WV (starting 7/6/2021), or NJ (temporary NJ license is valid only through 06/30/2021) at the time of service.

School/Home Observations and Meeting Attendance

At this time, we will not be conducting any school/home observations or visits or attending any off-site meetings in-person (though we are happy to participate virtually).

In-Office, Face-to-Face Appointments

Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC is offering limited, in-office appointments for psychological, diagnostic, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological testing, starting May 1, 2021. Additionally, we plan to allow in-person, face-to-face appointments for therapy starting July 1, 2021. The office will be using the following procedures:

We will continue to conduct certain parts of psychological, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological evaluations virtually, including interviews, rating scales, and feedback sessions, to minimize contact and exposure.
In-office appointments will be staggered to reduce the number of people in the office/waiting room at the same time, to allow for adequate time between appointments for cleaning, and to reduce airborne transmission of COVID-19.
We are resuming offering full-day appointments for psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations, which will also reduce the number of visits required and shorten wait times for these appointments.
We will continue to contact all clients and patients via email to screen for potential COVID-19 symptoms or exposures and provide informed consent for in-person appointments. It is very important that clients and patients (or their parents/guardians) respond to these screening questions and sign these documents. If we do not receive the answers to these screening questions prior to the appointment, the appointment will be canceled and rescheduling options will be offered. If anyone in the household has displayed any symptoms of COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to the appointment, a telehealth appointment will be offered (if possible) or the appointment will be rescheduled. Cancellation fees will be waived for appointments canceled for these reasons.
We continue to request that parents, guardians, and others who accompany a patient or client to an appointment wait in their cars in the parking lot or leave and return at the conclusion of the appointment. However, you may choose to wait in the waiting room at your own risk.
All clients and patients will be required to wear a mask at all times when in the office suite and throughout the entirety of the appointment. The clinician will also be wearing a mask for the entirety of the appointment.
There will be no in-person contact (e.g., handshakes). Live video monitors will be used to monitor those entering the office (no recordings will be made).
Psychological and neuropsychological testing will be completed face-to-face. Clinicians will be seated across the room from clients and patients in order to maintain social distancing. Masks will be worn at all times. Plexiglass shields and air purifiers will be used to minimize airborne transmission. Whenever possible, iPads will be used to administer tests in order to minimize the exchange of materials.
All test materials will be disinfected after each use. Furniture will also be wiped down with disinfectant after each appointment. Air purifiers will be kept in each room and run regularly. Additionally, the building cleaning services will be cleaning the office nightly.

Limitations to face-to-face appointments:

Appointments for therapy/counseling or evaluations/assessments may be discontinued if the client or patient is unable to maintain appropriate social distancing or use PPE. In these cases, we will discuss potential options via telehealth.
Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC cannot guarantee, nor do we promise, that evaluation results conducted remotely will be accepted by school districts, court systems, Social Security/Disability, Veterans Administration, etc. In fact, it is likely that these organizations will also be grappling with a new reality and their policies may change. We will attempt to keep up-to-date on changing policies of our referral sources and will do our best to meet their requirements. If you need an evaluation for a specific purpose, such as a disability claim or special education eligibility, please discuss your options with our office. In some cases, we may recommend waiting until evaluations can be conducted under standardized conditions, as we do not want to put our clients in the position of completing an evaluation that cannot be used for the intended purpose.

Conclusion

Office Re-Opening Procedures in the COVID-19 Era

In Neuropsychological Evaluations, Practice Information

Effective June 5, 2020; Most Recent Update January 12, 2021

Continued Telehealth Appointments As Appropriate

Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC will continue to hold telehealth appointments for all services that can be completed via telehealth. These services include, but are not limited to, all therapy/counseling appointments, executive functioning/academic coaching appointments, psychological or neuropsychological testing interviews and feedback sessions, clinical and professional consultations, attendance at meetings, ASD diagnostic evaluations (for ages 3-7), ADHD screening evaluations, career assessments.

We will not be conducting any school/home observations or visits or attending any off-site meetings in-person (though we are happy to participate virtually).

Due to state licensing laws, virtual appointments can only be conducted with clients/patients who are located within the states of PA, DE, AZ, CO, GA, IL, MO, NE, NH, NV, NC (starting 3/1/2021), OK, TX, UT, VA, or NJ (temporary NJ license is valid only through 02/28/2021) at the time of service.

