Adult Neuropsychological Evaluation
Adult Neuropsychological Evaluation
Objective Answers to Questions That Matter
Neuropsychological evaluation for adults is designed to answer questions that cannot always be clarified through conversation, history alone, or brief screening measures. Many adults seek evaluation after living for years with persistent cognitive or emotional patterns without a clear explanation, or after noticing a change in functioning that feels different from their baseline.
Some individuals pursue evaluation following a medical event such as injury, illness, or neurological change, where understanding the extent and nature of cognitive impact becomes important for treatment planning and recovery. Others seek assessment for practical reasons, including documentation of cognitive or learning conditions for workplace accommodations, disability determinations, or licensing requirements. In each case, the goal is to obtain a clear and objective understanding of how cognition, behavior, and emotional functioning are interacting in daily life.
At Coherence, adult neuropsychological evaluation is provided by both Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP. Both clinicians bring extensive experience in adult assessment across a wide range of concerns, including ADHD and learning differences that were not identified earlier in life, memory and cognitive changes in older adults, the effects of neurological conditions and brain injury, and evaluations in contexts where formal documentation is required.
Their approach to adult evaluation follows the same clinical framework used in pediatric work. Assessment is individualized, grounded in data from multiple sources, and structured to answer the specific referral question rather than apply a standardized template. Findings are interpreted in a way that connects directly to real-world functioning, including work demands, independent living, and daily cognitive responsibilities.
The focus remains on producing information that is not only diagnostically accurate when applicable, but also usable in making informed decisions about care, support, and next steps in everyday life.
How we work
Adult neuropsychological evaluation at Coherence is appropriate for a wide range of clinical questions, including:
- ADHD in adults, including those never identified in childhood and those seeking updated assessment
- Memory concerns, including questions about normal aging versus clinically significant cognitive change
- Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia evaluation, including pattern clarification across different presentations
- Post-concussion cognitive symptoms and questions about recovery following TBI
- Neurological conditions affecting cognition, including stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumor
- Learning disabilities that were never formally identified in childhood
- Cognitive changes related to medical treatment such as chemotherapy
- Baseline cognitive assessment before surgery or other medical treatment
- Disability documentation for workplace accommodations, disability claims, or licensing examination accommodations
- Forensic and legal neuropsychological evaluation
Our Process
The Evaluation Process for Adults
Adult neuropsychological evaluation follows a structured and evidence-based process designed to answer complex clinical questions about cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning in daily life. While the framework is consistent across evaluations, the specific focus is adapted to the referral question and the individual’s history.
The process begins with a thorough review of available records before the first appointment. This may include prior psychological or neuropsychological evaluations, medical records, psychiatric history, educational documentation when relevant, and occupational information. This early review helps ensure that the evaluation builds on existing information rather than repeating it.
The next step is a comprehensive clinical interview. This interview covers developmental history, medical background, mental health history, educational and learning experiences, and current occupational functioning. It is designed to clarify the nature of the concerns being evaluated and to identify patterns that may guide selection of testing measures.
Standardized neuropsychological testing is then completed across cognitive domains relevant to the referral question. This may include attention, executive functioning, processing speed, memory, language, visual-spatial skills, and other areas of cognitive functioning, depending on the individual presentation.
Following testing, results are integrated into a detailed written report. This report is designed to explain findings clearly and to translate test data into meaningful conclusions about real-world functioning. A dedicated feedback session is then held to review results, answer questions, and discuss recommendations.
For adults who are unable to travel to the Rockville office, select components of the evaluation process, including clinical interview, consultation, and feedback sessions, may be completed via HIPAA-compliant telehealth through PSYPACT authorization in 43 participating states. The portions of the evaluation that require in-person testing are determined based on clinical need and are discussed in advance during the intake process so that expectations are clear from the outset.
Please note that contacting this practice does not establish a patient provider relationship.
Our Values
Connecting Evaluation Findings to What Comes Next
An adult neuropsychological evaluation is not an endpoint. It is a clinical foundation for the decisions, supports, and next steps that follow. For adults in the workforce, findings can support documentation for reasonable accommodations, including extended time for professional licensing examinations, adjustments to workplace demands, or formal disability-related considerations when applicable. For adults navigating medical conditions or changes in functioning, evaluation results provide a clear cognitive and functional profile that can assist physicians and other treating specialists in planning care and monitoring change over time.
When authorized by the individual, both clinicians at Coherence, Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP, coordinate directly with other providers involved in care. Reports are written with practical use in mind across multiple settings, including medical, educational, occupational, and legal contexts when relevant. The goal is for the evaluation to be usable beyond the clinical setting, supporting real-world decisions rather than remaining limited to interpretation within psychology alone.
Inquire About Adult Evaluation
To inquire about adult neuropsychological evaluation at Coherence, reach out through the practice contact process. Your information is reviewed to determine the most appropriate clinician and evaluation approach, with Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP or Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP involved depending on clinical fit and scheduling.
coherence and Evaluations
A Note on Late-Identified ADHD in Adults
Many adults come to Coherence seeking evaluation for ADHD that was not identified during childhood or adolescence. In some cases, early academic performance may have been strong enough that underlying attentional or executive functioning difficulties were masked by compensatory strategies. These strategies can be effective for years, until the demands of adult life, such as work responsibilities, multitasking, organization, and sustained planning, begin to exceed what those coping mechanisms can reliably support.
Adult ADHD evaluation places significant weight on developmental history, looking carefully at patterns that may have been present across different stages of life, even if they were not previously labeled or treated. Current cognitive functioning is examined in detail, with particular attention to attention regulation, executive functioning, processing speed, working memory, and how these systems impact day-to-day functioning.
A key part of the evaluation process involves careful differential diagnosis. Symptoms that resemble ADHD can also arise from other conditions, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, sleep-related difficulties, trauma-related symptoms, or medical and neurological factors. Distinguishing between these possibilities is essential, since the most effective intervention depends on identifying the primary underlying driver rather than focusing only on surface-level symptoms.
The goal of this process is not only to determine whether ADHD is present, but to develop a clear and accurate understanding of how cognitive patterns are affecting real-world functioning. That understanding then informs recommendations that are targeted, practical, and appropriate to the individual’s specific needs across work, home, and daily life.
The Evaluation Process at Coherence
- Inquiry and intake. Families contact Chelsea at Coherence. After a brief intake conversation, forms are sent electronically and records are requested with written authorization.
- Record review. Before any appointment, clinicians review all records provided. Families do not need to re‑explain their child’s full history at the start of the testing session.
- Clinical interview. The evaluation begins with a comprehensive developmental and clinical interview with parents, covering history from early development through current functioning.
- Testing sessions. Standardized neuropsychological testing across one to two appointments, tailored to the referral question and the child’s age and stamina.
- Scoring and interpretation. Clinicians score all measures, integrate rating‑scale data from parents and teachers, and interpret the full pattern of results.
- Written report. A comprehensive report including developmental and clinical history, test results, integrated clinical interpretation, diagnostic impressions, and specific individualized recommendations.
- Feedback session. A dedicated appointment with parents in which clinicians walk through the findings in plain language, answer questions, and ensure recommendations are clear and usable. Reports are typically ready within two weeks of intake.