What is the difference between neuropsychological testing & psychological testing

Perhaps you or a loved one need neuropsychological testing or psychological assessment. If you have been referred for testing to be completed by a psychologist, but aren’t totally sure what a “neuropsych eval” or “psych testing” means, this information may give you a clearer idea of the differences between these two types of testing. Along with what to expect either way. Or, if you want to pursue testing for your own interest and self-understanding, you may not have a referral, but could use some guidance about the type of testing you should look for.

Neuropsychological Assessment: An Overview

If you are seeking a neuropsych evaluation, odds are you’re experiencing some cognitive symptoms. This means some area of your brain function is not working the way you’re used to or is causing problems for you. A neuropsychological assessment can help you understand these symptoms, possibly get a diagnosis, or learn how to manage them.

cognitive symptoms assessed in A Neuro psych eval:

• Changes in memory

• New difficulty focusing or concentrating

• More impulsive speech or behaviors

• Difficulty finding words or slower tracking in conversations

• New problems with getting lost

• Difficulty doing complex mental tasks that you used to do without a problem (like managing medications or finances)

If you have symptoms like this or other problems that suggest your brain has changed or isn’t doing what it should, your physician, psychologist, occupational therapist, social worker, or other health professionals might refer you for a neuropsychological assessment.

What is Measured in a neuropsychological assessment

Neuropsychological testing involves using several tests (or “testing battery”) to measure the functions of your brain in different areas. A neuropsych test battery will most likely include measures of:

• Attention. The ability to focus your attention on a task for as long as needed.

• Working memory. The ability to hold information in your mind and work with it. For example, looking up the number for the pizza place, then repeating it out loud to remember it while you dial.

• Executive function. Your brain’s capacity for organization and impulse control. As well as how quickly you move from one mental task to another and communicate across brain areas.

• Memory. This is the measure of your ability to learn, retain, and recall information. It includes different tasks to look at different types of memory.

• Processing speed. How quickly you take in and respond to information.

• Visual/spatial function. The ease with which you understand and use the information presented visually, like abstract shapes and pictures. Think of the skill you might need for a game of tetris…this brain function is crucial!

• Intellectual function. This is a way to estimate your overall IQ (sometimes called “intelligence,” though this is an often-misunderstood term). This can be important because it gives your doctor a basis for comparison. For example, if your IQ is average and your scores on attention measures are much lower than that, this gives a clue about what’s going on with your symptoms, and more importantly, how to help.

• Questionnaires about mood or symptoms. These are usually a small part of neuropsych testing. Even though mood and symptoms aren’t the primary targets of testing, things like depression and anxiety CAN impact cognition. We measure them in case they contribute to the problem because they are often treatable.

A LOOK AT hISTORY & oVERALL hEALTH

In some cases, neuropsych testing might also involve measures of academic abilities, or interviews with teachers, parents, or caregivers. This depends on the question at the heart of testing, and your neuropsychologist will tailor a testing battery to meet your specific needs. In all cases, your doctor will do a clinical interview with you to gather information about your history, symptoms, and overall health.

what happens after a neuropsychological assessment?

Once the testing is done (this can be anywhere from 4 hours to 10 hours or more, depending on the reason for testing), your doctor will score your tests and consider all of the information together. This helps to understand patterns and the big picture, so we can offer insight into what is causing the symptoms, and make recommendations about how to manage them.

Psychological Evaluation: An Overview

If you are considering a psychological evaluation, also called “psychodiagnostic assessment,” you are most likely experiencing emotional or other psychiatric symptoms that are causing you distress or problems in relationships, at work, or in other areas. Psych testing can help you understand your symptoms, often by providing a diagnosis that can make sense of your experience.

symptoms assessed in A psychodiagnostic assessment

Here are some examples of psychiatric symptoms that might prompt someone to seek a psychological evaluation:

• Low mood that persists and doesn’t seem related to an obvious cause

• Frequent worry

• Panic attacks

• Difficulty in interpersonal relationships

• Difficulty maintaining jobs

• A history of abuse or trauma

• Problems with anger

• Low motivation

• Difficulty making decisions or lack of confidence

• Mood highs and lows

• Hypervigilance

• Social anxiety or fear

• Specific fears that cause problems in your life

• Nightmares

• Low self-esteem

• Feelings of loneliness or emptiness

• Wishing for better self-understanding*

*not really a symptom, but often a reason folks want testing

There are many types of emotional symptoms that might cause you concern enough to seek a psychological evaluation. Sometimes, people are referred for a psychodiagnostic evaluation by a therapist or physician. But just as often, people are seeking better insight and awareness for themselves.