Limited In-Office Appointments

Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC is offering limited, in-office appointments using the following procedures:

In-office appointments will only be offered for psychological or neuropsychological testing that cannot be completed remotely. All components of the evaluation that can be completed remotely (such as interviews, rating scales, and feedback sessions) will continue to be conducted via telehealth.
In-office appointments will be limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am-12:30 pm only to allow for adequate time between appointments for cleaning and to reduce airborne transmission of COVID-19. Because appointments will be limited in both frequency and duration, clients and patients may require between 2 and 4 visits to complete testing.
Prior to the appointment, all clients and patients will be contacted via phone and/or email to screen for potential COVID-19 symptoms or exposures and provide informed consent for in-person appointments. It is very important that clients and patients (or their parents/guardians) respond to these screening questions and sign these documents. If we do not receive the answers to these screening questions prior to the appointment, the appointment will be canceled and rescheduling options will be offered. If anyone in the household has displayed any symptoms of COVID-19, traveled outside of the area, or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to the appointment, the appointment will be rescheduled. Cancellation fees will be waived for appointments canceled for these reasons.
Upon arriving for an appointment, clients or patients should send a text to (215) 515-2388 to notify the evaluator. Please do not proceed to the office suite until the evaluator has responded and indicated that you may enter.
Parents, guardians, and others who accompany a patient or client to an appointment will not be permitted to enter the office suite or wait in the waiting room (with limited exceptions for young children or those who require assistance). We request that these individuals wait in their cars in the parking lot or leave and return at the conclusion of the appointment.
Upon entering the office suite, all patients and clients will be asked to use hand sanitizer and to proceed directly to the testing room, following the signs. All clients and patients will be required to wear a mask at all times when in the office suite and throughout the entirety of the appointment. The evaluator will also be wearing a mask for the entirety of the appointment.
The evaluator will remain in his or her office with the door closed when the client or patient enters the office suite. There will be no in-person contact (e.g., handshakes). Live video monitors will be used to monitor those entering the office (no recordings will be made).
Testing will be completed using a “remote, in-office” procedure. This means that the client/patient will complete the evaluation in the testing room, while the evaluator is located in another office in the office suite. Laptops, document cameras, live video monitors, and iPads will be used to administer tests, observe client and patient performance, and monitor the testing process. There will be no face-to-face contact between the evaluator and the client or patient.
All test materials will be disinfected after each use. Furniture will also be wiped down with disinfectant after each appointment. Air purifiers will be kept in each room and run regularly. Additionally, the building cleaning services will be cleaning the office nightly.

Limitations to remote, in-person testing:

Because the evaluator will be in a separate room, this type of testing process will be most appropriate for individuals who are able to sit at the computer and participate in the assessment for approximately 2-3 hours at a time. While breaks will be provided during that time as needed, individuals who require frequent prompting back to the task or who cannot remain at the workstation may need to discontinue the evaluation, as results may be invalid. Therefore, this evaluation process is likely most appropriate for individuals who are roughly age 10 and up. For younger individuals, or those who are unable to comply with these requirements, our office is happy to discuss assessment options via telehealth, though these may be more limited, or in-room support provided by a household member.
Evaluations may also be discontinued if the client or patient is unable to maintain appropriate social distancing or use PPE. In these cases, we will discuss potential options via telehealth.
Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting, LLC cannot guarantee, nor do we promise, that evaluation results conducted remotely will be accepted by school districts, court systems, Social Security/Disability, Veterans Administration, etc. In fact, it is likely that these organizations will also be grappling with a new reality and their policies may change. We will attempt to keep up-to-date on changing policies of our referral sources and will do our best to meet their requirements. Indeed, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued guidance on April 22, 2020 that evaluations for educational purposes that include IQ and academic achievement testing should be conducted in-person and postponed until it is safe to do so. If you need an evaluation for a specific purpose, such as a disability claim or special education eligibility, please discuss your options with our office. In some cases, we may recommend waiting until evaluations can be conducted in-person, as we do not want to put our clients in the position of completing an evaluation that cannot be used for the intended purpose.

Conclusion

We are living in an unprecedented time and our staff is doing our best to continue to serve our clients and patients while also adopting to new processes and procedures. We are attempting to balance the integrity and quality of our services, the needs of our clients and patients, and the health and safety of those we encounter in our work. We appreciate your patients with us through this transition period. Additionally, we reserve the right to change or modify these procedures at any time as circumstances change or to comply with local, state, or federal mandates or public health guidance.

