Peak Performance Institute provides individualized neuropsychological evaluations in Austin, Texas, for children, adolescents, college students, and adults experiencing concerns involving attention, memory, learning, executive functioning, cognitive performance, or changes in everyday functioning.
A neuropsychological evaluation uses principles from clinical psychology and neuropsychology to clarify how a person thinks, learns, remembers, processes information, and approaches daily tasks. It can identify areas of strength, explore the possible reasons behind cognitive or academic difficulties, and support informed treatment planning.
Because cognitive functioning can be affected by emotional, behavioral, developmental, and mental health factors, neuropsychological testing is generally complemented by a psychological evaluation. When the concern is solely cognitive and there is no significant psychological component, the evaluation may be more narrowly focused.
Each evaluation is customized to the client’s history, current concerns, and specific referral questions.
What Is a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A neuropsychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of cognitive abilities and the processes that influence how a person functions at school, at work, at home, and in other areas of daily life.
The evaluation uses clinical interviews, relevant records, behavioral observations, and standardized assessment measures to examine areas such as:
- Attention and concentration
- Memory and learning
- Executive functioning
- Processing speed
- Intellectual abilities and IQ testing
- Language functions
- Visual and sensory-perceptual functions
- Problem-solving
- Academic achievement
- Personality and emotional functioning
Neuropsychological testing does more than provide individual scores. The results are interpreted together to understand patterns across different areas of functioning and determine what those patterns may mean for the client.
The goal is to help answer practical questions: Why is this person struggling? Which abilities are functioning well? What factors may be interfering with performance? What support or treatment may be most helpful?
When May a Neuropsychological Evaluation Be Helpful?
A neuropsychological assessment may be recommended when someone is experiencing cognitive, academic, developmental, emotional, or behavioral concerns that have not been fully explained.
Common reasons for seeking an evaluation include:
- ADHD or persistent attention difficulties
- Memory loss or changes in memory
- Executive-functioning difficulties
- Learning disabilities or learning disorders
- Autism or other neurodevelopmental concerns
- Academic difficulties or inconsistent school performance
- Questions about intellectual abilities or IQ
- Concussion or traumatic brain injury
- Changes in cognitive functioning
- Difficulty organizing, planning, or completing tasks
- Processing-speed concerns
- Diagnostic uncertainty
- The need for treatment recommendations
- Questions about academic accommodations or workplace support
- Mild cognitive impairment or other cognitive disorders
- Developmental disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions
- Cognitive concerns associated with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia
- Determining the cognitive effect of stroke
An evaluation may also help determine whether anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, sleep difficulties, stress, or another psychological concern is affecting attention, memory, motivation, or cognitive performance.
Not every person with one of these concerns requires a full neuropsychological evaluation. The initial consultation helps determine whether testing is appropriate and which combination of services is most likely to answer the client’s questions.
Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment
Cognitive and psychological functioning frequently overlap.
For example, attention and memory difficulties can be associated with ADHD, but they can also be affected by anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep disruption, chronic stress, or other emotional concerns. Academic problems may reflect a learning disorder, attention difficulty, developmental condition, psychological distress, or a combination of factors.
For this reason, a neuropsychological evaluation at Peak Performance Institute is generally complemented by psychological assessment when emotional, behavioral, developmental, or mental health factors may be relevant.
This integrated approach supports a more complete differential diagnosis. Instead of assuming that one symptom has one obvious explanation, the evaluation considers multiple factors that may be affecting the client’s functioning.
When the concern is solely cognitive and there is no significant mental health component, the assessment may be more narrowly focused on neuropsychological functioning.
Questions an Evaluation May Help Answer
Clients, parents, schools, physicians, and treatment providers often seek an evaluation because they need greater clarity. A neuropsychological evaluation may help explore questions such as:
- Why is my child struggling academically despite appearing capable?
- Are attention difficulties related to ADHD, anxiety, a learning disorder, or another concern?
- Could autism or another neurodevelopmental condition help explain long-standing difficulties?
- Are memory concerns consistent with expected functioning?
- Has a concussion or traumatic brain injury affected cognitive abilities?
- Is cognitive rehabilitation needed, and if so, what should be prioritized?
- Why is planning, organization, or task completion so difficult?
- Are emotional symptoms interfering with cognitive performance?
