A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of how your child thinks, learns, and processes information. It looks at many areas — including IQ, attention, executive functioning, learning and memory, language, visual reasoning, motor skills and social-emotional functioning. Some evaluations may also include assessment of reading, writing, or math skills.

A school evaluation is focused on a narrower question: does this child qualify for special education services? It typically looks at academic skills and may not explore why a child is struggling. A neuropsychological evaluation digs deeper to understand the underlying reasons behind what you are seeing. It can also provide medical diagnoses (such as ADHD or autism) — something a school evaluation cannot do.

If you have concerns about your child's learning, attention, behavior, or development that have not been fully answered, connecting with Dr. Rau for a brief 15-minute consultation is a good place to start. Trust your instincts — parents often notice things first.

Some families may be referred by their pediatrician or a specialist (like a neurologist or developmental pediatrician) because the medical professional raises concerns. A referral is not necessary, however.

The full evaluation process — from intake interview to feedback session — typically spans several weeks. Testing itself is usually done over one to two days (sometimes more for complex presentations), with each session lasting three to five hours. The time between testing and your feedback session allows for thorough analysis, record review, and report writing. I do not rush this process, because a careful evaluation produces better answers for your child.

I do not take insurance—this is a private pay (also called "out-of-network") practice.

Insurance companies place significant restrictions on what evaluations can include, how long they can take, and what questions they can address. They require prior authorization and set limits on testing time. Following these rules would mean doing less thorough evaluations — and that is not something I am willing to do for the children and families I work with.

By working outside of insurance, I can spend the time your child actually needs — not the time an insurance company approves. Every hour of testing, every recommendation in the report, and every minute of our feedback session is driven by your child's needs, not a billing code.

That said, many families are able to get partial reimbursement through their out-of-network benefits. I provide a superbill (an itemized receipt with the codes your insurance company needs) upon request that you can submit directly to your insurer. I encourage you to call the member services number on your insurance card before we begin, to ask about your out-of-network benefits for neuropsychological testing.

Please contact me directly for current fee information. Fees vary depending on the scope of the evaluation and the complexity of your child's needs.

Under the federal No Surprises Act, self-pay patients are entitled to receive a written Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of expected charges before scheduled services and on request.

Most children handle the evaluation setting surprisingly well. I encourage parents to frame it honestly but positively: something like, "You're going to meet with a doctor who will do some activities and puzzles with you to better understand how your mind works. It is not like a school test — you cannot fail."

I work hard to make testing sessions feel safe and low-pressure. Children are given breaks, the pace is adjusted to their needs, and I do everything I can to make the experience a positive one. If your child has significant anxiety or specific needs, please let me know so we can plan ahead.

Only with your written permission. Your family's privacy is protected, and no information is shared without your explicit consent. That said, I am happy to communicate directly with your child's school team, therapist, or pediatrician when that would be helpful — many families find this coordination makes a real difference in getting recommendations put into action.

I provide in person testing services in Maryland, and telehealth services for other components of the evaluation primarily in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia.

If you live outside these areas and are interested in working with Rau Neuropsychology, please send a message to Inquiry@RauNeuropsychology.com or call our office at 301-450-8866 to discuss if we can provide services in your state.