Amy Dixon Blackmon, Ph.D.- Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment
Assessment for Ages 16 and Up
A collaborative and neuroaffirming approach
Assessment Services
AGES 16 AND UP
Autism Assessment
Neuropsychological Assessment
Psychological Assessment
Psychoeducational Assessment
Telehealth Autism Assessment
PERFORMED ONLINE ACROSS PSYPACT STATES
When in-person assessment is not possible, Dr. Blackmon offers remote assessment for Autism for ages 16 and up. Remote assessment is offered to people in states that participate in PSYPACT.
For additional information about Telehealth Autism Assessment including why people pursue it, how it is conducted, working with Dr. Blackmon via telehealth, and FAQ’s, please see the Telehealth Autism Assessment page on this site.
Consultation Services
Dr. Blackmon offers time by appointment to explore and process issues related to assessment.
Whereas assessment is useful for diagnosis and recommendations, consultation can be used to help you gather information for yourself or a loved one and have complex questions answered, regardless of whether or not you book an assessment.
Learn more about Dr. Blackmon’s Consultation Services here.
Clinical Concerns
Dr. Blackmon offers assessment for multiple clinical concerns for teens and adults, ages 16 and up. Assessment is more lengthy when multiple concerns are being evaluated. When more than one diagnosis is suspected, it is important to assess all possible conditions, as this allows for diagnostic accuracy, a thorough understanding of the severity of symptoms, and more useful and appropriate recommendations.
Some of the clinical concerns that prompt people to seek assessment, and that Dr. Blackmon assesses routinely include:
Autism
A lifelong condition related to brain development that affects how people see and interact with other people and the world. Challenges in social functioning and communication functioning are common, as well as repeated behavioral patterns.
Related Assessment Services
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A combination of challenges with paying attention, hyperactivity/ physiological restlessness, and impulsive behavior. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can affect relationships, work and school performance, self-esteem, and other areas of life. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be diagnosed as Predominantly Inattentive Presentation, Hyperactive Presentation, or Combined Presentation.
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Cognitive changes with aging
Examples of cognitive changes that can occur with aging include Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Mild Cognitive Impairment can progress to dementia with time, and includes challenges with cognitive skills such as memory, language, and judgment, but does not significantly affect daily living skills and the ability to live independently. Dementia describes several different illnesses that affect memory, attention, executive functioning, language, and the ability to interact with others and care for oneself.
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Cognitive changes after stroke
Often after a stroke has occurred and been diagnosed, cognitive changes are observed. Some strokes and transient ischemic attacks are less obvious, and cognitive changes may be suspected but not known. Neuropsychological assessment gives information about the degree to which cognition is affected, as well as recommendations for services and compensatory strategies to improve quality of life.
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Cognitive changes after COVID and other infections
After a severe case of COVID (SARS-CoV-2) or another infection, cognitive changes may be noticed. These changes can include impairments in memory, attention, and executive function, and may be described as “brain fog.” Cognitive deficits as a result of infection can affect daily life, including performance at work and school.
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Cognitive changes associated with menopause
Women in menopause or perimenopause may experience a variety of cognitive changes, which can include memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, slower cognitive processing, and difficulty with word retrieval. Sleep and mood changes may also be present, which can further exacerbate cognitive challenges.
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Brain injury
Anoxic or traumatic brain injury can result in challenges with memory, learning, reasoning, attention, concentration, judgment, organization, processing speed, language, and executive functioning. Challenges with planning, initiating and completing tasks, motivation, understanding of complex concepts, personality changes, and other psychiatric symptoms may be present.
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Learning Disorders
Specific Learning Disorders may be present in Reading, Mathematics, and/ or Written Expression. People with learning disorders may have difficulty at school or work due to challenges with academic abilities, and may have lower than expected academic performance even with targeted educational assistance.
