For Healthcare Professionals

What is neuropsychology?

Neuropsychology is concerned with assessing the relationship between the brain and behaviour, emotions, and cognition.  Neuropsychologists conduct evaluations to characterise behavioural and cognitive changes resulting from central nervous system disease or injury or to diagnose various conditions that involve behavioural, cognitive and/or psychological symptoms.

A neuropsychological evaluation involves the use of standardised clinical instruments and formal measures to assess cognition (and objectively identify weaknesses), to identify, confirm or differentiate between diagnoses and to assist with treatment planning (including identifying appropriate supports, compensatory strategies, and to make recommendations regarding treatment rehabilitation, educational and vocational planning).

These assessments provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information in a wide-range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Who can we help?

Geriatric patients where there are concerns around:

  • A possibly emerging dementia process;
  • A need to differentiate between depression/anxiety and a possibly emerging dementia process;
  • A need to differentiate between various possible aetiologies of a dementia process;
  • Their capacity to make decisions regarding making or changing a Will, an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) and/or an Enduring Power of Guardianship (EPG) or more general concerns around their capacity to make lifestyle, medical and/or financial decisions (and thus concerns around the need for a formally appointed administrator and/or guardian). These concerns may arise due to the presence of a neurological / medical or psychiatric condition which is impacting on their cognition.

Adults of any age for whom there are concerns around:

  • the possible presence of a neurodevelopmental condition (e.g., intellectual disability, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder);
  • a concussion, brain injury, or stroke which has led to reported changes in their cognition, behavioural and emotional/psychological functioning and may be causing difficulties in their daily, educational or occupational functioning;
  • persistent symptoms following a concussion and the impact of such on their cognition and other areas of functioning;
  • mental health conditions and/or various medical conditions or chronic pain impacting on their cognition and daily functioning;
  • their performance in the workplace or in an educational context as a result of the impact of possible cognitive and/or psychological factors.

What’s involved?

This involves a 4 to 5-hour appointment (less for older adults) including an approximately 1-hour interview to obtain relevant background and a detailed personal history.  This includes obtaining detailed information around the patient’s medical, educational, and occupational history as well as around their cognitive concerns, psychological functioning / mental health and their daily functioning.

This is followed by 3 to 4 hours of testing which involves completing various paper-and-pencil tasks to assess various areas of their cognition (memory, attention, language etc).  These appointments can be split into 2 or 3 sessions depending on the patient’s age and needs.  Patients are able to take as many breaks as they require during their appointment/s.  A family member or any other close support is welcome to accompany them to the interview to assist with providing their relevant history/background, however the testing is conducted only with the patient.

The neuropsychologist then compiles a detailed report regarding the patient’s history, test results and provides an opinion regarding the nature and severity of any cognitive impairment identified on testing as well as the presence of any formal diagnoses (where applicable).  This will also include recommendations around compensatory strategies that may assist the patient in an educational or workplace setting as well as recommendations around any treatments, rehabilitation and/or other services that may assist with the patient’s management.

A follow up appointment (i.e., “a feedback session”) may also be scheduled with the patient (at their request) to discuss the results of their assessment in more detail as well as the recommendations outlined in the report.  This appointment typically takes around 1-hour and patients are encouraged to bring along any questions they may have around the testing they completed, their results and the report.  This appointment assists with getting the patient to really understand what is going on for them and in turn often  increases their compliance with treatments already in place and their motivation to follow through on the various recommendations made which would aid in improving their cognitive, psychological and/or daily functioning.

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