Neuropsychology Services

Neuropsychological Assessment
Neuropsychological services at the Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience Institute were established in 1997. The goal of the Department of Neuropsychology is to contribute to the diagnosis of conditions that affect brain functioning while assisting in the care and adjustment of patients and their families.

Neuropsychological evaluations consist of tests designed to assess concentration, language, memory, and other cognitive abilities. These tests are administered by a neuropsycholgist and/or an assistant (psychometrician). Many of the tests start with easy questions and problems to solve, which often increase gradually in difficulty. No one is expected to be able to answer all of the questions. Although almost everyone feels at least a little anxious or tense about taking tests, this is natural, and is taken into account when reviewing the results.

Close friends and family members often have useful information regarding the patient's abilities. To help understand the patient better, the neuropsychologist may want to speak with these individuals after the assessment is completed. At present, we are only able to provide services to individuals aged sixteen years and older.

Outpatient Neuropsychological Evaluations
Outpatient assessments typically last from three to four hours, but sometimes an additional session of one or two hours is needed. The majority of the appointment is directed toward assessment of cognitive functioning; however, the neuropsychologist will also spend time talking to the patient in order to better understand the patient's current difficulties. It is important that patients bring their eyeglasses, hearing aid and a list of their prescription medications to their appointment.

Inpatient Neuropsycholgical Evaluations
Inpatient neuropsychological evaluations are usually less comprehensive than an outpatient evaluation and occur as a consultation/liaison service throughout Kettering Memorial Hospital. These evaluations are often used to aid physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions that may change rapidly. While not as comprehensive as an outpatient evaluation, the data can establish a baseline of function by which future evaluations can be compared. For example, a patient who is referred for an outpatient neuropsychological evaluation six months following a stroke can have their performance compared to earlier evaluations taken at one or two weeks after their stroke. This often helps the patient better understand the progress they have made and appreciate the benefits of their hard work.

Rehabilitation Neuropsychology
Rehabilitation neuropsychology is a special category of inpatient care. Most patients admitted to the Kettering Medical Center rehabilitation unit are seen by a clinical neuropsychologist who has two primiary objectives:

• Help the patient and family adjust to the current situation and evaluate whether the patient's mood is interfering with the rehabilitation process. In addition to making pertinent treatment recommendations, the neuropsychologist offers brief supportive counseling for the patient and family.
• Provide a brief neuropsychological evaluation. Cognition is often compromised as the result of cerebral insults such as stroke, brain cancer or traumatic brain injury. The information gleaned from this evaluation is used by the treatment team to assist in the patient's care, treatment and discharge planning. The results are also provided to the patient and family in order to help them better appreciate the imediate effects of the patient's illness and how best to maximize a sense of independence while maintaining appropriate safety precautions. Finally, the data is used as a baseline by which to compare future evaluations as described above.

Forensic Neuropsychological Services
The Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience Institute offers neuropsychological expertise in defense/plaintiff litigation, as well as independent examinations for personal injury and Workers’ Compensation cases. Our neuropsychologists are available for expert witness testimony and consultation.

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