What is CLINICAL Neuropsychology?
Clinical Neuropsychology is a specialty profession that focuses on
brain functioning. A clinical neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist with
expertise in how behavior and skills are related to brain structures and
systems. In clinical neuropsychology, brain function is evaluated by
objectively testing memory and thinking skills. A very detailed assessment of
abilities is done, and the pattern of strengths and weaknesses is used in
important health care areas, such as diagnosis and treatment planning. The
clinical neuropsychologist conducts the evaluation and makes recommendations.
He or she may also provide treatment, such as cognitive rehabilitation,
behavior management, or psychotherapy.
Why Have
I Been Referred?
Neuropsychological evaluations
are requested specifically to help your doctors and other professionals
understand how the different areas and systems of the brain are working.
Testing is usually recommended when there are symptoms or complaints involving
memory or thinking. This may be signaled by a change in concentration,
organization, reasoning, memory, language, perception, coordination, or
personality. The change may be due to any of a number of medical, neurological,
psychological, or genetic causes. Testing will be helpful in understanding your
specific situation.
What is MEASURED?
A typical
neuropsychological evaluation will involve assessment of the following:
· General intellect
· Higher-level executive skills (e.g.,
sequencing, reasoning, problem-solving)
· Attention and concentration
· Learning and memory
· Language
· Visual-spatial skills (e.g., perception)
· Motor and sensory skills
· Mood and personality
Some
abilities may be measured in more detail than others, depending on your needs
and the time available for assessment.
How Are
test Scores Used to Understand My PARTICULAR Situation?
Your test scores will be compared
to scores from people who are like you in important ways. By using database
scores from large groups of healthy people for comparison, the
neuropsychologist can judge whether or not your scores are normal for your age
and educational background. The pattern of your own test scores will also be
reviewed to estimate whether or not there has been a change in certain
abilities. How you go about solving the various problems and answering
questions during the examination will also be noted. Using these methods, your
strengths and weaknesses can be identified.
What Will the test Results Tell Me?
·Testing
can identify weaknesses in specific areas. It is 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 can 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 among Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and depression.
Your physician will use this information along with the results of other tests,
such as MRI and blood tests, to come to the most informed diagnosis 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
very objectively.
·Test
results can be used to plan treatments that use 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
rehabilitation or to monitor the recovery 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 guide planning for assistance or treatment.
A
neuropsychological evaluation usually consists of an interview and testing.
During the interview, information that is important for the neuropsychologist
to consider will be reviewed. You will be asked about your symptoms, medical
history, medications, and other important factors. Testing involves taking
paper-and-pencil or computerized tests and answering questions. 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 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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