Frequently Asked Questions
Neuropsychological evaluations can feel unfamiliar, and it is normal to have questions before scheduling.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about services at Red Pine Neuropsychology.
General Questions
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A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of thinking and cognitive functioning.
Depending on the reason for referral, testing may examine areas such as:
Attention
Memory
Processing speed
Language
Executive functioning
Visual-spatial abilities
Problem-solving
Emotional and behavioral factors
The goal is not simply to generate test scores. The evaluation is used to understand the pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses and how those findings relate to the concerns you are experiencing.
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Red Pine Neuropsychology specializes in adult evaluations involving:
Adult ADHD
Memory loss and cognitive change
Mild cognitive impairment
Dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions
Traumatic brain injury
Stroke
Epilepsy
Other neurological or medical conditions affecting cognition
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No. Red Pine Neuropsychology specializes in adult evaluations.
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No. The practice is focused on psychological and neuropsychological assessment rather than ongoing psychotherapy.
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No. Self-referrals are welcome.
You may contact the practice directly if you are interested in an evaluation.
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No.
Many people seek an evaluation specifically because the cause of their symptoms is unclear.
ADHD Evaluations
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Yes.
Many adults are not evaluated for ADHD until adulthood, particularly if they were able to compensate for symptoms earlier in life.
A diagnosis requires evidence that symptoms are consistent with ADHD and that they are not better explained by another condition.
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Yes.
Strong academic performance does not rule out ADHD.
Some adults compensate through high ability, strong structure, intense effort, parental support, perfectionism, or reliance on deadlines.
The more important question is not simply whether someone succeeded, but how much effort and compensation were required to maintain that success.
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No.
School records, report cards, or prior evaluations can be helpful when available, but they are not required.
A detailed developmental history and other available information can still be used to evaluate childhood symptoms.
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No.
ADHD is a clinical diagnosis and cannot be established by a single cognitive test.
Diagnosis is based on the overall pattern of:
Developmental history
Current symptoms
Functional impairment
Standardized questionnaires
Clinical interview
Cognitive testing when appropriate
Consideration of alternative explanations
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That is one of the reasons a comprehensive evaluation can be useful.
Problems with attention, motivation, memory, and organization can occur in ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, trauma-related conditions, medication effects, and other conditions.
The goal is to determine which explanation best fits the evidence.
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That can still be valuable information.
The evaluation may help identify other factors contributing to the difficulties you are experiencing and provide recommendations for what to do next.
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That depends on the purpose of the evaluation and your individual circumstances.
Instructions can be discussed before the appointment.
Do not stop or change a prescribed medication without guidance from the prescribing clinician.
Memory & Cognitive Evaluations
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Some changes in memory and processing speed are common with age.
More concerning changes are those that:
Represent a clear decline from previous abilities
Are becoming progressively worse
Interfere with daily functioning
Are noticeable to other people
Affect important activities such as medication management, finances, or driving.
Neuropsychological testing can help distinguish expected age-related changes from patterns that warrant further evaluation.
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In a sense.
Dementia is a classified as a neurodegenerative condition—a progressive brain disease that typically cannot be determined with absolute certainty until autopsy. When a pattern of cognitive impairment is identified to a point where it is disrupting everyday functioning, a diagnosis of Major Neurocognitive Disorder is provided. The probable cause of the Major Neurocognitive Disorder is then assessed. When a neurodegenerative condition such as Alzheimer’s disease (a type of dementia) is thought to be likely, the diagnosis is classified as “Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to Probable Alzheimer’s disease,” and the individual is then provided with treatment for that condition.
Interestingly, studies show that neuropsychological assessment is able to identify probable dementia with greater accuracy than other medical tests (such as brain scans). As such, neuropsychological assessment is considered the gold standard for diagnosing dementia, particularly when used in conjunction with other data points, such as the patient’s known medical history, neurological examination, laboratory studies, imaging, and other information.
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Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, refers to measurable cognitive decline that is greater than expected for age but does not yet substantially interfere with independent daily functioning.
It is different from dementia, which involves cognitive decline significant enough to interfere with everyday independence.
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Often, yes.
A spouse, adult child, or another person who knows the patient well can provide useful information about:
When changes began
How symptoms have progressed
Changes in daily functioning
Safety concerns
Personality or behavioral changes
Testing itself is typically completed individually.
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This is still useful to know.
Normal results may provide reassurance, identify non-neurological contributors such as sleep or mood, and establish a baseline for future comparison if concerns change over time.
Other Neuropsychological Evaluations
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Yes.
Neuropsychological testing may help identify cognitive changes following traumatic brain injury and clarify how attention, memory, processing speed, or executive functioning have been affected.
