FAQ

FUN FACTS:

Did you know that your brain can’t feel any pain? There are no pain receptors in it.

What Should I Tell My Child Before the Visit?

Most children are just relieved to know that there won’t be any shots! Many parents like to tell their child a little about what they’ll be doing. Explain to them that they’ll be working with someone one-on-one and will be doing a lot of different things like answering questions, drawing, putting together puzzles, listening, playing games, and talking about the things they like and don’t like.

What Will the Neuro-psychological Report Tell Me?

You will review the results of the assessment at your feedback appointment, and a full report will follow.

The neuropsychological report will summarize your child’s history, the reason for the assessment, the results of the assessment, your child’s strengths and weaknesses and recommendations for home, school and other care providers.

What Happens in Therapy?

Parents and children work with their psychologist to find better ways of doing things, build skills, and solve problems you might be experiencing in everyday life. The  amount of parent involvement depends on the age of the child and reason for therapy.

FUN FACTS:

Every person has about 70,000 thoughts each day!

ASSESSMENT FAQ

What is a Neuropsychological Evaluation?

A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of your child’s cognitive abilities, or how well a child’s brain is processing information. We assess multiple domains of cognitive function including very broad areas such as intellectual abilities and academic achievement. We also assess more specific cognitive abilities such as verbal processing, nonverbal (or visual) processing, executive function (e.g., organization, behavioral regulation, planning, foresight, response inhibition, problem-solving, reasoning, sequencing, etc.), memory and different types of memory, attention and different types of attention, behavioral function and social-emotional function.

Will my Insurance Pay For the Assessment?

In many cases, your insurance will cover all or part of the assessment, but coverage varies by plan and by the insurance company.

How Do I Know if My Insurance Company Will Pay for the Testing?

We will be happy to contact your insurance company to determine your coverage for a neuropsychological assessment. You many click here to submit information we need to verify your benefits, call our billing and insurance office (HMS Midwest) at 219-926-8320, or call the Dirksen Center at 847-357-9158.

How do I Schedule an Appointment?

Call the Dirksen Center at 847-357-9158.

Will my Child have to Miss School?

Your child will probably need to miss 1 or 2 days of school in order to complete the assessment. We do not currently conduct assessments on Saturdays or in the evenings due to time constraints. Whenever possible, we are glad to schedule all or part of the assessment on a day that your child does not have school (e.g., institute day, school holiday).

Will I receive Paperwork to Complete Before the Appointment?
Yes. After you schedule an appointment, you will receive a packet of forms and information from the Dirksen Center. This packet includes demographic forms, consent to treat and bill your insurance company (if applicable), and an extensive pediatric history form. Parents are asked to complete as much as possible and then bring the information to the first appointment. Your neuropsychologist will review the material with you at that time.
What Should I Bring with me to the Assessment?
You should bring a drink and light snack for you and your child. We’ll take breaks to allow your child to rest for a bit, and they often appreciate a quick drink and a bite to eat. You should also bring anything that you would like to do during the time your child is in testing. The Dirksen Center has Wi-Fi available.
How should I prepare my Child for the Assessment?
The most important things are that your child is well-rested and has had a good breakfast or lunch. You cannot “study” for a neuropsychological assessment. In fact, we know that there will be some things that your child will not know how to do, and that’s OK. We’re interested in figuring out about your child’s strengths and weaknesses so that we can offer insight and assistance in addressing the questions that brought you to the Dirksen Center. The only thing a child needs to do is be prepared to give their very best effort – even on things they think are really hard or kind of boring!
What should I tell my Child about the Assessment?
Most children are just relieved to know that there won’t be any shots! Many parents like to tell their child a little about what they’ll be doing. Explain to them that they’ll be working with someone one-on-one and will be doing a lot of different things like answering questions, drawing, putting together puzzles, listening, and playing games. It doesn’t matter if they get answers right or wrong; it only matters that they always try their best. We are interested in seeing how your child does things, not necessarily if they get the correct answer.
What is the Process of the Assessment? How does it Work?
The assessment is scheduled over 2-3 appointments. Testing is broken up over 2 days. You and your child will come in for the first appointment, and your neuropsychologist will meet with you to review the paperwork, obtain a thorough history, and hear more about your concerns. Testing will also begin on the first day, and in most cases, testing is completed on the second day. However, some children require more time, and in those cases, a third (usually shorter) appointment is scheduled to complete the test administration.
After testing is completed, a feedback appointment is scheduled for about 3-4 weeks later. Your child does not need to come to the feedback appointment. The feedback appointment is a discussion between the neuropsychologist and parents about what the results of the testing mean, and if there is a diagnosis, what that diagnosis means. It’s an opportunity for parents to ask any questions they might have or address any concerns. At the feedback, your neuropsychologist will review the results of the assessment, talk with you about what the results mean, and discuss recommendations for home/school/ other treatment. The feedback appointment takes about 45 minutes, sometimes longer as the need dictates, and a full report will follow.
Will I have a Chance to Talk Privately with the Neuropsychologist?
Yes; you will meet with your neuropsychologist privately on or before the first day of testing. You can also feel free to call the Dirksen Center and leave a message for the neuropsychologist to return your call.
Will the Neuropsychologist Send the Results to my Child's School?
If the child’s parents or legal guardian request that results be sent directly from the Dirksen Center to the school, a “release of information” is signed, and we will gladly forward the results on. PLEASE NOTE: It is the policy of the Dirksen Center that no results be released before they are reviewed with the parents/guardians.
Do I have to Stay while Testing is Underway?
Yes. We require that a parent/guardian be present for the duration of testing. Exceptions are sometimes made for older adolescents (e.g., over 16). You do not need to stay if your child is 18 or older.
How will I Get the Results?
You will review the results of the assessment at your feedback appointment, and a full report will follow.
What will the Neuropsychological Report Tell me?
The neuropsychological report will summarize your child’s history, the reason for the assessment, the results of the assessment, your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for home, school, and other care providers.

