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Expert Neuropsychological Assessment
Adult Evaluations
How can an evaluation help me?
Describe thinking abilities before, during, or after an illness, injury, or treatment.
Provide a diagnosis and document disabilities.
Provide opinions about whether cognitive problems are likely to get worse, stay the same, or get better.
Describe strengths and weaknesses in thinking skills and provide guidance to help a person compensate for their challenges.
Better understand the impact of a medical issue on functioning.
Identify subtle cognitive problems.
Identify subtle cognitive problems.
Help determine if someone is a good candidate for a medical procedure.
Determine if cognitive problems are likely to make certain activities difficult (working, driving, living alone).
Answer legal questions
(e.g., does a person continue to have the capacity to make decisions).
(e.g., does a person continue to have the capacity to make decisions).
What is Involved in a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
Neuropsychological testing involves oral questions and paper-and-pencil or puzzles tasks to assess thinking skills and emotional or behavioral responses related to brain function.
Performances on these tests are then compared to those of other persons from similar backgrounds. Most people have strengths and weaknesses; however, certain patterns can be signs of a problem.
Results are interpreted within the context of other factors that could impact testing: current problems; how problems are impacting the person’s daily life; as well as medical, psychological, and social history.
Performances on these tests are then compared to those of other persons from similar backgrounds. Most people have strengths and weaknesses; however, certain patterns can be signs of a problem.
Results are interpreted within the context of other factors that could impact testing: current problems; how problems are impacting the person’s daily life; as well as medical, psychological, and social history.
What Does Neuropsychology Add Over Brain Imaging?
Brain imaging gives a picture of the brain, brain activity, or biological materials present in specific regions. This can identify urgent problems (stroke), areas not functioning well, or underlying diseases.
Imaging does not tell us how the brain problem impacts a person’s thinking or emotional and behavioral functions. These are questions that only a neuropsychological evaluation can answer.
Imaging does not tell us how the brain problem impacts a person’s thinking or emotional and behavioral functions. These are questions that only a neuropsychological evaluation can answer.
What Should I Expect on the Day of My Evaluation?
Evaluations are individualized and can take between 3-8 hours of direct time with your provider, depending on the nature of your concerns.
We will meet with you and your loved one(s) for about an hour to ask you questions about your history and current concerns.
Then, we will work with you one-on-one to complete the testing (about 2-6 hours).
About two weeks after your testing is complete, we will have a feedback session. We highly recommend that your loved one(s) attend the feedback session with you. This is your opportunity to review the results and have all your questions answered.
We offer in-person and telehealth options for most aspects of evaluations, depending on your individual needs.
We will meet with you and your loved one(s) for about an hour to ask you questions about your history and current concerns.
Then, we will work with you one-on-one to complete the testing (about 2-6 hours).
About two weeks after your testing is complete, we will have a feedback session. We highly recommend that your loved one(s) attend the feedback session with you. This is your opportunity to review the results and have all your questions answered.
We offer in-person and telehealth options for most aspects of evaluations, depending on your individual needs.
Telehealth and in-home appointments may be available upon request
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“We are a group of clinical neuropsychologists dedicated to promoting cognitive and behavioral health for children, adolescents, and adults”.
Why a neuropsychological evaluation may be recommended
Learning Disorders
Involves difficulties with one or more areas of academic learning, including reading, writing, or math. Though these difficulties are often associated with challenges in school, they can continue to cause problems in daily life and at work for adults.
ADHD
Involves difficulties with paying attention, staying organized, sitting still, and controlling impulses.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Involves difficulties with communication, socialization, and repetitive behaviors and limited interests that can undermine relationships and functioning throughout the lifespan.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Involves mild declines in memory and/or other thinking skills that do not undermine a person’s ability to live and function independently. These changes may place adults at higher risk for ongoing decline, and early identification of these changes can provide the opportunity for early intervention.
Dementia
Involves declines in memory and/or other thinking skills that make it difficult for a person to successfully function without assistance. There are many things that can cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative illnesses.
Aging
It is not uncommon for adults to notice subtle changes in memory and other thinking skills as they age. An evaluation can help determine if these changes are consistent with normal expectations or may be signs of another underlying problem.
Traumatic Brain Injury
TBIs that are more severe than an uncomplicated concussion/mild TBI may result in persistent challenges, with symptoms influenced by multiple factors, including injury characteristics, what part of the brain was injured, and other existing medical or psychosocial co-morbidities.
Stroke
Involves damage to the brain due to a lack of blood flow (ischemic stroke) or a bleed (hemorrhagic stroke). Stroke symptoms vary and are influenced by multiple factors, including the location and size of the stroke, time since the stroke, and other existing medical or psychosocial co-morbidities.
Brain Tumors
Brain tumors can present with a variety of physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms related to the type of tumor and location in the brain. While survivors often experience significant recovery of functions with tumor removal, they can also experience lasting challenges due to the effects of the tumor and side-effects of treatment.
Epilepsy
Or recurring seizures, is a disorder of abnormal nerve cell activity that may occur as a result of a genetic or developmental disorder or an acquired brain injury. Seizures affect thinking in different ways depending on factors such as how long a person has had seizures, how long the seizures last, the person’s natural strengths and weaknesses, and the effects of certain medications or surgical interventions.
What is a Neuropsychologist?
A Neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist specializing in the area of brain-behavior relationships.
Board certification in Clinical Neuropsychology is the clearest demonstration of this expertise.
What Should I Do to Prepare for My Appointment?
Bring all relevant medical records and intake packet to the appointment.
Relax and get a good night of sleep the night before.
Take your medications like normal.
Eat breakfast the morning of your appointment and bring a small snack.
Bring hearing aids or glasses (if needed).
Allow plenty of travel time to the appointment.
Who Should Come with Me?
We encourage you to bring one or two trusted friends or family members to accompany you to your initial appointment.
Your loved one(s) will join us for the first hour (the clinical interview) but are free to leave after that is completed.
Interviews can be done via telemedicine if it is difficult for them to come.
Your loved one(s) will join us for the first hour (the clinical interview) but are free to leave after that is completed.
Interviews can be done via telemedicine if it is difficult for them to come.