Practice Updates Related to COVID-19 Outbreak

In Practice Information

Update April 3, 2020

Our office may be closed to in-person appointments, but Dr. Manfredi is available for limited virtual evaluation and consultation services, including ASD and ADHD diagnostic evaluations, screening evaluations, career assessments, and consultation services, including IEP/documentation reviews and virtual consultation meetings. Additionally, Dr. Manfredi is looking forward to completing additional training in order to continue to serve her patients and clients with services of the highest quality and integrity. Next, week, Dr. Manfredi will be completing her training on the Highlands Ability Battery, which will increase her ability to complete career assessments, both virtually and in-person (at a future date). She will also be completing training on the MIGDAS-2, a clinical interview designed to help assess for autism spectrum disorders throughout the lifespan. Dr. Manfredi is dedicated to continuously increasing her knowledge and skills to best serve her patients and clients. Please call the office at (215) 515-2388 or email us to see if a virtual evaluation or consultation service might be a good fit for you or your child.

Update March 29, 2020

The VA has allowed our office to complete mental health disability evaluations for veteran through telehealth during this pandemic. Our office will be working with Veterans Evaluation Services to schedule these appointments as soon as possible for veterans in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Our NODA platform for virtual autism spectrum disorder evaluations is now set up. We are happy to begin providing these evaluations so that services can be started without delay.

Effective March 23, 2020

The health and safety of our clients, patients, and staff is our highest priority. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused massive, unprecedented, and unpredictable disruptions to everyone’s lives and to our business and we are in the process of exploring options to continue to serve those we work with while balancing health and safety needs. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by COVID-19, their friends and family members, and the first responders and medical professionals who are putting themselves and their families at-risk everyday while fighting to save lives. As a result of this crisis, we’ve implemented the following policies and procedures. Please be aware that this list may be updated as situations and circumstances change. We invite you to follow our Facebook page, join our mailing list, or contact our office for additional information and updates.

All in-person appointments are canceled for the foreseeable future

In order to protect the health and safety of our patients, clients, and staff, all in-person appointments are canceled indefinitely. We will provide updates about our proposed reopening as they become available. Meetings, feedback sessions, and consultation appointments will move to a telehealth platform. Our office uses Regroup Connect, which is a HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom. Testing appointments will be canceled or modified (see below).

Staff will be working remotely

You will still be able to reach our office by calling (215) 515-2388 or sending us an email. We will do our best to respond within a timely manner, though our responses may occasionally fall outside of our normal business hours. Our postal mail is currently being forwarded.

Use of HIPAA-compliant technology platforms

Our office currently uses the following HIPAA-compliant technology platforms: Sprucehealth (for secure document transfer and communication via phone, fax, or text) and Regroup Connect (for live, virtual meetings and sessions). These platforms are all available via our home office, so you can reach us through any of these means. We will use the remote capabilities of our credit card processor, Affinipay, to collect payments securely. Dr. Manfredi is currently licensed in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, and, therefore, is eligible to provide telehealth services in both of these states. If you are in a different state, please contact us and we will determine eligibility, as many states have loosened restrictions on telehealth practices in light of the current crisis situation.

Changes to testing procedures

Most of our testing procedures require face-to-face administration in order to ensure reliable and valid data. We also recognize that these assessments are important and critical to accessing needed supports and services. Therefore, we are exploring methods of testing that have been validated for remote administration. We will not jeopardize our clients’ and patients’ access to needed services and supports or decrease the reliability of our professional judgment and diagnostic skills by administering assessments in a non-standardized, non-validated manner. At the same time, we have found several options that may serve our needs in the interim, with the goal of follow-up with in-person evaluations when it becomes safe to do so. Therefore, we will be offering the following:

