What’s the Neuropsychological Assessment

The neuropsychological assessment is an assessment of “cognitive functions”; this means a test of someone’s ability to think clearly, to concentrate, and to remember things.

It is not really ‘psychological’ in the sense that no-one investigates your innermost feelings and ‘psyche’, but rather that a Psychologist with special training in testing is undertaking the assessment with you. It is also not particularly ‘neuro’, as you will not be connected with cables and machines for measuring nerves or brain waves! It’s just called ‘neuro’ because in the olden days people with neurological conditions were the main patient group for such assessments.

This has much changed, as nowadays you don’t have to have a stroke or Alzheimers to benefit from such an assessment. We test a lot of people who are recovering from depression or other problems just to make sure and see whether they are already fit for returning to their previous work role or not. It is common sense that anyone affected by big worries, anxiety, or depression would struggle to concentrate properly on their core tasks at work, and often it is exactly the trouble with concentration and getting behind at work that makes them unfit for working in the first place while they are not well.

A Neuropsychological Assessment is a thorough check up, but not a frightening procedure at all! Basically, you go through a number of tasks, each of them targets a specific brain area. So, some tasks are for memory, other for concentration; some are for comprehension, processing speed, perception, and so on. This will take quite some time, as there are a lot of those thinking functions!

Then you go home, have lunch, and recover!

Your Neuropsychologist is left with a lot of work, as they now make sense of all this acquired data. They compare your results with “norms”, which are quite specific to your age, gender, and education group. They compile a profile, showing your strengths and quite possibly some weaknesses (yes, we all have strengths and weaknesses!). If there is an area of particular concern, then the psychologist will make a suggestion of what the cause of these difficulties may be and a few recommendations how this is best helped, in terms of treatment, strategies, or rehabilitation.

In the end the Neuropsychologist will write an extensive report, outlining the findings and recommendations.

This is usually the end of their involvement. The Neuropsychologist is not necessarily the person who provides follow-up treatment, unless they have clinical training to provide this. So, in short, the Neuropsychologist makes the assessment of cognitive functions. The Clinical Psychologist helps you in your rehabilitation by working with you regularly to get well.

Sometimes, a Psychologist has comprehensive training for both: as a Neuropsychologist and as a Clinical Psychologist, so they can do both parts for you. This is the case at Schnabel Psychology.

I hope it is all clear; please ask if you have a particular question either about the Neuropsychological Assessment, or later, once you receive your report and would like to have anything explained in greater detail. The Neuropsychological Report is not only for other professionals or insurance companies; it is supposed to be useful for you as an indicator of your strengths and challenges that you currently have.