- What are the client’s strongest cognitive abilities?
- Which areas may require additional support?
- Would academic accommodations or workplace support be appropriate?
- What type of treatment, rehabilitation, coaching, or referral may be helpful?
Testing does not guarantee a particular diagnosis or outcome. Its purpose is to provide objective information, thoughtful clinical interpretation, and recommendations based on the findings.
Neuropsychological Evaluation for Academic Concerns
Neuropsychological testing can be especially useful when a student is experiencing academic difficulties that cannot be explained by effort or instruction alone.
An evaluation may examine attention, memory, executive functioning, intellectual abilities, processing speed, academic achievement, language, and emotional functioning. This can help distinguish among ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental conditions, psychological concerns, and other factors that may affect school performance.
Depending on the referral question, the evaluation may inform recommendations discussed during school planning, accommodation reviews, or IEP meetings, including:
- Academic accommodations
- Cognitive coaching
- IEP or 504 planning
- Testing accommodations
- Gifted and talented assessment
- College disability services
- Learning support
- Study strategies
- Treatment planning
- Parent coaching and consultation
Peak Performance Institute may provide findings and recommendations that support an accommodation request. Final eligibility decisions are made by the school, university, testing organization, employer, or other institution reviewing the request.
The Evaluation Process
Each evaluation is designed around the client rather than a predetermined testing package.
1. Initial Consultation and Clinical History
The process begins with a discussion of the client’s current concerns, history, symptoms, daily functioning, and goals for the evaluation. This helps identify the questions the evaluation should address and whether neuropsychological testing, psychological assessment, or a combination of services is appropriate.
2. Review of Relevant Records
Clients are encouraged to submit any available records that may provide useful background information. Relevant records may include:
- Previous psychological or neuropsychological evaluations
- Medical or neurological records
- Mental health treatment records
- School records
- Academic aptitude or achievement testing
- Previous accommodation documentation
- Reports from physicians, therapists, teachers, or other professionals
Records are considered alongside the current evaluation rather than treated as substitutes for updated assessment.
3. Customized Testing Recommendations
Dr. Jan Ford Mustin develops an individualized assessment plan based on the client’s concerns, history, and referral questions. The recommended combination of services may include neuropsychological testing, psychological assessment, academic testing, or other relevant measures. The scope of the evaluation and associated fees are reviewed with the client before testing begins.
4. Testing Administration
Testing is administered by trained psychometrists working under Dr. Mustin’s clinical direction. The assessment may involve computerized measures, questionnaires, interactive tasks, and other standardized assessment instruments. CNS Vital Signs and the IVA-2 are examples of measures that may be used when clinically appropriate.
These are only examples. The measures selected for each evaluation depend on the specific questions being addressed. Testing is not a pass-or-fail examination, and clients are not expected to study or prepare for the tasks in advance. Many tests do require in-person appointments.
5. Scoring and Clinical Interpretation
Dr. Mustin scores and interprets the evaluation results. She reviews the findings in the context of the client’s history, symptoms, behavioral observations, previous records, and referral questions. She is responsible for the clinical conclusions, recommendations, and signed report.
This interpretation is an essential part of the process. Individual test scores are considered as part of a larger pattern rather than viewed in isolation.
6. Feedback and Recommendations
A feedback appointment with Dr. Mustin is included. During this meeting, she explains:
- The evaluation findings
- Areas of cognitive strength
- Areas of difficulty
- Relevant psychological or emotional factors
- Diagnostic conclusions when appropriate
- Individualized recommendations
- Suggested next steps
Clients also receive a written report signed by Dr. Mustin.
What Clients Receive
The specific outcome of an evaluation depends on the client’s needs and referral questions. A completed neuropsychological evaluation may provide:
- A clearer understanding of cognitive strengths and challenges
- Diagnostic clarification
- Information about factors affecting attention, memory, learning, or performance
- Psychological and emotional context for cognitive symptoms
- Treatment-planning recommendations
- Academic recommendations
- Recommendations related to accommodations
- Strategies for improving daily functioning
- Workplace-support recommendations
- Referrals to other professionals or services
- Guidance for families and existing treatment providers
The recommendations are individualized and based on the full evaluation rather than a single score or test result.