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition caused by chronic or acute trauma, either by living through it, or witnessing it. Symptoms may include longstanding flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts and stress related to the trauma. Avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions to others or specific events can also occur.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder marked by recurring thoughts or fears (obsessions) that a person cannot control, leading to repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) that are intended to reduce the distress or prevent something bad from happening, even though these compulsive behaviors provide only temporary relief. These obsessions and compulsions are time-consuming and interfere with daily life, work, and relationships.
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Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, formerly called Manic Depression, is a condition notable for mood swings. These include cyclical emotional highs known as mania or hypomania, and lows known as depression. Bipolar may be diagnosed as Bipolar I Disorder or Bipolar II Disorder, and the manic symptoms of Bipolar I Disorder are more severe than the hypomanic symptoms that are a part of Bipolar II Disorder. The mood changes that are a part of the Bipolar Disorders can affect sleep, activity, judgment, behavior, and the ability to think and communicate clearly. At times, symptoms of psychosis can accompany mood swings.
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Depression and other Mood Disorders
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest, affects how a person feels, thinks, and behaves, and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical challenges. Depressive Disorders include Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, and others, and bouts of depression may occur once or multiple times during a person’s life.
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General Anxiety
Excessing, ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and interfere with daily activities may be a sign of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder can include worrying about a number of different scenarios, overthinking, seeing things as threatening even when they are not, difficulty relaxing, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, and irritability.
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Social Anxiety
Social Anxiety Disorder, also called Social Phobia, results in significant anxiety from everyday interactions due to the fear of being scrutinized or negatively judged by others. This anxiety may lead to avoidance of social activities that can affect relationships, daily routines, work, school, and other activities.
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Panic Disorder
Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger sudden physical and emotional reactions such as rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling, chills, shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain, headache, the need to leave the situation, and the fear of loss of control or death, even when no real danger or apparent cause is present. Recurrent panic attacks accompanied by a significant fear of additional panic attacks may be diagnosed as Panic Disorder.
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Personality Disorders or concerns
Personality disorders are characterized by longstanding patterns of seeing oneself and reacting to others in ways that others would describe as distorted, and which cause significant problems. People with personality disorders or personality disorder traits often struggle with understanding their own emotions, tolerating distress, and acting impulsively, which can have negative consequences in relationships, at work and school, and with overall quality of life.
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Attachment Disorder or concerns
Attachment disorders arise when children are unable to establish health attachments with caregivers. This can happen when their basic needs for comfort, affection, and nurturing are not consistently met. Difficulties with attachment can persist into adulthood, and can present as emotionally withdrawn behavior, unexplained irritability and sadness, minimal responsiveness to others, not seeking comfort or responding poorly when comfort is given, avoidance of intimacy, control problems, relationship sabotage, trusting others too readily leading to victimization, or difficulty trusting others at all.
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Adjustment Disorder
An Adjustment Disorder is an emotional or behavioral response to one or more stressful life events that results in significant problems in a person’s daily life. Symptoms of an Adjustment Disorder can include sadness, worry, anxiety, and changes in behavior such as social withdrawal or reckless actions occurring in response to a specific stressor.
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About Me
Amy Dixon
Blackmon, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist in Austin, TexasDr. Blackmon completed a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Rice University, and three postgraduate degrees at Yale University, including a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She completed American Psychological Association Division 40 training in Neuropsychology, including a clinical internship at the South Texas Veterans Health Care Center in San Antonio, and a postdoctoral fellowship at a post-acute brain injury and psychiatric rehabilitation facility in central Texas.
Dr. Blackmon is licensed in Texas, and has worked in private practice, teaching, hospital, and rehabilitation settings in Austin since 2001. She provides in-person assessment in her northwest Austin office, as well as online assessment when appropriate. She has Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) through PSYPACT, allowing her to provide telehealth to clients in states that participate in PSYPACT. Dr. Blackmon is a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).
Contact Me
Dr. Blackmon provides a free 15-minute consultation before booking an assessment to help determine whether assessment is right for you.
To schedule a call, contact Dr. Blackmon by email at amy@amyblackmonphd.com or by phone at +1 512 350 7621.