Information for Referrers

Neuropsychological services offered by Dr Sara Lucas include:

  • Medicolegal assessment of people suspected of suffering traumatic brain injury
  • Assessment for rehabilitation purposes or return to work and provision of strategies for overcoming cognitive problems
  • Assessment to determine the need for Guardianship and Financial Management
  • Testamentary capacity
  • Decision making capacity
  • Cognitive assessment for the effects of problems such as mental illness, alcohol and/or drugs
  • Differential diagnosis of dementia
  • Memory assessment
  • IQ assessment
  • Assessment of learning disorders and/or ADHD (in adults)
  • Rehabilitation and remediation sessions as a follow up to neuropsychological assessment

What is neuropsychological assessment?

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 client’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 diagnose brain-related medical disorders and/or explain the consequences of such a disorder.

What is the purpose of neuropsychological assessment?

There are numerous both clinical and medicolegal reasons as to why a neuropsychological assessment may be warranted, some of which were listed above.

In the clinical context:

  • To aid in diagnosis (e.g. presence of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia, or another neurological condition)
  • To determine what brain regions are affected
  • To identify strengths and weaknesses for rehabilitation purposes
  • To monitor changes in brain function over time (e.g. decline or improvement in thinking skills)
  • To determine suitability for return to work and make recommendations that may aid the process
  • To examine effects of treatment (e.g. medications or rehabilitation)
  • To determine decision-making capacity (e.g. living situation, medical decisions) or need for guardianship or financial management
  • Assessment of testamentary capacity
  • IQ assessment
  • Assessment for presence of a developmental condition such as a learning disorder or ADHD/ADD

In the medicolegal context:

  • To determine whether a brain injury has occurred
  • What impact any brain injury is having or is likely to have on the capacity for self care, independent living, work function or future employment
  • To assess whether other factors (e.g. pain, psychological problems, poor effort) may be exacerbating the presence of any cognitive problems
  • To assess whether a person will be able to manage funds from a compensation payout
  • To aid rehabilitation providers with designing return to work programs

What sorts of conditions is neuropsychological assessment helpful in?

Any condition that may have affected the central nervous system or caused cognitive problems including:

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease)
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Psychiatric conditions (e.g. depression, psychosis, anxiety)
  • Epilepsy
  • Brain tumours
  • Hypoxia
  • Neurotoxic effects
  • Stroke
  • Developmental disorders such as learning disorders or ADHD/ADD

How much does neuropsychological assessment cost?

Clinical assessments

Unfortunately, private neuropsychological assessments are quite expensive, and not covered by Medicare or most private health funds (if your client has top level cover, they may be entitled to a small rebate). The cost varies depending on the reason for the assessment. If your client is a DVA Gold card member, please talk to your DVA Medical Specialist for a referral, as DVA will most likely cover the cost. You will be informed of the price once the reason for the assessment is established.

Medicolegal assessments

If there are medicolegal implications, a more in depth assessment and report are usually required. If there is an insurance company involved (i.e. if it is a work or car accident), please contact the case manager to see whether they will cover the cost of the assessment. Otherwise, you will be informed of the price once the reason for the assessment is established.