Purpose of a Neuropsychological Evaluation

Neuropsychological evaluation will provide patients with valuable information about their condition in addition to neurological, medical and educational tests, offering in-depth analysis of their functioning. It will allow to plan and design remediation and rehabilitation work, providing the baseline of current functioning and specific markers of strengths and weaknesses. Neuropsychological evaluation needs to be done to create a baseline for future reference, especially when there is a suspicion of neurological, developmental, or cognitive condition that needs to be followed up. Neuropsychological evaluation will be essential in obtaining special services, accommodations, and benefit determination.

What to Expect

Neuropsychological evaluation is a complex and dynamic process that includes integration of data received through various sources of information: clinical interview with the patient and family; review of available records; test administration; feedback session. If necessary, direct observations and interviews with other specialists are included in the evaluation process, particularly when assessment is done with children of school age. Clinical interview allows for detailed discussion of the presenting issues, and it is one of the most critical stages of gathering information about the patient. It includes background information, developmental history, previously administered tests and history of other treatments. Test administration is lengthy and it may take up to 10 hours. If needed, testing can be done in more than one testing session. Testing process will include assessment of cognitive functioning, academic achievement, adaptive functioning, assessment of higher cortical functions; attention and concentration; learning and memory; speech and language; visuo-spatial and motor functioning; sensory and perceptive functioning; personality and social functioning. Feedback session is essential and it allows all involved parties to discuss the findings and recommendations for the patient.