Neuropsychological Assessments
Assessment: Purpose and Outcome
A Neuropsychological Assessment can be a collaborative and therapeutic approach to assessing different cognitive abilities. Assessments may include:
Diagnosis of a condition
Understanding strengths and weaknesses
Eligibility for supports
Recommendations for rehabilitation
A written report
Therapy, intervention, and rehabilitation
“Clinical neuropsychologists specialise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders associated with conditions affecting the brain”.
— Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Neuropsychological assessments can be useful in:
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Assessment of strengths and differences in attention capacity, span, sustaining attention, executive functioning or other cognitive abilities. To inform personal growth, areas of rehabilitation and/or support needs.
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Diagnosis for difficulties with reading, writing (written expression) or mathematics (dyscalculia).
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Diagnosis for eligibility (e.g. NDIS) and identification of support needs. Diagnosis for adaptive sport eligibility and participation.
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Stroke
Cancers
Substance related
Lack of oxygen (Hypoxia)
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Mild, Moderate or Severe
Concussion
Blast-related and cumulative sub-concussive injuries
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Genetic conditions
Multiple Sclerosis
Cerebral Palsy
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Lifestyle decision making (Guardianship)
Financial management (Administration)
Testamentary capacity
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Mild Cognitive Impairment
Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
Vascular Dementia
Fronto-Temporal Dementia
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinsons+ Syndromes
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Schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions can either have a neurodegenerative or cognitively impairing component.
Assessment Process
01
Interview
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We will talk with you about different aspects of your cognition, and any perceived changes that may have occurred over time, or after a certain event.
With your consent we may need more information from other people, your healthcare records or school reports.
Face-to-face or via video-conferencing if appropriate.
02
Testing
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Following the interview you will complete a range of tasks that measure thinking skills like memory, attention, and how fast you can process information.
You may find some tasks hard and some easy. This will take a number of hours and may need to be completed over two sessions.
This can be completed face-to-face or via video-conferencing if appropriate.
03
Report
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Gathers all of the information from the interview and testing together to answer the referral questions.
04
Feedback
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Written and/or verbal feedback will be provided to help you understand the assessment results and your next steps.
