What is neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on relationships between the brain and behavior. A clinical neuropsychologist is a specialist with expertise in how behavior and skills are related to brain structures and systems. Brain functioning is evaluated with objective, standardized tests of memory and thinking abilities. A detailed evaluation is conducted, and the pattern of strengths and weaknesses is used to assist in diagnosis and treatment planning. The clinical neuropsychologist conducts the evaluation and makes recommendations that are shared with the individual in a feedback session.

Neuropsychological evaluations are requested specifically to help your doctors and other professionals understand how different areas and systems of the brain are working. Testing is usually recommended when there are symptoms or complaints involving memory or thinking. This may be signaled by a change in concentration, organization, reasoning, memory, language, perception, coordination, or personality. The change may be due to any of a number of medical, neurological, psychological, or genetic causes such as:

• Alzheimer’s or dementia type illnesses
• Brain attack (stroke)
• Seizure disorders
• Cardiovascular disease
• Brain cancer
• Metabolic disorders (e.g., thyroid imbalance and diabetes)
• Traumatic brain injury
• Substance/alcohol abuse
• Exposure to toxic substances
• Movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases)

Test results can be used to understand your situation in a number of ways.

• Testing can help determine whether memory changes are normal age-related changes or if they reflect problems related to medical conditions that can affect memory and thinking abilities.
• Test results can also be used to help differentiate among illnesses, which is important because appropriate treatment depends on accurate diagnosis. For instance, testing can help to differentiate among Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and depression. Your physician will use this information along other test results, such as brain imaging and blood tests, to come to the most informed diagnosis possible.
• Sometimes testing is used to establish a baseline of function by which future evaluations can be compared.
• Testing can be used to evaluate the effects of surgical and/or other interventions on cognitive functioning.
• Test results can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses after a stroke or traumatic brain injury in order to help to plan and monitor rehabilitation.
• Scores on specific tests will help your doctors understand why you may have difficulties related to everyday functional skills, such as managing money, driving, or readiness to return to work. This will help guide planning for assistance or treatment.

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