What is Neuropsychological Testing?

What does neuropsychological testing diagnose?

Neuropsychological testing or evaluation, is a comprehensive assessment of the skills and abilities linked to your brain function. It can be used to identify and differentiate any diagnoses that involve cognitive functioning such as dementia, adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual abilities (I.Q.), autism spectrum disorder, and traumatic brain injury. It can also measure attention span, problem solving and visual-spatial skills, as well as social-emotional functioning.

Why should I get tested?

At Rivia Mind, we sometimes recommend and conduct neuropsychological tests as part of our in-depth evaluation and diagnosis. These tests may help identify specific problems or help us differentiate between possible diagnoses so we can better individualize a treatment plan.  Neuropsych testing can also be used for patients with Parkinson’s or other movement disorders to provide a baseline for future evaluations.

What happens during a neuropsychological test?

A neuropsychological exam is conducted by a licensed clinical neuropsychologist who has completed a two-year fellowship in neuropsychology. They will have the patient perform specifically designed tasks used to measure a psychological function known to be linked to a particular structure in the brain. Test include reading, language usage, reasoning, problem-solving, mood and more.

A full evaluation can take between two and five hours to complete, depending on the complexity of the issue. If necessary the test can be performed over multiple sessions to elicit the patient’s best possible performance.

If you’ve had a noticeable change in your thinking or memory, and you’re interested in booking an appointment, please visit our neuropsych testing page to learn more or schedule an appointment.