Contents of this page:

• What is neuropsychology?
• What is a neuropsychologist?
• Why would a person need neuropsychological assessment?
• What can we find out from a neuropsychological assessment?
• What is involved in a neuropsychological evaluation?

What is neuropsychology?

The official definition of neuropsychology is that it is a science of brain-behavior relationship. Neuropsychologists study how brain functioning is expressed in everyday life and how various types of brain injury and disease affect everyday functioning, including work, study, social interactions, etc.[back]

What is a neuropsychologist?

Neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist specializing in brain-behavior relationship. In addition to doctoral level training in psychology, neuropsychologists usually receive training in brain anatomy and physiology, brain functioning, and brain injury and disease. They also receive extensive thraining and supervised experience in administering and interpreting tests used for neuropsychological assessment.[back]

Why would a person need neuropsychological assessment?

Neuropsychological assessment is used for a variety of purposes, including:

- Finding and documenting possible problems with brain functioning

- Helping with diagnosing brain disorders and differentiating them from other disorders

- Defining cognitive strengths and weaknesses

- Helping to plan treatment and rehabilitation of brain disorders and brain injuries

- Helping with educational, vocational, and other goals based on an individual's strengths and weaknesses

Typically, people are referred for neuropsychological assessment when they started having difficulties in school, at work, or in other areas of daily life and the reason for these difficulties is unclear (for example, a doctor may refer his or her patient to a neuropsychologist if they suspect an Attention Deficit Disorder or a Dementia; a school may refer a student if they suspect a Learning Disability, etc.). People are also often referred after brain injuries (for example, after a car accident), strokes, and brain surgeries to determine how the injury affected their ability to think and function. Another common referral question is: what are the appropriate services for this person? In case of school difficulties, an evaluation may determine appropriate learning tools and strategies, in case of difficulties in independent living - appropriate in-home support services, supervision and memory aides, in case of brain injury - appropriate rehabilitation services and techniques.[back]

What can we find out from a neuropsychological assessment?

Neuropsychological assessment provides information on brain functioning and how it is expressed in everyday life through such functions as:

- Attention and concentration

- Memory

- Language

- Movement and coordination

- Ability to accurately perceive, interpret and manipulate various types of information (visual, auditory, tactile)

- Ability to plan, reason, and solve problems

- Overall cognitive functioning and cognitive strengths and weaknessess

- Emotional functioning

- Academic skill development (if needed)

- How all those characteristics interact with the environment[back]

What is involved in a neuropsychological evaluation?

The tests and procedures involved in a neuropsychological evaluation may vary depending on the questions that need to be answered. The face-to-face part of the assessment usually involves an interview and a number of tests. The tests typically involve answering questions and solving problems of various complexity (these problems are often similar to various types of puzzles and brain-teazers). Neuropsychological assessment is non-invasive and does not usually involve any equipment beyond a paper and pencil or a computer. Depending on the questions asked, the evaluation may take two to eight hours face-to-face and additional three to six hours to review medical records, score the tests, and write the report.[back]