Tele-Neuropsychological Evaluation: Protocols & Technical Requirements
The Gold Standard for Tele-Neuropsychological Evaluation
Ensuring the remote environment mimics a controlled clinic setting is paramount for maintaining test security and psychometric validity. These standardized procedures are considered best practices and are highly recommended for any tele-neuropsychological evaluation or remote psychological assessment to ensure that results are accurate, defensible, and reliable.
Technical Requirements for Optimal Accuracy
To prevent technical lag from affecting your cognitive scores or reaction time data, your setup must meet the following standards:
- Device Selection: A laptop or desktop computer is strongly recommended for the best testing accuracy and visual fidelity. Tablets may work for specific screen-touch tasks, but smartphones are not recommended due to screen size limitations that can invalidate visual stimuli and standardized norms.
- Stable Connectivity: A stable, high-speed internet connection is essential to prevent latency or disconnection, which can invalidate timed tests. We recommend a direct ethernet connection or high-signal Wi-Fi.
- Speed Benchmarks: Optimal testing requires a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 5 Mbps. More importantly, your "Ping" or "Latency" should be below 50ms to ensure that reaction-time data is captured accurately.
- Verify Your Connection: Please use Speedtest.net by Ookla prior to your session to confirm your bandwidth.
- Audio Clarity: Headphones with a microphone are recommended for clear audio, reducing ambient distraction and ensuring instructions are heard with clinical precision.
- Power Management: Have your device fully charged or plugged in for the entire session to avoid mid-test interruptions.
Test Security and Validity Protocols
Our virtual residency model utilizes the following safeguards to protect the "sanctity of the test" and ensure results are comparable to in-person findings:
- Controlled Environment Check (360-Degree Scan): The examiner requires the client to use their device camera to perform a 360-degree environmental scan of the room. This verifies the space is private, free from distractions, and contains no unauthorized materials, such as notes, textbooks, or prohibited digital devices.
- Privacy and Confidentiality: A quiet, private environment free from interruptions (pets, family members, phones) is mandatory to ensure the client is focused and that HIPAA-protected confidentiality is maintained.
- Technical Setup Assistance: The examiner may briefly utilize a remote access tool to assist with technical setup (e.g., screen sharing, audio settings). This ensures the client's device is correctly configured for the specific testing software, maximizing test validity.
- No Unauthorized Aids: The client must formally affirm that no unauthorized persons are present and that they will not access notes, the internet, or other resources during the testing process.
- Real-Time Observation: The neuropsychologist maintains continuous, real-time visual and auditory contact, actively monitoring behavior, engagement, effort, and the environment throughout the session.
Clinical Standards & Citations
These protocols align with the joint recommendations of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Inter-Organizational Practice Committee (IOPC). According to official guidance: "Procedures for tele-neuropsychological evaluations should include a thorough assessment of the remote environment and technical infrastructure to ensure the validity of the data collected" (Bilder et al., 2020).
Citation: Bilder, R. M., et al. (2020). Inter-Organizational Practice Committee Recommendations/Guidance for Teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 34(7-8), 1314–1330.