For autism spectrum disorder diagnostic evaluations: Our office is currently in the process of training to administer the NODA Remote Autism Assessment Platform. This platform can be used for children ages 0-7 and allows families to securely submit videos of their children to the clinician. Our office will also conduct developmental history and clinical interviews via our telehealth platform and send rating scales electronically. Once all of this data is collected, it will be analyzed by a clinician and a comprehensive report will be written within 2-3 weeks. We will then conduct a feedback session to discuss the results via telehealth. We will be offering this evaluation for $750 and expect to have appointments available starting March 30, 2020. We are hoping that these evaluations will allow families in need of ASD diagnostic evaluations in order to obtain appropriate services and supports to get these evaluations in a timely and efficient manner. If we cannot make a diagnostic determination, or have reduced confidence in our diagnostic conclusions, we will offer families the opportunity to have in-person testing to confirm conclusions when it is safe to do so and at a greatly reduced rate. Unfortunately, this platform is only validated for use for children 7 and under; our office is still investigating options for evaluations for older individuals and will update this document as these become available.
For attention-deficit/hyperactivity diagnostic evaluations and neuropsychological evaluations: Our office is currently in the process of training to administer the CNS Vital Signs, a neuropsychological screening measure that can be completed remotely by individuals ages 8 to 89. Our office can send you a link and you can complete the assessment on your own (approximately 30-45 minutes in length). Our office will also conduct developmental history and clinical interviews via our telehealth platform and send rating scales electronically. Once all of this data is collected, it will be analyzed by a clinician and a comprehensive report will be written within 2-3 weeks. We will then conduct a feedback session to discuss the results via telehealth. We will be offering this evaluation for $750 and expect to have appointments available starting March 30, 2020. We are hoping that these evaluations will allow families in need of diagnostic evaluations in order to obtain appropriate services and supports to get these evaluations in a timely and efficient manner. For ADHD diagnostic evaluations: If we cannot make a diagnostic determination, or have reduced confidence in our diagnostic conclusions, we will offer families the opportunity to have in-person testing to confirm conclusions when it is safe to do so and at a greatly reduced rate. For neuropsychological evaluations: We will schedule further, in-person testing when it becomes safe to do so and will apply the amount paid to that evaluation.
NEW OFFERING: Career assessments: For the last several months, our office has been investigating career-based assessments that can be added to our current evaluations or done as stand-alone evaluations. We often hear from our families and patients that they need help identifying an appropriate career that aligns with their unique strengths and weaknesses. While this question is very common in the general population, it is of particular concern for those with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ASDs, ADHD, or learning disabilities. Therefore, our office is currently training to administer the Highlands Ability Battery, a comprehensive battery of work samples in multiple domains that can be linked to careers for individuals ages 16 and up. This evaluation can be completed remotely and is followed by an up to 2 hour results meeting to discuss findings and possible career options, which can be done via telehealth. You will receive a copy of your results for your records. Thus, we are pleased that we will be able to offer this evaluation at this time and will begin scheduling these evaluations in mid-April 2020. Our regular rate for these evaluations will be $500; however, because this area is an expansion of our previous services, we are offering these evaluations at $350 for a limited time.
NEW OFFERING: Screening evaluations/consultations: Screening evaluations are brief assessments that can help to determine whether further evaluation is warranted. While they do not take the place of a comprehensive evaluation, they are nevertheless useful in the interim while in-person evaluations are not feasible. These evaluations/consultations allow our staff to review history and administer some standardized tools (e.g., rating scales or brief screeners that can be completed remotely) and determine whether further evaluation is warranted or make limited recommendations for future directions. These services are offered at our hourly assessment rate of $225/hour for all time.

District-funded Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) postponed indefinitely

At this time, we will be suspending all of our school district-funded IEEs until the referring school district reopens. Alternatively, we may decide to proceed with the evaluation under the following conditions: 1) we are able to identify validated instruments for the assessment of intellectual functioning and academic achievement that can be administered remotely; and 2) the school district agrees to allow our office to conduct these assessments remotely. Additionally, all classroom observations or in-person meetings are suspended until we determine it is safe for our staff to attend. However, we are happy to participate in meetings via telehealth, when needed.

VA disability evaluations postponed indefinitely

Dr. Manfredi provides disability evaluations for veterans through Veterans Evaluation Services (VES). At this time, the VA and VES have not approved psychological evaluations to be conducted through telehealth. Should the use of telehealth procedures be approved, we will work with VES to schedule these evaluations.

Currently-scheduled appointments

Dr. Manfredi will be reaching out to all currently-scheduled clients and patients (or their parents) to discuss options for modified testing and/or rescheduling. We are also looking into ways to expand our hours and availability when we are able to reopen in order to ensure that we can reschedule in a timely manner.

