Neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychology is a subdiscipline of psychology
that specializes in the clinical assessment and treatment of patients
with brain injury or
neurocognitive deficits.
What distinguishes a clinical neuropsychologist is an extensive knowledge of the brain, including an understanding of
areas such as: neuroanatomy,
neurobiology,
psychopharmacology,
neurological illness or injury, the use of
neuropsychological tests to accurately assess
cognitive deficits, and the management, treatment and
rehabiliation of
brain injured and
neurocognitively impaired patients.
A neuropsychological evaluation is typically focused on understanding brain-related cognitive, learning,
behavioral and emotional disorders. Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation includes testing, feedback
session with parents and written report to referral source(s). Written report provides results and guidance
in cognitive, learning, behavioral and emotional domains. Strategies for remediation, compensation, coping,
educational planning and family adjustment are provided.
A. Clinical neuropsychologists:
- Conducting neuropsychological assessments to assess a
person's cognitive skills, usually after some sort of brain injury or neurological impairment. This may be
for the purposes of:
- Planning treatments
- To determine someone's neurocognitive functioning
- Assessing mental capacity
- To detect changes over time.
B. Caseload may include:
C. Training:
- Psychotherapy and counseling.
- We can also provide therapeutic services to patients in need of education and emotional support concerning
their neurological injuries or illness.
- We are frequently active in teaching at the university level and conducting research into a wide range of
issues concerning human brain-behavior relationships.
- We are typically versed in more common neuroimaging or other study techniques evaluating the brain, brain
functioning, blood flow, electrical activity, and other techniques investigating brain functions.
Useful pamphlets for families or others regarding neuropsychology can be
found at: http://www.div40.org/pdf/PedNeuropscyhBroch3.pdf
or http://www.div40.org/pdf/NeuropscyhBroch2.pdf
Who is Qualified to Conduct a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A neuropsychological evaluation should only be done by a psychologist who has had specialized
training and experience in the field, which include:
- Predoctoral training in psychology and neuropsychology
- For newer clinicians in the field, two years of postdoctoral training focusing on brain-behavior
relationships and neuropsychological assessment
- For individuals working in the field for more than 5 or more years, onsite training and supervision
with another professional providing neuropsychological oversight assisted clinicians specializing in the area
When to refer for a neuropsychological evaluation:
A. A neuropsychological evaluation is recommended for any case in which brain-based impairment
in cognitive function or behavior is suspected.
- Typical referrals are made to diagnose or rule out the following conditions, and to
describe their impact on a person's cognitive functioning:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Strokes
- Developmental or learning disabilities
- Attention deficit disorders
- Psychiatric or neuropsychiatric disorders
- Seizure disorders
- Medical illness or treatments
- Effects of toxic chemicals or chronic substance abuse
- Dementing conditions (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease)
B. A neuropsychological evaluation is particularly useful for tracking progress in rehabilitation after
brain injury or other neurological disease. Neuropsychological evaluation can assist greatly in
planning educational and vocational programs. It can also be invaluable for disability determination or for
forensic (legal) purposes.
Are All Neuropsychological Evaluations the Same?
A. No.
- A neuropsychological evaluation is not a fixed series of tests which anyone can give.
Specialized training allows the neuropsychologist to select, administer, and interpret the
particular tests and procedures which will yield the most comprehensive understanding of an
individual's strengths and weaknesses. Each neuropsychological examination is tailored to
the needs of the individual client.
What is an Exam Like?
A. A neuropsychological evaluation involves a wide variety of tasks, most of which are
done sitting at a table or at bedside in a hospital.
- There are no invasive procedures, no pain, no needles, or electrodes.
- The evaluation often takes 6 to 8 hours of face-to-face contact, but can vary widely depending
on what information is being sought. (this does not include test scoring/interpretation, report
preparation, feedback, or other requested assistance)
- The evaluation can be scheduled in a single appointment or in a series of appointments.
What is the difference between an educational, psychological, and neuropsychological assessment?
- A. Educational assessment:
- Most often conducted in a school setting by a certified educator (teacher), however it can also
be done privately in an outpatient setting. It utilizes standardized instruments such as the
Brigance to compare your child's academic performance to other children his or her age/grade.
- B. Psychological evaluation:
- Can be conducted in a school or outpatient setting and can be done by a certified
school psychologist or licensed clinical psychologist. If the person being evaluated is a
child, the clinician should be specifically trained in assessing children. A typical
psychological evaluation uses standardized measures to assess cognitive ability
(historically referred to as an IQ or Intelligence Quotient), school achievement, and
social/emotional functioning.
- C. Neuropsychology:
- Specialized area investigating the connection between brain and behavior. Clinicians
with training in neuropsychological assessments additionally evaluate (in greater depth)
the domains of attention, memory, intelligence, language, visual-perception, visual-spatial
thinking, psychosensory and motor abilities, "frontal lobe" or executive functions,
academic achievement, and personality or emotional functions. The neuropsychologist
is able to complete any of the above evaluation types and can expand batteries for more
specific information.
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