• Test results can be used to plan treatments that use strengths to compensate for weaknesses. The results help to identify what target problems to work on and which strategies to use. For example, the results can Clinical help to plan and monitor rehabilitation or to follow the recovery of skills after a stroke or Neuropsychology traumatic brain injury. A Guide for Patients and Their Families • Studies have shown how scores on specific tests relate to everyday functional skills, such as managing money, driving, or readiness to return to work. Your results will help your doctors understand what problems you may have in everyday life. This will help guide planning for assistance or treatment. What Should I Expect?

A neuropsychological evaluation usually consists of an interview and testing. During the interview, information that is important for the neuropsychologist to consider will be reviewed. You will be asked about your symptoms, med- ical history, medications, and other important factors. Testing involves taking paper-and- pencil or computerized tests and answering questions. The time required depends on the problem being assessed. In general, several hours are needed to assess the many skills An educational pamphlet brought to you by the involved in processing information. Some tests Public Interest Advisory Committee, will be easy while others will be more complex. Division 40 (Clinical Neuropsychology), The most important thing is try your best. American Psychological Association Bring glasses or hearing aids if you use them. © 2001 Division 40, APA Try to rest and relax before your evaluation. You will probably find testing interesting, and the detailed information that is gathered will contribute to your care.

For more information, visit our Web site at www.div40.org.

Produced by APA Editorial and Design Services What Is What Is Assessed? What Will the Clinical Neuropsychology? Results Tell Me? A typical neuropsychological evaluation will Clinical neuropsychology is a specialty involve assessment of the following: Test results can be used to understand your profession that focuses on brain functioning. situation in a number of ways. A clinical neuropsychologist is a licensed • General intellect psychologist with expertise in how behavior • Higher level executive skills • Testing can identify weaknesses in specific and skills are related to brain structures and (e.g., sequencing, reasoning, areas. It is very sensitive to mild memory systems. In clinical neuropsychology, brain problem solving) and thinking problems that might not be function is evaluated by objectively testing • Attention and concentration obvious in other ways. When problems are very mild, testing may be the only way to memory and thinking skills. A very detailed • Learning and memory assessment of abilities is done, and the detect them. For example, testing can help pattern of strengths and weaknesses is used in • Language determine whether memory changes are important health care areas, such as • Visual–spatial skills (e.g., perception) normal age-related changes or if they reflect diagnosis and treatment planning. The • Motor and sensory skills a neurological disorder. Testing might also clinical neuropsychologist conducts the • Mood and personality be used to identify problems related to med- evaluation and makes recommendations. He ical conditions that can affect memory and or she may also provide treatment, such as Some abilities may be measured in more detail thinking, such as diabetes, metabolic or cognitive rehabilitation, behavior manage- than others, depending on your needs. infectious diseases, or alcoholism. ment, or psychotherapy. • Test results can also be used to help How Are Test Scores Used differentiate among illnesses, which is impor- Why Have I To Understand tant because appropriate treatment depends Been Referred? My Specific Situation? on accurate diagnosis. Different illnesses result in different patterns of strengths and Neuropsychological evaluations are request- Your test scores will be compared to scores weaknesses on testing. Therefore, the results ed specifically to help your doctors and from people who are like you in important can be helpful in determining which areas of other professionals understand how the dif- ways. By using database scores from large the brain might be involved and what illness ferent areas and systems of the brain are groups of healthy people for comparison, the might be operating. For instance, testing can working. Testing is usually recommended neuropsychologist can judge whether or not help to differentiate among Alzheimer’s dis- when there are symptoms or complaints your scores are normal for your age and ease, stroke, and depression. Your physician involving memory or thinking. This may be educational background. The pattern of your will use this information along with the signaled by a change in concentration, own test scores will also be reviewed to results of other tests, such as brain imaging organization, reasoning, memory, language, estimate whether or not there has been a and blood tests, to come to the most perception, coordination, or personality. change in certain abilities. How you go about informed diagnosis possible. The change may be due to any of a number solving the various problems and answering of medical, neurological, psychological, or questions during the examination will also be • Sometimes testing is used to establish a genetic causes. Testing will be helpful in noted. Using these methods, your strengths “baseline,” or document a person’s skills understanding your specific situation. and weaknesses can be identified. before there is any problem. In this way, later changes can be measured very objectively.