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Hours

Mon-Fri 9:00 am- 5:00 pm

Saturday/Sunday

Evaluations by appointment only

Address

16633 Ventura Blvd. Ste. 700 Encino, CA 91436

Email

info@neuroscience.la

Phone

(310) 855-1265

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? We have answers.
The neuropsychological assessment typically lasts between 6-8 hours, depending on the individual. Testing sessions can be extended over the course of 1-3 days in order to prevent fatigue which may interfere with performance. There are several parts to the assessment 1) the doctor will conduct an interview with the patient and family to review the patient’s history and discuss any questions that need to be addressed. 2) In-person Neuropsychological testing 3) Patients and/or family members could be asked to fill out questionnaires to provide invaluable information about the presenting concerns. 4) The feedback session typically scheduled 2 weeks following the completed testing and interview. The feedback will consist of an in-depth discussion detailing the testing results and the unique pattern of strengths and weakness of the patient. Diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and referrals are provided in feedback.

Neuropsychological evaluation does not involve any poking, prodding, or needles! The evaluation will be comprised of computerized tasks, a verbally based question and answer format with the examiner, as well as written paper and pencil activities. Some tests will be timed while others will not, and the examinee is fully oriented to each new task as the testing progresses. Breaks are provided and often encouraged as we strive to assess your neuropsychological abilities in the most optimal conditions with time set aside for rest or snacks. Usually, we request that patients/litigants arrive at our offices by 9:30 AM. It generally takes about ten minutes to fill out our patient/litigant face sheet. We often request that the examinee begin (or in some cases complete) one or two personality assessment questionnaires prior to the commencement of the actual clinical interview and subsequent neuropsychological assessment. Generally, this will take from 1 -2 hours. The clinical interview generally begins after a short (15 minute) break, and will typically run from one to one-and-a-half hours. At that point, a brief lunch break is offered although some examinees decline, and prefer to continue with the examination process until completed.

Typically, the psychometric portion of the evaluation will begin by 12:30-1 PM, and will conclude by about 4:30-5:00 PM. Occasionally, a patient may need to stay slightly longer in order to complete the personality assessment questionnaires (5-5:30 PM). In rare instances, a patient/litigant may complete the assessment in a shorter interval of time. However, there are also cases in which an examinee (for any number of reasons) will take far longer to complete the assessment. In these instances, the examinee will need to return in order to complete the assessment process. Usually one additional day will be required, and rarely a third visit will be needed.

