Neuropsychological Assessment
A neuropsychological assessment is a formal way to measure a range of abilities and behaviours that are sometimes affected by disease or damage to the brain. These include things like attention and concentration, memory, reasoning, etc. In addition to these abilities some people are affected in terms of their emotions, e.g. feeling anxious or low in mood.
Neuropsychological assessments take a reasonable amount of time to complete (somewhere between 3-5 hours typically). This is because it is necessary to have more than one go at most things before a reliable measurement is achieved. While a neuropsychological assessment is typically quite long there is ample opportunity for breaks and rests. If it is not possible to complete the assessment in one sitting another appointment can easily be arranged.
On a practical note it is important to bring glasses with you to your assessment if you need them for reading. Likewise if you use a hearing aide please ensure that you bring it with you.
Neuropsychological Treatment
Sometimes after an injury affecting the brain, or with a disease affecting the brain, people can have difficulty going about their daily lives in the way they would have done before. They may have difficulties remembering what they need to do, or have difficulties concentrating when they need to. People may also notice changes in their emotions, for example they may feel anxious or low in mood.
Neuropsychological treatment is different from an assessment. Typically treatment takes place over a number of one hour sessions over a number of weeks. These sessions are on a one-to-one basis and involve discussion of the nature of the problems present along with an exploration of possible ways to improve things. Commonly the methods and techniques of cognitive-behavioural-therapy are used in the sessions.
Copyright Martin Bunnage 2008