Neuropsychological Assessments
What is a Neuropsychological assessment?
A neuropsychological assessment provides information about a person’s cognitive or thinking skills. It involves completing tasks that can provide information about intellectual functioning, memory, learning, language, visual processing, attention, problem solving and academic skills. It can help with diagnosis and treatment planning and can be used to establish a baseline for future comparison. The results of the assessment can be used to make recommendations or strategies for managing and improving any cognitive difficulties a person might be having in their daily life. These strategies can be used at home, in the workplace or at school.
What does it involve?
Stage 1.
A neuropsychological assessment typically involves an interview to gather information about your current concerns and background history, including medical history, family history, academic and employment history. We also discuss your goals and what you are hoping to achieve from this process.
Stage 2.
You will then complete the assessment component which involves completing various tasks which assess your thinking skills. There are many possible tasks that can be used to tell us about your intellectual functioning, memory, language, attention, problem-solving and academic performance. The tasks are chosen based on your current concerns and goals. This process usually takes 3 to 4 hours including breaks.
Stage 3.
Following the assessment you will receive a detailed report highlighting your assessment results, conclusions and recommendations for managing any difficulties. You will also receive verbal feedback in a follow up appointment to discuss the results and any questions you may have.
Reasons for a Neuropsychological Assessment
There are many reasons why a neuropsychological assessment may be requested. These include:
- Concerns about behaviour impacting on learning
- Difficulties with attention and concentration
- Difficulties managing studies at school, TAFE or university
- Difficulties in the workplace
- IQ assessment needed for school placement
- Determine school readiness
- Understand cognitive strengths and weaknesses
- Understand cognitive strengths and weaknesses
- Develop strategies to manage learning and thinking difficulties
- Concern about a decline in memory or other cognitive skills
- Changes in behaviour
- Provide a baseline assessment for future comparisons
- Diagnostic assessment
- Capacity or decision-making assessment
- Clearance to return to work or driving
Assistance with diagnosis and management of conditions
Neuropsychological assessments can be useful for diagnosis and management of a wide variety of conditions, including:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Learning difficulties
- Language disorders
- Intellectual disability
- Developmental delay
- Craniofacial disorders
- Brain malformations
- Genetic syndromes
- Cerebral palsy
- Preterm birth
- Giftedness
- Acquired brain injury
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Dementia
- Depression
- PTSD
- Substance Abuse
- Schizophrenia