FUN FACTS:

The brain is actually also surrounded by fluid, which means it kind of floats in the liquid. This protects the brain from any bumps and knocks and also helps to keep sickness at bay.

Therapy FAQ

Will my Insurance Pay For Therapy?

In many cases, your insurance will cover all or part of psychotherapy, but coverage varies by plan and by the insurance company.

How do I know if my Insurance Company will Pay for Psychotherapy?
As a courtesy to our families, we will contact your insurance company to ask about coverage for a neuropsychological assessment and for psychotherapy. Coverage varies by company and by plan, and we encourage all families to contact their insurance company to make sure they understand any limitations to their coverage. We will pass on the information that we receive, but we cannot guarantee payment for services.
How do I Schedule an Appointment?

Call the Dirksen Center at 847-357-9158.

Will my Child have to Miss School?

Your child will probably not need to miss school, as most appointments are scheduled during after-school hours. Some psychologists may have weekend hours available.

Will I Receive Paperwork to Complete Before the Appointment?

Yes. You will receive paperwork through the mail or be instructed to download it prior to the first appointment.

How should I Prepare my Child for the Psychotherapy?
Preparing a child to see a psychologist will vary depending on the child’s age and developmental level, as well as your child’s particular areas of need. In general, you can let your child know that psychologists help kids/teens with their emotions and learning strategies to cope with their feelings. Psychologists also help kids/teens when they are struggling with friends or school-related tasks. You can assure your child that there will not be any shots or physical exams involved in psychotherapy.
What is the Process of the Psychotherapy? How Does it Work?
Your psychologist will do an intake session where she will gather information about your child’s presenting concerns and a detailed history. From there, a treatment plan will be developed and discussed with you. Psychotherapy is an active and collaborative process where the child and parents/caregivers are involved in building skills both in session and practicing those skills in between sessions.
Will I have a Chance to Talk Privately with the Psychologist?
The specifics surrounding confidentiality will be discussed at the beginning of psychotherapy and will vary depending on your child’s age. Generally speaking, it is common for parents/caregivers to meet privately with the psychologist.
Will my Psychologist Talk with my Child’s School or Physician?
Our psychologists are happy to coordinate care with other providers and school personnel as clinically indicated. Prior to any contact, the psychologist will require you to complete an exchange of information form authorizing the care coordination.
Do I Have to Stay while Therapy is Underway?

Yes. We require that a parent/guardian be present. You do not need to stay if your child is 18 or older.

FUN FACTS:

Did you know that your emotions affect all sorts of things like memory, learning, attention, and how fast you can process information? It’s true!

Reach Us

Dirksen Center for Neurobehavioral Health

855 E. Golf Road, Suite 2139,
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

525 E. Congress Parkway, Suite 220,
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

(847) 357-9158
info@dirksencenter.com

PAYMENT

Please call our office to make a payment by credit card or send payment via Zelle to info@dirksencenter.com

 

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