What is Adult Clinical Neuropsychology?

Clinical neuropsychology is a specialty that focuses on the relationship between brain function and expressed behavior. A clinical neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist with expertise in how behavior and skills are related to brain structures and systems. The clinical neuropsychologist conducts the evaluation and makes recommendations. He may also provide treatment, such as cognitive rehabilitation, behavior management, or specialized psychotherapy.

Why should I see a Clinical Neuropsychologist?

Neuropsychological evaluations are requested specifically to help physicians and other professionals understand how areas and systems of the brain are operating. Testing is usually recommended when there are symptoms or complaints involving memory and thinking. Symptoms may include changes in concentration, attention, inhibition, reasoning, memory, language, perception, coordination, or personality. These changes may be due to any of a number of medical, neurological, psychological, or genetic causes.

What does a neuropsychological evaluation include and assess?

·    Diagnostic Interview

·    Review of medical and pertinent historical records

·    Intellect

·    Achievement

·    Executive Functions (i.e., organization, planning, inhibition, and mental flexibility)

·    Attention and concentration

·    Learning and memory

·    Language

·    Visual and spatial abilities

·    Motor and sensory abilities

·    Mood and personality

·    Social, relationship, and vocational history

·    Drug, alcohol, and legal history

·    Feedback Session and comprehensive report

Assessments are tailored to your individual needs.

 

How are test results used to understand my specific situation?

By using a normative data set of scores for comparison, as well as qualitative data obtained through observation, the neuropsychologist can judge whether or not your scores are normal for your age and educational background. The pattern of your test scores is reviewed to estimate whether or not there have been changes in certain abilities. How you solve the various problems and answer questions during the examination are also noted. Using these methods, your strengths and weaknesses can be identified.

What will the results tell me?

Test results can be used to understand your situation in a number of ways:

·    Testing can identify weaknesses in specific areas. Neuropsychological tests are very sensitive to mild memory and thinking problems that might not be obvious in other ways. When problems are very mild, testing may be the only way to detect them. For example, testing can help determine whether memory changes are normal age-related changes or if they reflect a neurological disorder. Testing might also be used to identify problems related to medical conditions that can affect memory and thinking, such as diabetes, metabolic or infectious diseases, or alcoholism.

·    Test results are also be used to help differentiate among illnesses, which is important because appropriate treatment depends on accurate diagnosis. Different illnesses result in different patterns of strengths and weaknesses on testing. Therefore, the results can be helpful in determining which areas of the brain might be involved and what illness might be operating. For instance, testing can help to differentiate between Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and depression. Your physician will use this information, along with the results of other tests, to come to the most informed diagnosis & intervention possible.

·    Sometimes testing is used to establish a "baseline," or document a person's skills before there is any problem. In this way, later changes can be measured objectively.

·    Test results can be used to plan treatments that utilize strengths to compensate for weaknesses. The results help to identify what target problems to work on and which strategies to use. For example, the results can help to plan and monitor rehabilitation or to follow the recovery of skills after a stroke or traumatic brain injury.

·    Studies have shown how scores on specific tests relate to everyday functional skills, such as managing money, driving, or readiness to return to work. Your results will help your doctors understand what problems you may have in everyday life. This will help planning for assistance or treatment.

What should I expect?

 A neuropsychological evaluation usually consists of an interview and testing. During the interview, you will be asked about your symptoms, educational, work and medical histories, medications, and other important factors. Testing involves taking pencil-and-paper or computerized tests and hands on activities completed one-to-one with an examiner. Many neuropsychologists employ trained examiners (psychometricians and/or advanced doctoral students) to assist with the administration and scoring of tests, so you may see more than one person during the evaluation. The time required depends on the problem being assessed. In general, several hours are needed to assess the many skills involved in processing information. Some tests will be easy while others will be more complex. The most important thing is to try your best. Bring glasses or hearing aids if you use them. Try to rest and relax before your evaluation. You will probably find testing interesting, and the detailed information that is gathered will contribute to your care.

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