NEUROPSYCHOLOGY ASSESSMENTS
Neuropsychology is a study of a person’s cognition, emotions, and behaviours, in the context of neurological conditions and/or injuries to the brain. A referral to a clinical neuropsychologist is generally made by your GP or neurologist.
Neuropsychological assessments provide a detailed evaluation of cognition including memory, attention, language, amongst other cognitive domains. Findings from these assessments can assist in the diagnosis and management of neurological conditions, cognitive concerns, acquired brain injuries, and neurodegenerative disorders.
During an assessment, the clinical neuropsychologist will first talk to you about your medical history, including any concerns you might have about your cognition and mood. Where possible, we recommend that you bring along a family member or friend to the appointment who can help provide collateral history. Following this, you will be asked to undergo formal cognitive testing. This involves completing tasks that assess particular aspects of your cognition (for example, memory), which can sometimes involve you writing or drawing on a piece of paper.
Most sessions take between 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the nature of the referral. You will have the opportunity to book in a review appointment with the neuropsychologist to discuss outcomes of the assessment, along with a clinical letter that summarises the findings and recommendations. These insights can help guide diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation strategies, and future care.