Continued service offerings

Our office will continue to provide the current services via telehealth platforms:

Professional consultation: Consultation with other practitioners or organizations. Consultations include, but are not limited to: consultation regarding diagnosis and assessment, assessment-based service delivery and clinical practice, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), accommodating individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, program development and evaluation, and staff training. Rate: $175/hour
IEP/Prior assessment review and consultation: Dr. Manfredi is available to review IEPs and previous evaluations and make clinical recommendations. Rate: $175/hour for review of materials and consultation

Record/Documentation Review: Dr. Manfredi is available to review clinical documentation for legal/forensic cases, disability reviews, or other matters. Please contact the office to discuss further. Rate: varies depending on the nature of the review

Disclaimer

We are living in an unprecedented time and our staff is doing our best to continue to serve our clients and patients while also adopting new procedures. We appreciate your patience with us through this transition period. Additionally, because some of these are new procedures for us, we cannot guarantee, nor do we promise, that evaluation results conducted remotely will be accepted by school districts, court systems, Social Security/Disability, Veterans Administration, etc. In fact, it is likely that these organizations will also be grappling with a new reality and their policies may change. We will attempt to keep up-to-date on changing policies of our referral sources and will do our best to meet their requirements. If you need an evaluation for a specific purpose, such as a disability claim or special education eligibility, please discuss your options with Dr. Manfredi. In some cases, we may recommend waiting until evaluations can be conducted in-person, as we do not want to put our clients in the position of completing an evaluation that cannot be used for the intended purpose.

Thank you for your continued support of our business. We look forward to continuing to provide our clients and patients with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism during these uncertain times. Please feel free to call or email us with any questions that you may have or visit our website for additional information on our practice. We hope that you and your families stay safe and well during this crisis.

When to Consider a Psychoeducational or Neuropsychological Evaluation for your Child

In ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Education, Learning, Learning Disabilities, Neuropsychological Evaluations, Practice Information

Parents of children with special needs or those facing behavioral or emotional challenges are often told to have their children “evaluated.” Similarly, adults with learning differences or challenges, neurological injuries or illnesses, or behavioral and emotional concerns may be told to get an “evaluation.” But what will an evaluation tell you about your child (or yourself)? And when should you consider an evaluation for yourself or your child?

First and foremost, a psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation will help to determine whether there is a diagnosis that accounts for the difficulties the child is experiencing. A diagnosis can be helpful in identifying the nature of the problem, and suggesting possible helpful interventions, accommodations, or modifications. It can be a quick way of capturing what a child, adolescent, or adult is experiencing. Additionally, a diagnosis is often required for eligibility to certain types of programs and services, such as special education, behavioral/emotional services, or medical interventions. However, diagnostic labels are often limited. They tend to describe conditions and disorders in broad strokes, rather than the specific ways they are affecting a particular individual. They do not identify what cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and environmental factors have contributed to the development or maintenance of the condition. They also do not describe the individual’s unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses. Comprehensive psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations are individualized, and help to provide a thorough understanding of the individual being assessed. By understanding why an individual is having difficulties, how to help becomes clearer. Therefore, this in-depth understanding of the individual can help those providing treatment to be more targeted and specific in their interventions, and to choose interventions that are more likely to be effective.

Because they are more comprehensive, individualized, and in-depth, psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations can be useful in a number of circumstances. Some examples of situations where an evaluation may be helpful are listed below. This list is not all-inclusive; rather, it is designed to provide some common examples where evaluations may be useful:

The person is having difficulties in learning, memory, executive functioning, attention, behavior, and/or emotional functioning.
The person is suspected of having a specific condition (such as an autism spectrum disorder or learning disability), and testing is required to determine whether the disorder is present.
The person has shown a significant change in mood, behavior, or learning. These changes may suggest the onset of a condition in those without a history of difficulties. They may also suggest the onset of an additional condition, ineffectiveness of interventions, a change in course or severity, or an incorrect initial diagnosis in those who have been previously identified and evaluated.
The person has not responded to standard treatment or research-based educational interventions.
The child requires special education or related services.
An adolescent or adult requires accommodations or modifications in a college or job training program, standardized testing situation, or in an employment setting.
The person was previously evaluated, but the evaluation was not comprehensive, inadequate, or invalid.

In general, evaluations may be repeated every 2–3 years for children/adolescents in order to assess progress and update treatment recommendations. In some cases, re-evaluations may be unnecessary, especially if the condition has resolved and the person is no longer experiencing any difficulties. However, re-evaluations should be completed in shorter intervals if there is a major change in functioning, if the person has not responded to treatment or treatment has stalled, or if the person has a condition that is known to cause progressive deterioration in functioning.