Cultivating Excellence Podcast EP 11: Understanding Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessments in Kids and Teens with Dr. Jeremy Sharp
May 21, 2025
Dr. Jeremy Sharp, a licensed psychologist and founder of the Colorado Center for Assessment, dives into the world of psychological evaluations for children. He discusses the importance of understanding assessments as tools for growth, not just labels. Topics include early identification of reading challenges, the differences between hospital and private practice care, and the necessity of tailored evaluations. Dr. Sharp also shares insights on navigating insurance hurdles and creating supportive testing environments to ensure children thrive during assessments.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Reframing Diagnosis and Labels
- Explain to parents that diagnosis is just a small piece of understanding their child.
- Focus on strengths and support rather than only labels and challenges.
Test Early and Update Often
- Don't delay psychological testing; earlier is better to catch issues.
- Consider testing children as young as two when warranted, and update every three years.
Third Grade Reading Shift
- Third grade is a critical point where reading demands shift from learning to read to reading to learn.
- Struggling kids often reveal reading challenges then, making early intervention crucial.