Optional QEEG Brain Mapping
QEEG brain mapping is available as an elective supplement to a neuropsychological evaluation.
QEEG records patterns of electrical brainwave activity. When selected, the findings may provide additional information that can be considered alongside the client’s clinical history, symptoms, neuropsychological testing, psychological assessment, and other available records.
QEEG is not included automatically in every evaluation and is not used as a stand-alone diagnostic test. Clients interested in this option can discuss with Peak Performance Institute whether QEEG brain mapping may contribute useful information to the questions being evaluated.
About Jan Ford Mustin, PhD
Jan Ford Mustin, PhD, is the founder and clinical director of Peak Performance Institute. She has approximately 40 years of experience in clinical psychology, psychological and neuropsychological evaluation, QEEG, neurofeedback, and integrative psychotherapy.
Dr. Mustin earned her doctorate from the University of Texas and is a licensed psychologist. She is also licensed as a marriage and family therapist and professional counselor and is board certified in neurofeedback as an Associate Fellow.
She directs each neuropsychological evaluation and is responsible for selecting the assessment approach, scoring and interpreting the results, preparing and signing the report, providing recommendations, and conducting the feedback appointment. Testing is administered by psychometrists under her clinical direction.
Fees and Insurance
The scope and cost of a neuropsychological evaluation depend on the client’s concerns, history, referral questions, and the combination of services recommended. After reviewing the client’s needs, Peak Performance Institute develops an individualized testing plan and provides information about the recommended services and associated fees.
Peak Performance Institute is an out-of-network practice. Clients may be eligible for reimbursement through their out-of-network insurance benefits, depending on their plan. Documentation can be provided for clients who wish to submit a claim to their insurance company.
Insurance coverage, reimbursement, and authorization requirements vary by plan and are determined by the insurance provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between neuropsychological and psychological testing?
Neuropsychological testing focuses primarily on cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, learning, processing speed, language, and executive functioning. Psychological assessment examines emotional, behavioral, personality, and mental health factors. Because these areas often affect one another, the two forms of assessment are frequently combined.
Is psychological testing included in every evaluation?
Psychological assessment is generally included when emotional, behavioral, developmental, or mental health factors may be affecting cognitive functioning. When the concern is solely cognitive, the evaluation may be more narrowly focused.
Who administers the testing?
Testing is administered by psychometrists working under the clinical direction of Jan Ford Mustin, PhD.
Who interprets the results?
Dr. Mustin scores and interprets the results, determines the clinical conclusions, prepares and signs the report, provides recommendations, and conducts the feedback appointment.
Will I receive a written report?
Yes. Clients receive a signed written report that explains the findings, clinical interpretation, conclusions when appropriate, and individualized recommendations.
Is a feedback appointment included?
Yes. A feedback appointment with Dr. Mustin is included as part of the evaluation process.
Is QEEG included in every neuropsychological evaluation?
No. QEEG brain mapping is an elective supplement and is not automatically included.
What records should I provide?
Clients should provide any available medical, neurological, mental health, psychological, neuropsychological, academic aptitude, achievement, accommodation, or school records that may be relevant.
Can an evaluation support academic accommodations?
An evaluation may provide findings and recommendations that support a request for academic accommodations when clinically appropriate. The school, university, testing organization, or other institution makes the final eligibility decision.
Can an evaluation help with workplace support?
When appropriate, the evaluation may include recommendations related to workplace functioning or accommodations. Final decisions are made by the employer or organization reviewing the request.
How much does an evaluation cost?
Fees vary because each evaluation is customized. The practice provides a proposed combination of services and associated fees after reviewing the client’s concerns and referral questions.
How do I know whether a neuropsychological evaluation is appropriate?
The first step is to contact Peak Performance Institute. The initial discussion can help determine whether an evaluation is likely to answer the questions or concerns prompting the request.
Request a Neuropsychological Evaluation Consultation
A neuropsychological evaluation can provide a clearer understanding of attention, memory, learning, executive functioning, emotional factors, and other concerns affecting everyday performance.
Contact Peak Performance Institute to discuss whether a neuropsychological evaluation may be appropriate for you, your child, or a family member.
Peak Performance Institute
4407 Bee Caves Road, Building 4, Suite 411
Austin, TX 78746
512-347-8100
admin@peakinstitute.com