Frequently Asked Questions

Clinical neuropsychology is a specialty profession within psychology  that focuses on the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems that  may arise from known or suspected brain dysfunction. A clinical  neuropsychologist is a licensed, doctoral level psychologist with  expertise in how various brain conditions affect your behavior, mood,  and thinking skills. The clinical neuropsychologist evaluates brain  functioning by objectively testing memory and other thinking skills. A  detailed assessment of these abilities is completed, and the results are  used to determine the diagnosis and to provide treatment  recommendations. 

Your doctor may refer you for a neuropsychological evaluation to better  understand how the different areas and systems of your brain are  working. A referral is usually recommended when there are concerns about  your thinking abilities, such as changes or problems in concentration,  organization, problem solving, memory, language, perception,  coordination, and personality, or concerns about your academic  functioning. These problems may stem from any number of medical,  neurological, psychological, developmental, or genetic causes. A  neuropsychological evaluation will be helpful in understanding your  specific situation and help your medical providers determine the best  plan to treat you. 

A typical neuropsychological evaluation will involve assessment of  general intellect, attention and concentration, processing speed, higher  level executive skills (e.g., reasoning, problem-solving, organization,  sequencing, etc.), learning and memory, language, visual-spatial skills  (e.g., perception), motor and sensory skills, mood, and personality  functioning. Some abilities may be measured in more detail than others,  depending on your specific needs. 

Test results are used to help understand the cause of problems with  your thinking. The tests used are very sensitive in identifying mild  memory and thinking problems that might not be detectable in other ways.  For example, testing can help determine whether memory changes are  normal age-related changes or if they reflect a neurological disorder.  Testing can also help differentiate among illnesses, which is important  because appropriate treatment depends on accurate diagnosis. For  example, testing can help to differentiate between Alzheimer’s disease,  cerebrovascular disease, and depression. Your doctor can then use the  results of your neuropsychological evaluation (along with results of  other tests, such as brain imaging and blood tests) to arrive at the  most informed diagnosis.

Sometimes testing is performed before and  after a medical or surgical treatment to determine whether thinking  abilities were affected by the intervention. Test results can also be  used to demonstrate how well you are recovering from a stroke, traumatic  brain injury, alcoholism, or other medical condition. Results can help  determine whether or not you are ready to return to work or school,  resume driving, or take on other responsibilities.

If you have  concerns about your child’s behavior, learning, or attention, a  neuropsychological evaluation can provide valuable insights into the  underlying causes of academic concerns to help you better understand  your child’s needs and assist with obtaining appropriate academic  accommodations. Such evaluations are also useful in providing diagnostic  clarification when a developmental disorder, such as  attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is suspected, but  uncertain.

A neuropsychological evaluation consists of a clinical interview,  followed by an assessment of your cognitive skills and emotional  functioning. During the clinical interview, you will be asked about your  current symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, medications, and  other important factors. Assessment of your cognitive and emotional  functioning will involve taking paper-and-pencil or computerized tests.  These tests typically involve writing or drawing, solving puzzles, and  answering questions. It is important to work as hard as possible on  these tests in order for the results to be accurate. You may also be  asked to complete questionnaires focused on your mood and psychological  symptoms.

With children, parents are often asked to complete questionnaires about their child’s behavior.

With  your permission, we may ask to speak to a close family member or friend  in order to obtain additional information regarding any problems in  thinking or behavior that they may have noticed in you. This individual  is welcome to accompany you to the clinical interview portion of the  appointment, which will last about 45 minutes. If this individual is  unable to accompany you to the appointment, you are welcome to provide  their contact information, and we will contact them at a later time.

 You are welcome to bring water and snacks with you to the appointment.  You are also encouraged to bring your glasses, contact lenses, or  hearing aids, if appropriate, along with a list of all your current  medications and other relevant medical records that you feel may be  helpful. If you had a neuropsychological evaluation in the past, please  bring those records with you as well. 

The length of the assessment may vary depending on multiple factors, such as the issues being examined, which tests need to be administered,  and how quickly you are able to work comfortably. In general, it is  anticipated that the assessment will take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to  examine the many skills involved. You will be able to take some breaks, if needed. 

 After the assessment, you will be provided with feedback and a  written report, including clear recommendations targeted toward your  specific needs. These recommendations will be used by your doctors to  help guide your treatment. Referrals for various specialties (e.g.,  neurology or psychiatry) and therapies (e.g., physical, occupational, or  speech therapy) will be made when indicated. We can also match you with  the appropriate psychotherapist and treatment protocol to help address  your specific challenges.

With students, our recommendations can also be used by the school/university/educational provider to ensure  appropriate accommodations and services to promote success.