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Neuropsychologists and Neuropsychological Evaluations
By Michelle Winston
An Overview
A neuropsychologist is a doctoral-level, licensed psychologist with specialized training and expertise in assessment of cognitive functioning (i.e. thinking and memory) and how behavior and skills are related to brain structures and systems (i.e. brain-behavior relationships). Neuropsychological evaluations are usually recommended when there are symptoms or complaints involving memory or thinking or when there are unexplained or atypical changes in behavior. The neuropsychologist conducts a very detailed assessment of abilities using objective and standardized tests to evaluate brain functions. The pattern of strengths and weaknesses found in testing, in combination with a clinical interview and good history-taking, is used to determine if, and to what extent, cognitive and behavioral changes are brain related and to aid in diagnosis. The neuropsychologist can then work with the care recipient, family, and caregivers to establish a treatment and care plan to best meet your needs and specific situation.
What is assessed?
A typical neuropsychological evaluation will involve assessment of the following abilities, with some measured in more detail than others depending upon your needs:
- Attention and concentration
- Information processing
- Learning and memory
- Language
- Executive functioning (reasoning and problem solving)
- Non-verbal skills
- Motor & sensory functioning
- Mood & personality
- Instrumental activities of daily living
What can I expect?
A neuropsychological evaluation usually consists of the following components:
- Initial contact via telephone
- Completion of various forms and questionnaires regarding background history and past and present functioning
- Clinical interview
- Testing, which is typically divided into 2 or 3 sessions of 2–3 hours each; consists of both Q&A and paper-and-pencil tasks
- Scoring and analysis of tests
- Review of records and questionnaires
- Report
- Review session with neuropsychologist to discuss findings and recommendations
Why would I see a neuropsychologist or take my care recipient to one?
A neuropsychologist can be helpful in understanding your situation and contributing to your care in a number of ways, such as:
- Aid in a diagnosis
- Aid in prognosis
- Establish a “baseline” or document skills before treatment, such as surgery or a change to your medication regime, is undertaken such that later changes can be identified and objectively measured
- Determine the presence, nature, and extent of cognitive impairment
- Identify reasons or causes for changes in cognition, behavior, or personality
- Identify instrumental activities of daily living that may be compromised
- Provide functional information to augment results of medical tests such as CT-scan or MRI
- Distinguish between changes due to normal aging as opposed to something else
- Sort out emotional from cognitive factors
- Determine whether there is a dementing illness
- Identify problems related to medical conditions that can affect memory and thinking
- Facilitate treatment planning
- Facilitate care planning
- Facilitate case management
- Determine what it would take to remain living independently
- Determine competency
- Determine ability to function independently
- Determine issues relative to safety and level of care needed now and in the future
How do I find a neuropsychologist?
- Ask your physician for a recommendation
- Contact the National Academy of Neuropsychology and request a listing of providers in your area (call 303-691-3694 or send an e-mail to: office@nanonline.org)
- Look under Neuropsychologist in your local yellow pages
- Call your local senior center
- Call your local Area Agency on Aging (call 1-800-677-1116 to find your local AAA)
- Do an online search for “Neuropsychologist YOUR CITY”
Dr. Michelle Winston is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist practicing in Boulder, Colorado.