Click to peruse the topics listed below:
About Neuropsychology
About Neuropsychological Assessment
About Areas and Functions Assessed
About Referral Sources
About Typical Reasons for Referral
About Cost of Services
About Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology is a discipline that studies brain functioning and its effect on learning and behavior. As such, a Neuropsychologist is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in assessing relationships between the brain and its functions: thinking and behavior.
About Neuropsychological Assessment
An evaluation often involves assessment with standardized tests that are sensitive to the effects of brain dysfunction. Unlike studies like MRI’s or EEG’s, which show abnormalities in the structure of the brain or electrical activities within the brain, neuropsychological assessment is designed to show ways in which a person can or cannot perform certain functions (e.g. recall) that are dependent upon brain activity. Therefore, neuropsychological assessment can be used to reveal or diagnose brain dysfunction when no structural brain abnormalities can be seen. In addition, when structural abnormalities have been found, neuropsychological assessment provides a way to determine what functions may be impaired because of such structural defects, and to clarify the degree to which they may be impaired.
About Areas and Functions Assessed
A typical neuropsychological evaluation will involve assessing the following:
- General Intellectual Ability
- Academic Achievement
- Attention
- Learning and Memory
- Language
- Spatial and Visual Skills
- Motor and Sensory Skills
- Higher Order Executive Functions
- Mood and Personality
About Referral Sources
Family: Parents, Children, Relatives, etc.
Educators: Teachers and Therapists
Professionals: Attorneys and Physicians
Others: Ministers, Community Agencies, Insurers, Rehab Facilities, etc.
Sometimes self-referral is necessary
Reasons for Referral
- Possible Developmental Delays
- Differential Diagnosis
- Capacity: driving, medical and/or financial decisions, live alone, etc.
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Sports-related Concussion
- Cognitive Effects of Disease: from acute to chronic, pediatric to adult
- Potential Learning Differences
- Expert Forensic / Legal Consultation
- Vocational Guidance and Support
- Training and Seminars as Needed
About Cost of Services
In many cases clients are able to use their insurance benefits to pay for costs related to neuropsychological services. Although Providence Behavioral Health is listed as a provider on many insurance panels, it is important for patients to verify coverage. Please contact our office with specific questions.