Our brain is responsible for many different jobs including attention, memory, thinking speed, planning, organization, visual information processing and language among others. Sometimes a patient, their family or their medical providers have concerns that the patient’s brain is not doing one or more of those jobs the way that it used to. A neuropsychological assessment is a set of tests designed to measure how well a person’s brain is functioning. It provides a snap shot of what jobs the brain is doing well, where there have been changes and how those changes are affecting an individual’s thinking, emotions, and behavior. These assessments are often used to assess changes after a medical event like a brain injury or stroke; to assess changes when someone has a chronic medical condition like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease; or when there is a suspicion for a medical condition that has not yet been diagnosed like Alzheimer’s disease.

A neuropsychological assessment is comprised of three main parts: The intake, the testing and the feedback session. The intake is where the neuropsychologist will spend time with the patient to gather history and information about presenting concerns. This might also require time to speak with family or other healthcare providers to get more information. During the testing, a trained neuropsychologist will ask the patient to complete a variety of tasks. Some of these tasks will be on paper and some might be on the computer. These tasks might include solving puzzles, answering questions, recalling information, and doing activities that test attention, problem-solving, language skills, and memory. The tests are not pass or fail. The goal is to see how different parts of the brain are working together and identify areas where there might be difficulties. Following the testing, the neuropsychologist will write a report and invite you back for a feedback session to go over the results and recommendations based off of what the testing data showed.

The results can help doctors, families, and patients understand the nature and extent of any cognitive, emotional or behavioral challenges. They also guide treatment plans, rehabilitation, or educational support. In short, a neuropsychological assessment provides a detailed picture of how a person’s brain is functioning and helps create a roadmap for improvement or support.

Typically the intake and testing session lasts anywhere from 2-3 hours. The feedback session is approximately 1 hour. The intake and testing session are completed in person. The feedback session can be completed in person or through telehealth depending on patient preference.

• If possible bringing a trusted friend of family member who can provide additional details about changes they have noticed can be very helpful.

• Any medical records documenting medical history and development/treatment of current health related events including imaging studies (e.g. MRI, CT scan).

• Any previous neuropsychological testing or other assessment reports (e.g. speech pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy).

• Glasses or hearing aids if needed

• A water bottle and a snack