Neuropsychological Testing and Assessment
A neuropsychological evaluation is a test to measure how well a person's brain is working. The
abilities tested include reading, language usage, attention, learning, processing speed, reasoning,
remembering, problem-solving, mood and personality and more.
Neuropsychological assessments are frequently completed to provide additional information
about a variety of developmental disorders. The most common referral questions concern
medical disorders including genetic disorders, concussion/traumatic brain injury, recovery from
cancer/brain tumors, and other neurologic concerns such as epilepsy and movement disorders.
Disorders such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder are common reasons for referral for assessment, particularly when typical interventions
have not been successful. Psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety
and depression, and behavioral dysregulation are referred for evaluation to more fully understand
the child's difficulty and to provide recommendations for intervention in the home and at school.
What is neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a specialty field that joins the medical fields of neurology, psychology and
psychiatry. Neuropsychology involves determining how well the brain is working when it is
disrupted by a brain injury or psychological disorder. A neuropsychological assessment is a
comprehensive test of a wide range of mental functions including behavior.
What mental functions are assessed in a neuropsychological exam?
If you are undergoing a neuropsychological assessment, the mental functions tested include:
General intellect.
Reading/reading comprehension.
Language usage and understanding of what others say.
Attention/concentration.
Processing speed.
Learning and memory.
Reasoning.
Executive functions, which are higher-level skills you use to organize and plan, manage
your time, problem solve, multi-task, make judgments and maintain self-control.
Visuospatial skills.
Motor speed and dexterity.
Mood and personality.
