Frequently Asked Questions

Neuropsychology is the study of the relationship between the brain and behavior. This field of study aims to help us understand where our behavior comes from and how aspects of brain structure and function impact that behavior. In pediatrics, there is additional focus on how the growth and development of the brain impacts the child's behavior, including their development of language, motor, thinking, learning, social, emotional, and adaptive skills. 

Dr. Bree offers parent consultation and individualized child evaluations, including developmental, intellectual/gifted, autism, and neuropsychological evaluations. Please see the page titled "Our Services" for more information about each type of evaluation.

Dr. Bree specializes in neurodevelopmental issues; therefore, she works with children and adolescents. Young adults may be considered on a case-by-case basis; however, Dr. Bree does not offer evaluation to anyone over the age of 21. 

Not at this time. At present, Desert Neurodevelopment, PLLC only offers consultation and evaluation services; however, we would be happy to give you a list of therapy referrals. 

No, Desert Neurodevelopment, PLLC and Dr. Bree do not offer these types of evaluation; however, we are happy to direct you to other providers in the community who can assist with this. 

Desert Neurodevelopment, PLLC is a fee-for-service practice. This means we do not accept insurance, and we do not accept Medicare or Medicaid. 

Consultation appointments are available for online scheduling. During the consultation appointment, you will discuss your concerns with Dr. Bree and schedule the evaluation appointment. This ensures your child will be scheduled for the type of evaluation that best fits his or her needs and addresses your concerns. 

Cost varies depending upon the type of evaluation. Dr. Bree provides good faith estimates prior to all consultation and evaluation appointments. Payment is due at time of service. Please contact us for more information. 

No. Evaluation costs are divided into two payments. 

• Parents pay for the initial consultation at the time of the consultation appointment. 
• A second payment occurs at the time of the second appointment and covers the cost of the evaluation appointment, the results/feedback appointment, and the time spent writing the report. 

In total, Dr. Bree spends 10 to 20 hours on each evaluation from initial consultation to report completion. 

The answer to this question depends on your particular insurance provider and the plan you have. Some companies and plans may reimburse you for a portion of the evaluation cost. After the evaluation is complete, we can provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement; however, we recommend that you first check with your insurance company to determine your benefits and whether reimbursement is likely.  

Evaluations tend to be lengthy, lasting up to 8 hours. The length of the evaluation depends on several factors, including the child's age, the child's abilities, the number of breaks the child needs, and the specific tests administered. Infants, younger children, and children completing gifted/intellectual evaluations typically do not require as much time as older children or children completing lengthier evaluations, such as autism and neuropsychological evaluations. Dr. Bree will do her best to give you an estimate of the length of time your child may need. 

The number of appointments depends upon the type of the evaluation. 

Developmental & Developmental Autism Evaluations (for children ages 0-3)

• First appointment: 1-hour parent consultation discussing your concerns and your child's history. Can be completed in-office or via telehealth.
• Second appointment: 2-3 hour in-office evaluation with child and parent. 
• Third appointment: 1-hour discussion of results with parents. Can be completed in-office or via telehealth. 

Autism, Guardianship, & Neuropsychological Evaluations (for children ages 4-17)

• First appointment: 1-hour parent consultation discussing your concerns and your child's history. Can be completed in-office or via telehealth.
• Second appointment: 4-8 hour in-office evaluation with child, with 1-hour break for lunch during which parent and child may leave the office. 
• Third appointment: 1-hour discussion of results with parents. Can be completed in-office or via telehealth. 
• Note: Rarely, some children have difficulty completing 4-8 consecutive hours of testing, even with breaks. For these children, the third appointment includes additional testing, while results and recommendations are discussed during a fourth appointment. 

Gifted/Intellectual Evaluations (for children ages 4-17)

• First appointment: 1-hour parent consultation discussing your concerns and your child's history. Can be completed in-office or via telehealth.
• Second appointment: 2-3 hour in-office evaluation with parent and child followed by 30-45 minute discussion with parent regarding evaluation results and recommendations. 

Results are provided in a two-step process: verbal and written. 

Dr. Bree aims to provide verbal results to families within 2 weeks of the evaluation appointment at a results/feedback session. This session is only for parents (the child does not attend), and can be conducted via telehealth or in person, depending upon your preference. 

Dr. Bree aims to provide a written report to families within 2 weeks of the verbal results appointment. This report is comprehensive and includes a summary of findings, diagnosis (if appropriate for your child), relevant history, more detailed discussion of test results, recommendations, and tables which include your child's test scores. These reports take 5 to 10 hours to write.  

No. 504 Plans and IEPs are written by your child's educational team at school. Dr. Bree cannot write 504 Plans or IEPs; however, she can make recommendations for interventions, supports, and accommodations which may be helpful to your child. These will be shared with you during the feedback session and will be documented in your child's evaluation report, which you are welcome to share with your child's educational team. Please note, ultimate determination of the most appropriate educational services and accommodations will be made by your child's educational team in consultation with you. 

Your child should get a good night's sleep the night before and should have a good breakfast the morning of the evaluation. You may also wish to share with your child that he/she will attend an all-day appointment where he/she will complete activities to see how his/her brain works, what he/she is good at, and what he/she may need help with. 

Some children may be reassured by knowing that Dr. Bree does not give shots or perform any physical exams. Your child will complete puzzles, work with blocks, and answer questions. Children being evaluated for learning disorders will be asked to read, write, and complete math tasks. 

It is not necessary, nor is it recommended, to study for any of the evaluations we offer. 

For children under the age of 4, parents remain in the evaluation room with the child and Dr. Bree. Dr. Bree administers tests which are primarily play-based. Parents may be asked to encourage their child to participate, but they should not answer or perform tasks for their child.  

For children ages 4 and older, parents remain in the waiting area adjacent to the evaluation room while the child completes the evaluation with Dr. Bree. The child will be asked to complete child-friendly tests, like building with blocks, completing puzzles, and answering questions. Parents remain in the waiting area throughout the duration of the testing in an effort to reduce distractions to the child which may negatively impact evaluation results. 

Children are provided with breaks as needed, and they may visit with parents during these breaks. You are encouraged to bring snacks and water for your child if you believe your child may become hungry during the evaluation. 

Children who require additional testing time in the afternoon are provided with a 1 hour lunch break during which they may leave the office with their parents. 

Diagnosis is made based upon an integrated understanding of the child's history, behavioral observations during the evaluation, the child's pattern of performance across the tests administered, knowledge of brain structure, function, and development, and knowledge of DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria.