What is Neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with the relationship between the brain and the mind. Neuropsychologists investigate how brain injuries or illnesses influence cognition, emotion and behaviour. Mainly, neuropsychologists assess cognitive functioning, such as executive functioning, memory, attention and concentration and information processing speed.
Neuropsychological Assessment
A neuropsychological assessment can determine if there are difficulties in cognitive functioning and whether the cognitive presentation suggests a specific diagnosis or neuropathological condition or mechanism. We use tests to identify, quantify, and describe changes in cognition that relate to the integrity of the brain.
A neuropsychological assessment can help you in the following ways:
- Diagnose the type of brain disorder
- Understand the nature of difficulties resulting from a brain injury or disorder
- Establish baseline cognitive performance
- Monitor the progression of a brain disorder
- Determine level of functioning or capacity for work or medical-legal purposes
- Aid in treatment and rehabilitation planning
- Differentiate between organic vs. functional aetiology
Types of Assessment
Dementia vs. Normal Aging
Mild memory problems and other cognitive difficulties are part of normal aging, but sometimes these problems could indicate a dementing process. The most common dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but cognitive problems in aging can also be associated with other disorders like Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia. An assessment can help differentiate the age-related dementias with normal aging.
Functional vs. Organic Disorders
Cognitive difficulties can be caused from damage to the brain, but sometimes the source of the difficulties is psychological and a result of complex unconscious processes in the mind. An assessment can determine if the cause of cognitive difficulties is organic (i.e. neurological) or functional (i.e. psychological).
Post-stroke assessments
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. This will cause damage to a specific area of the brain and may result in a specific cognitive problem, such as a problem producing or understanding language, recognizing objects or negotiating spatial relationships. An assessment can help understand these cognitive changes after a stroke.
Head Injury
Head injuries can cause damage to the brain and result in cognitive difficulties such as slower information processing, memory problems and behaviour changes. An assessment can determine if there was damage to the brain after a head injury and if there are any resulting cognitive problems or behaviour changes.
Memory difficulties with unknown cause
Memory problems and other cognitive problems, such as difficulties concentrating, may interfere with daily functioning. and cause difficulties with work and studying. An assessment can help investigate the cause of the difficulties.
Neuro-infections
Viruses (such as HIV and coronavirus), bacteria (such as TB) and other pathogens (such as malaria) can infect the brain and cause cognitive impairment. An assessment can determine whether there are changes in cognitive functioning in response to a pathogen infecting the brain.
HPCSA number: PS 0146471
Practice number: 0913146