Neuropsychological Assessment
Neuropsychological assessment provides an objective way to measure brain-behaviour relationships. The assessment is conducted by a neuropsychologist; a psychologist who has completed advanced training in the assessment and evaluation of brain-behaviour relationships.
A neuropsychologist has specific expertise in the assessment of cognition, emotion and behaviour in individuals with (or who are suspected to have) brain dysfunction arising from various neurological, psychiatric or other medical conditions.
The findings of neuropsychological assessment can play an important role in establishing a diagnosis, in helping to differentiate between conditions (eg. dementia and depression), in treatment, rehabilitation and care planning. If brain dysfunction is confirmed or suspected, if there are concerns about memory and thinking, or if there are difficulties with work, study or with going about new or familiar tasks, then neuropsychological assessment may be warranted.
A neuropsychologist has specific expertise in the assessment of cognition, emotion and behaviour in individuals with (or who are suspected to have) brain dysfunction arising from various neurological, psychiatric or other medical conditions.
The findings of neuropsychological assessment can play an important role in establishing a diagnosis, in helping to differentiate between conditions (eg. dementia and depression), in treatment, rehabilitation and care planning. If brain dysfunction is confirmed or suspected, if there are concerns about memory and thinking, or if there are difficulties with work, study or with going about new or familiar tasks, then neuropsychological assessment may be warranted.
Neuropsychological assessment can be useful in the diagnosis and management of:
- Dementia/neurodegenerative disease (eg. Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia)
- Traumatic or acquired brain injury
- Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
- Neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, brain tumour)
- Neuropsychiatric and mood disorders
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (e,g., intellectual disability, learning disorders, ADHD)
- Other medical illnesses that can affect cognitive function (eg. autoimmune disorders, renal impairment).
The findings and recommendations may help to:
- Confirm or clarify the diagnosis
- Monitor for change over time (eg. following a change in medication,treatment or surgery)
- Increase understanding of the impact of a condition on a person's day to day level of function
- Guide return to work, study or rehabilitation planning
- Identify strategies that may assist performance and help improve quality of life
- Evaluate decision making capacity (e.g., testamentary capacity, capacity to confer or revoke a Power of Attorney/Guardianship, manage financial affairs etc)
In the medicolegal context, a neuropsychological assessment may be requested to:
- Confirm or clarify the diagnosis
- Establish whether a brain injury has occurred
- Determine the impact of any brain injury on current or future social, educational or occupational function
- Evaluate decision making capacity (e.g., testamentary capacity, capacity to confer or revoke a Power of Attorney/Guardianship, manage financial affairs, capacity to instruct, contractual capacity, decisions relating to self-care, medical treatment and accommodation) and fitness to be tried
Dr Ilana HepnerClinical NeuropsychologistBA (Hons) MClinNeuropsych MHL PhD
