Pediatric Neuropsychological and Specialized Evaluations

Westside Neuropsychology provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations in Grand Rapids, Michigan for children to young adults (ages 0-26) with complex medical and neurodevelopmental conditions. Every child has unique strengths and challenges. Neuropsychological testing identifies both so recommendations can support a person. These evaluations can clarify concerns by assessing things like potential symptoms of ADHD, learning differences, or the underlying effect of medical conditions on brain function and development. We also provide independent medical evaluations, independent educational evaluations, and FAA evaluations throughout West Michigan, Southern California, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

What We Offer

Pediatric Evaluations

Tier 2 FAA Evaluations (ATC)

Hawaii (Private Pay)

Young Adult Evaluations

Independent Medical Evaluations

California (Private Pay)

Tier 2 FAA Evaluations (ATC)

Independent Educational Evaluations

Michigan (Insurance-Based)

When should a child have a neuropsychological evaluation? Testing may help for:

Understanding how conditions affect the brain
Learning / memory concerns
Attention problems (e.g., ADHD)
Academic challenges (e.g., dyslexia)
Intellectual disability
Deficits in nonverbal skills
Follow-up evaluations
Poor processing speed
Executive dysfunction
Poor adaptive skills

Adult transition planning
Neuropsychological risks
Establishing a baseline
Developmental delay
Social problems
Emotional symptoms
Behavior problems
Medication monitoring
Presurgical evaluations
Identifying suitable interventions

Common conditions we serve include, but are not limited to:

Seizures / epilepsy
Demyelinating disease (e.g., MS, ADEM)
Craniofacial anomalies
Brain tumors
Cancers
Hydrocephalus
Spina bifida
Brain infection
Brain malformation / abnormality
Stroke
Autoimmune diseases
Sickle cell disease

TBI / concussion
Oxygen deprivation / near drowning
Metabolic disorders
Congenital heart disease
Exposure to toxins (e.g., lead, carbon monoxide)
Prematurity / birth complications
Genetic disorders / syndromes
Movement disorders
Neuromuscular disease
Cerebral palsy
Infectious diseases
Neurocutaneous disorders (TSC, NF)

What a neuropsychological evaluation might measure:

Intelligence

verbal reasoning, visual-spatial reasoning, processing speed, fluid reasoning, working memory

Academics

reading, spelling, writing, math

Nonverbal Skills

spatial reasoning, visual perception, visual construction, visual organization

Language

understanding speech, expressive language, vocabulary, word retrieval, verbal fluency

Learning & Memory

verbal and visual learning and memory, short-term memory, delayed recall, recognition

Attention

sustained attention, selective attention, divided attention, vigilance

Executive Functions

planning and organization, cognitive flexibility, impulse control, problem solving, initiation, self-monitoring

Processing Speed

mental efficiency, speed of cognitive processing

Motor

fine motor speed, manual dexterity, motor coordination, graphomotor skills (writing)

Social Cognition

social perception, understanding emotions, perspective taking, interpreting social cues

Emotions & Behavior

anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, adjustment

Adaptive Skills

functional communication, self-care, social skills, independence, daily living skills

About Dr. Johnson

Dr. Velisa Johnson is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with an additional subspecialty certification in pediatric neuropsychology. She has particular expertise evaluating children and adolescents with medical, genetic, and neurodevelopmental conditions affecting the brain. She opened Westside Neuropsychology in 2026 to offer accessible and thorough evaluations that empower families.

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