Frequently Asked Questions

As a courtesy, our office may call your insurance company to see if the evaluation is billable, but verbal verification of benefits by us does not guarantee complete coverage of services rendered. Medicare, Tricare, Health Plus, and Value Options typically cover the evaluation in full. Other insurances, like Blue Cross and Humana, generally cover most of the evaluation, depending on your health coverage and if your deductable has been met. Note: We accept many different types of insurance including several not listed here.

During a neuropsychological evaluation, you take a series of tests. These tests are not like the ones you may have taken in school; there is no pass or fail. Instead, neuropsychological tests look at the brain's ability to carry out a function (such as language, memory, perception, or attention). Different tests measure different functions. Each function is linked to a specific area of the brain. If you do well overall, but do poorly on a few tests that measure the same function, the neuropsychologist knows which area of your brain is not working properly.

An evaluation may be brief or may last several hours. Some tests may seem easy and others may be hard. Usually, both easy and hard tests are given to see how you do on different levels. Some of the tests will be timed; others will not. Some tests may ask you to think in a way that you are not used to thinking, or do things that you haven't done in a long time.

Once the evaluation is complete, the neuropsychologist will examine the results. The results of your tests are compared with the results of people the same age who have a similar background. If you've been tested before, the neuropsychologist will compare the new results with your results on earlier tests. The neuropsychologist then writes a report. If the results show that one area of your brain is not functioning normally, the report will say that. The report may include recommendations for further treatment, for job retraining, or for retesting at a later date.

The length of the appointment is determined by several factors including the nature of the questions asked. Some appointments last for approximately 4 hours, while other appointments last a full day, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (with an hour lunch break around 12:00 p.m.). You will be given an estimate of the length of your appointment when it is scheduled.

We do not perform any invasive tests at our office. The testing will consist of paper and pencil tests, tests completed on a computer, and interview like questions.

Bring your glasses, hearing aides, and other assistive devices you typically use, as well as a list of your medications and any pertinent medical records you may have. Also bring the completed paper work that was mailed to you in your appointment packet. Bring all insurance cards, and if you have a copayment, bring it in the form of a check. Drinks and food may also be brought.

No unusual preparation is necessary. It is best to rest well the night before so that you will be at your best. If you are on medication, continue to take it as prescribed.

If your evaluation is a full day you will have a one-hour lunch break. There is a cafe on campus close to our office, and the hospital has a full cafeteria. There are also other restaurants in close proximity to the hospital. It is important that you eat something in order to perform your best. You may also bring a lunch with you and eat in our waiting room.

Our office will forward your report to the referral source. We do not typically send a patient's report directly to them. Your referral source will go over the report with you at your next appointment and encorporate the results with your other health information. At your request, a feedback appointment can be scheduled with Dr. Pinkston should you like him to go over the evaluation results with you in more detail. Feedback appointments generally take approximately 15-30 minutes.