However, testing is interpreted in the context of the broader clinical history and cannot, by itself, prove that a specific injury occurred.
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Yes.
Testing can help identify which cognitive abilities have been affected and which remain relatively strong.
Results may help guide rehabilitation, compensatory strategies, return-to-work planning, and other recommendations.
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Yes.
Neuropsychological testing can help characterize cognitive strengths and weaknesses in individuals with seizure disorders and may provide useful information as part of broader neurological care.
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No.
If imaging has already been completed, those records may be helpful, but imaging is not required before contacting the practice.
The Evaluation Process
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Most evaluations include:
A detailed clinical interview
Standardized cognitive testing
Review of relevant records when available
Scoring and interpretation
A feedback session
A written report
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The length of testing depends on the type and complexity of the evaluation.
Focused evaluations may take less time than comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations.
More specific information about expected appointment length will be provided before scheduling; however, most patients should plan to set several hours aside for their evaluation.
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No.
You do not need to study or practice for cognitive testing.
The goal is to understand how you currently think and function.
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Depending on the evaluation, it may be helpful to bring:
Glasses or contact lenses
Hearing aids
A current medication list
Relevant medical records
Prior evaluations
Water and snacks
Any paperwork requested before the appointment
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Yes.
Breaks can be taken as needed, particularly during longer evaluations.
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Yes.
A support person may accompany you to the appointment and attend the clinical interview with your consent.
For memory evaluations, family involvement during part of the interview is often helpful.
However, the testing portion of the evaluation (which begins after the initial clinical interview) must be completed individually.
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Service animals are welcome at Red Pine Neuropsychology. To help ensure that testing results are as accurate as possible, the animal should be well controlled, housebroken, and unlikely to disrupt the evaluation through frequent barking, movement, or other behavior.
If needed, we can take a brief break during testing so you can take your service animal outside.
If an animal becomes disruptive during the evaluation and the disruption cannot be resolved, testing may need to be paused or rescheduled.
Emotional support animals may be permitted depending on building policy and the circumstances of the appointment. If you plan to bring an emotional support animal, please contact the practice in advance so arrangements can be confirmed.
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Usually not.
Test results must be scored, interpreted, and integrated with the clinical history before meaningful conclusions can be discussed.
Results are discussed during the feedback session, which is typically scheduled a week or two after the initial evaluation.
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Yes.
You will receive a written report summarizing the findings, clinical conclusions, and recommendations.
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Yes.
With your written authorization, the report can be shared with physicians or other healthcare providers involved in your care.
Fees & Insurance
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The fee for a focused adult ADHD evaluation is:
$895
The fee for a comprehensive adult ADHD evaluation with more extensive neuropsychological assessment is:
$1,500
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The fee for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is:
$2,500
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For private-pay evaluations:
50% of the total evaluation fee is due when the testing appointment is confirmed.
The remaining 50% is due before the written report is released.
The feedback session may occur before the remaining balance has been paid in full.
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A $350 fee is charged for a no-call/no-show appointment.
Because neuropsychological evaluations require a substantial block of time to be reserved specifically for each patient, please contact the practice as soon as possible if you need to reschedule.
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Red Pine Neuropsychology is currently a primarily private-pay practice.
However, the practice is in the process of enrolling with Medicare for qualifying neuropsychological evaluations.
Until enrollment is complete and an effective date has been confirmed, patients should not assume that services can be billed to Medicare.
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Depending on your insurance plan, you may have out-of-network benefits.
When appropriate, a superbill can be provided for you to submit to your insurance company.
Reimbursement is determined by your insurer and cannot be guaranteed.
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HSA and FSA funds may often be used for psychological and neuropsychological services.
Because plans vary, you may wish to confirm eligibility with your plan administrator.
Scheduling & Contact
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You can begin by submitting a request for evaluation through the website.
You do not need to know exactly which type of evaluation you need before contacting the practice, and a free phone consultation can be provided to determine the appropriateness of an evaluation if needed.
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Red Pine Neuropsychology is located in Farmington, Utah, inside the Regus building located at:
775 N 1525 W STE 213
Farmington, UT 84025-4815Parking is available behind the building on the west side, including ADA-accessible spaces.
Once you arrive on the second floor, please check in with the receptionist. Dr. Cline will come out shortly to greet you and escort you to the office.
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Red Pine Neuropsychology serves adults throughout Davis County and the greater Salt Lake City area.
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Existing patients can use the secure Client Portal for forms, messages, appointments, and other clinical communication.
Still have questions?
If you do not see your question answered above, you are welcome to contact Red Pine Neuropsychology before scheduling.