WHO IS A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST AND WHAT IS NEUROPSYCHOLOGY?
A clinical neuropsychologist receives training as a clinical psychologist but also holds special expertise in the applied science of brain-behavior relationships. Clinical neuropsychologists hold a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology and have completed a two-year post-doc or fellowship training in Neuropsychology.
Neuropsychology attempts to understand how the brain affects or plays with human behavior, including cognition, emotion, sensory-motor, and related abilities (Stucky et al., 2020). A neuropsychological evaluation involves the administration of objective and subjective measures with a goal to identify an individual’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses and to determine whether this pattern indicates a neurological, medical, or neurodevelopmental disorder, with particular focus on changes in cognition, emotion, and behavior that result from brain injury or disease. The neuropsychological evaluation is used to promote an individual’s well-being in many ways, and an individual might seek a neuropsychological evaluation to:
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Learn about your unique pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses that may be associated with a developmental disorder(s) or determine eligibility for school or testing accommodations. (e.g., in association with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Disability, or Learning Disorders). This evaluation can also provide tools for how to cope with these cognitive challenges.
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Montior changes and progress in regaining cognitive skills after an acquired injury to the brain such as a Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, or other injuries to the brain.
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Assess potential changes in cognitive functioning resulting from a medical illness such as Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Obstructive Sleep Apnea or from medical treatment (e.g., Chemotherapy)
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Determine cognitive changes in an older adult that exceeds normal aging, whether these changes meet criteria for a Mild or Major Cognitive Impairment, and distinguish it from the various Dementia Syndromes (e.g., Alzheimer s, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Degeneration, Parkinson's Disease, etc.)
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Monitor and stage cognitive functioning associated with various brain disorders and progressive disease processes (e.g., in Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, and the Dementia Syndromes)
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There is no guarantee that a neuropsychological evaluation will result in a diagnosis but if it does, the neuropsychologist provides a diagnosis and explains it to the patient and family. In addition, the neuropsychologist can provide the individual and their family with information about prognosis and provide details that will help increase understanding of the individual’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses, including how best to help.
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The evaluation also allows the neuropsychologist to make recommendations about additional examinations/treatments that may be needed. For example, help determine appropriate living situations, whether the patient needs supervision or not, their capacity for making decisions, and their ability to be involved in employment/school. With specific regard to employment/school, the neuropsychologist can also make recommendations about accommodations that might be useful.