Neuropsychological assessment is the detailed examination of cognitive skills (such as memory, attention, processing speed and problem solving), in order to examine brain-behaviour relationships.
The assessment involves paper and pencil type tests, as well as practical problem solving tests and the answering of questions. There are often some questionnaires to complete also. The tests used are standardised (i.e. given to a sample of people without brain impairment to provide a comparison) and well researched. None of the tests are physically invasive. Generally, assessments take between 3 and 5 hours (including interview and rest breaks), depending on the purpose of the assessment.
Skills assessed often include:
- Intelligence (IQ)
- Memory
- Attention/concentration
- Thinking speed
- Spatial skills
- Language
- Higher level executive functions (e.g. problem solving, planning, reasoning)
- Emotional/psychological functioning
- Academic skills (e.g. reading, spelling, maths)
After completing the tests, the individual’s test scores are then compared to people of similar age and background in order to determine whether there are any cognitive problems, and how severe they may be. The pattern of results across tests are then analysed and combined with background information about educational, occupational, social and medical history to either exclude or diagnose brain-related medical disorders and/or explain the consequences of such a disorder.