WHAT IS A NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION?

A neuropsychological evaluation is a thorough assessment of brain functioning that is used to diagnosis injury and illness to help determine patterns of brain strengths and weaknesses. This type of testing is a valuable tool often used in conjunction with brain scans such as CT or MRI. Although scans are useful and can detect various forms of injury, a neuropsychological evaluation is sometimes necessary to determine the impact of injury or illness on a person’s daily functioning. In this way, a neuropsychological evaluation can be more sensitive than a scan, detecting injury or illness before it shows up on a scan.

Neuropsychological testing results are backed by objective data and demonstrate how a patient is performing compared to their same-age peers. In addition to determining the diagnosis, a neuropsychological evaluation can help answer vital questions. It can help determine if factors such as sleep, stress, medication or depression are impacting functioning. There are multiple conditions that may produce similar symptoms and some conditions may be treatable. Testing can also help answer questions such as “is it safe to continue to take medication independently?” or “What type of care is needed?”

What can I expect?

The exact tests you will take will depend on the particular brain functions your doctor wants to check. The tests are meant to test your limits, so don’t be discouraged if they seem hard. You might feel nervous about the evaluation, but that is a normal response and our staff works hard to make you feel comfortable and at ease. Some people find the testing to be a little boring, but others find it interesting and fun. You will also participate in a thorough clinical interview to obtain an in-depth understanding of the problems you may be experiencing.

The testing session will take approximately four hours. Family members are encouraged to come to the appointment with you. They can help provide information during the interview portion if desired, and are welcome to wait in our comfortable waiting area during the parts of testing when you need to be one and one with the examiner. For our patients under age 18, we ask that a parent or guardian stay on site throughout testing.

A note about memory loss:
Many people have difficulty with memory at some point in their lives, particularly as they age. A thorough and timely assessment can be essential to:

• Rule out conditions other than dementia that may have similar symptoms and may be treatable, including depression, chest and urinary tract infections, severe constipation, and vitamin and thyroid deficiencies.
• Give a patient and their family an explanation for their symptoms, removing uncertainty, and provide knowledge of what the next steps should be.
• Allow patients access to treatment as well as information, advice and support.
• Give patients the complete information that they need to plan and make arrangements for their future.
• Diagnose the type of dementia, if that is what is causing symptoms. Different treatment options are recommended based on what type of dementia is diagnosed.
• Give peace of mind in knowing what to expect.

If you are found to have early-stage memory loss, your doctor can guide you through the next steps. Although there is no cure for some dementia, medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors might help with symptoms like memory loss and confusion. Your doctor can explain your options and help you understand what to expect. One of the advantages of early diagnosis is the opportunity it provides patients to start planning for their own future rather than leaving it in the hands of others.