Please bring hearing aids, eye glasses, or any other items which will allow you to engage in the assessments comfortably. Patients are allowed breaks whenever needed; however, they may wish to bring a lunch so that they can eat on-site, thus maximizing the time for testing. Patients are also welcome to bring snacks, coffee or other beverages to consume during the course of the evaluation. Please also bring a list of any medications. Clients should bring cash if they would like to eat at our café on the 5th floor. Otherwise, there are restaurants along Ventura Blvd. Clients can also order Uber Eats, Doordash & etc.
In the majority of our forensic cases, a written report is prepared. Written reports are of three basic types. The first type of report involves only a brief listing of the measures that were administered, and the results that were obtained. This type of report provides the most basic synopsis of assessment data, but is less complete in terms of actual clinical and diagnostic information. This report tends to be about 2-3 pages in length. The second type of report includes a summary of assessment results, but also a brief description of historical and other clinical information, as well as a brief narrative summary of results and findings. This report is the most common type that is produced for forensic purposes, and is generally 5-10 pages in length. The third type of report that is generated tends to be far more detailed in terms of historical and descriptive information. It includes a more complete review of assessment results, differential diagnostic summary, as well as a lengthy clinical formulation. This longer report also includes more detailed information as to treatment recommendations and prognostic information. This report takes far longer to produce, and is less frequently used. The report often runs from 15-20 pages in length.
We do not permit audio taping or videotaping of forensic (or any other type of) neuropsychological evaluations. Reproduction of actual neuropsychological assessment measures (different than the clinical interview, history and mental status examination) violates copyright laws, as well as our ethical standards for professional practice (e.g. APA Ethical Standards, “Test Security”). We do permit audio taping of the clinical interview, history and mental status examination. We do not permit videotaping of any portion of the examination, which we believe to be too intrusive, and a potential confound to the assessment process.
We do not permit the presence of observers during forensic evaluations. The single exception to this rule is a “clinical indication” for the presence of another individual (for example, if a patient/litigant is significantly sensory or motor-handicapped, grossly demented, or in rare cases when a minor child is to be evaluated). In such a circumstance where a “clinical indication” is evident, it will be the examiner’s choice to decide whether or not to include a third party in the assessment process. There are both research studies as well as position statements from various neuropsychological organizations strongly recommending against the presence of observers. Third party observers cause an evaluation to be “non-standard” and may interfere in the assessment process in a variety of ways that may be difficult to fully account for. As such, the resulting information obtained during an “observed” evaluation may be subject to significant distortion and may result in a far higher level of interpretive error. Thus, as a general policy, we do not permit such observers to be present either during the interview process, or during the neuropsychological evaluation itself (that includes the administration of psychometric assessment measures).
We do permit (and encourage) an advocate/significant other (such as an attorney or paralegal, significant other, etc.) to accompany a patient/litigant to the evaluation session. Such an advocate may often calm and reassure an anxious individual (particularly when our examination is to be conducted at the request of the defendants), thus resulting in a more valid and complete assessment overall. However, the advocate/significant other must wait in our patient waiting area, and may not accompany (nor interrupt) the examinee during the actual evaluation process.
Most patient/litigants who are seen by us are taking one or more types of medication. While the majority of medications that are taken probably do not adversely affect our assessment results to a large extent, certain medications are more likely to confound the results of our assessment in a much more significant manner. As a general guideline, we prefer that patients/litigants use as little medication as is necessary in order to address their conditions, particularly in the five days before (as well as the day of) our examination. In the case of narcotic-containing analgesics (including Vicodin, Darvocet, Percocet, Demerol, and others), as well as anti-anxiety agents (such as Valium, Ativan and Xanax, that may have amnestic side effects), we prefer that, if at all possible, the patient remain drug free from these agents for at least 48 hours prior to our examination. In general, the less medication taken, the better from our standpoint. All medication changes should be cleared by the patient’s attending physician(s). Also, please instruct the patient/litigant not to drink alcoholic beverages within 24 hours of their appointment with us.
We do not accept insurance. Unfortunately, many insurance plans do not adequately provide for neuropsychological testing. Please check with your individual insurance plan to see their reimbursement policies. We can provide a superbill which can be sent to your insurance carrier if needed.
Full-day parking in the Encino Executive Towers is $12.00 per day (with a full day accruing after 2 hours). Unfortunately, validation is not provided. Parking Attendants do not allow in and out.

We allow a one-hour “grace period” for all patients/litigants who are scheduled for an examination. However, after one hour, the appointment will be cancelled in its entirety (no “partial day” examinations), and will need to be rescheduled. We require three days (72 hours) advance notification if an appointment needs to be cancelled or re-scheduled in order to avoid a full charge. If a full charge is levied due to inadequate notification or a failed appointment (no-show), this charge must be paid in full before another appointment will be scheduled. Our evaluation sessions run a full day for all practical purposes. As such, a missed appointment (or inadequate notification) results in the loss of eight full hours of billable time.

Due to the high demand for our services, long appointment waiting times, and other scheduling complexities, we require at least two weeks advance notice of depositions in order to assure a scheduling date. The actual scheduling of the deposition must be confirmed in written form (e-mail). Cancellations of scheduled depositions must be in written form (e-mail). We require a minimum two days (48 hours) notice of cancellation of a scheduled deposition, or a minimum charge of $1500 (equivalent to two hours) will be charged to the scheduling party. Deposition testimony is charged at the rate of $800 per hour (or any part thereof). We also require a deposition and trial retainer 1 week in advance of appearance. (Minimum of 2 hours. The remainder will be billed.)

Trial testimony scheduling is a more complicated issue, since the exact date and time of testimony are sometimes more difficult to pinpoint and can be challenging to accommodate without sufficient notice.  We require that at least a seven-day written notification of intent to schedule testimony in court be given in written form (e-mail). We further require that two days (48 hours) of advance notice of exact date and time be provided, preferably by email. Advance payment must be provided at least 7 days prior to scheduled testimony. Similar to our cancellation policy regarding deposition testimony, we require a minimum of 48-hour notice of cancellation of scheduled court testimony, or a full charge will be made (or the full amount of the fee that has been paid will be retained as payment).

We do not accept liens. Retainers are due prior to appointments. Please fill out our Forensic Referral Form and email  to  info@neuroscience.la . You can also contact us via phone at (310) 855-1265. One of our staff member will contact you to discuss the case. Please note, in order for our Doctors to be considered retained, we require the retainer check in our office. Please make retainer checks payable to Neuroscience Associates Inc. Credit card payments are available for an additional fee.