My child has epilepsy. How do I help their teachers understand the diagnosis and maximize their success at school? After heading the ball in soccer, my child has a concussion. Does that mean they have brain damage? Neuropsychologists have a doctorate in psychology and training in neuropsychology. They often work in research or clinical settings. Neuropsychologists evaluate and treat people with various types of nervous system disorders.
They work closely with doctors, including neurologists. Illnesses, injuries, and diseases of the brain and nervous system can affect the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves.
Symptoms that may call for a neuropsychologist include:. If a diagnosis is already known, an assessment can still be helpful. A neuropsychologist can help determine what impairments you might have and how severe they are. The following are examples of conditions they evaluate and treat:. The nervous system is complex. Neuropsychologists use different types of procedures to identify problems and treatment plans. Typical procedures they perform include:. This evaluation is an assessment of how your brain functions.
The evaluation will include an interview and questions that will help outline your performance of daily tasks, as well as identify memory issues and mental health concerns.
Occasionally, it is necessary to complete the evaluation over two or more sessions. Neuropsychological evaluation documents patterns of strengths and weakness among cognitive and behavioral functions. These are not tests that one can study for, but there are several things that one can do to facilitate the evaluation:.
Several things can interfere with this goal such as if the patient is:. Patients should let the examiner know if they anticipate that any of these issues are likely to interfere with the evaluation. Patients who live far away might consider spending the evening prior to the evaluation at a local hotel or with friends or family rather than getting up and driving or flying most of the night to get to the appointment.
This will help your doctor to provide you with the best possible care for your condition. A neuropsychologist will interview you about any concerns you have with thinking abilities. At this time, if you wish to have a family member or friend present, you may do so. It is often helpful for the neuropsychologist to talk with your loved ones in order to understand your condition better. During the evaluation, skills such as attention, memory, language, problem solving, and constructional ability will be measured.
The tests will be administered by a specially trained technician. You may be asked to answer questions, read, write, draw, and put together designs. The tests are much like school tasks. You may also complete measures that will help the neuropsychologist understand how your illness or injury has affected your mood, your personality, or your coping skills.
During the tests, your family members or friends will be asked to leave the room. Typically, a neuropsychological evaluation takes two hours. If your health care provider asks us to provide a more detailed evaluation, it may take four hours or longer.
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