What is Measured in a Psychological Evaluation

Similar to neuropsych testing, a psychological evaluation will involve a test battery using several different tests to answer your specific question. This allows your doctor to collect enough data for a broad understanding of you and your symptoms. Unlike a neuropsychological assessment, there are not specific functions we’re measuring in a psychodiagnostic assessment, rather, a broad understanding of your overall psychological function. A thorough psych testing battery will likely include:

• Personality measures. Long tests that ask many questions about how you see yourself and what characteristics define your personality

• Mood measures. Tests that ask you about your mood and symptoms related to mood in the recent past

• Specific symptom measures. These are likely to differ depending on your reasons for coming in for testing and can include questionnaires about specific symptoms you’re having. For example, if you suspect you may have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic experience, your doctor might give you a questionnaire specifically measuring PTSD symptoms.

Similar to neuropsychological testing, when you undergo a psychological evaluation, your psychologist will do a thorough clinical interview to gather information about your background and what you’re experiencing. This interview provides important data, just like test results. Also similarly, your doctor will consider all of the data together, make a diagnosis (or not, if there is no diagnosis), and offer recommendations based on the results.

A Brief Comparison of a Psychological Evaluation & a neuropsychological assessment

You may have noticed that there are some shared themes across both types of assessment, which is part of what creates confusion when you are referred for testing, or think you might want to seek testing on your own. Here are a few things psychological assessment and neuropsychological assessment have in common:

Conducted by a specially trained psychologist

Psychologists are the only professionals who are trained, qualified, and licensed to conduct either psychological or neuropsychological assessments. These are highly complex evaluations that require significant knowledge of statistics, research methods, tests and measures, psychological assessment, diagnosis, and psychological interventions in order to be done properly. There is no other profession or licensure that involves training in all the elements of comprehensive psychological or neuropsychological testing, and even within the field of psychology, only a subset of clinical psychologists receive training in neuropsychological testing, or specialize in psych assessment. This is why it’s so important to find a well-qualified clinical psychologist for your testing.

Involve several different tests

There is no single test that can offer comprehensive information about something as complex as cognition or mental health. Psychologists put together test batteries that cover a broad range to get the full picture. This is good because it means we don’t miss important information. For example, if someone requests an “ADHD test” and I only do that one test, I may miss other symptoms that could also play a role in attention problems, like anxiety, grief, or a learning disorder. Like any good investigator, psychologists gather as much data as is necessary not only to confirm a suspected diagnosis, but also to rule out other possibilities and catch anything else that may be going on.

Begin with a question

Any psych or neuropsych eval starts with a question. This can come from another doctor, a therapist, a family member, or the patient themselves, but it is always our starting point. The question guides the testing battery, the interview, and the recommendations I might make after considering all of the data together. For example, let’s say you come in already knowing you have a traumatic brain injury from an accident and wanting to know your strengths and vulnerabilities as well as recommendations for how to manage them. If all I offer is a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, I’ve wasted everyone’s time and money. It’s crucial to find a psychologist who will listen and address your specific question!

Include an interview

The clinical interview is a crucial part of testing, because although I may have expertise in clinical psychology and neuropsychology, YOU are the expert in your own experience. These types of assessments are not done to the patient, they are done with the patient. Your input and observations are the most important piece of the puzzle (and in cases of dementia or other situations where a patient may not have insight, caregiver input is invaluable).

You may have noticed that neuropsych assessment and psychological assessment also have some differences. Here are a few ways these types of testing differ:

Different focus

Neuropsych testing is about brain function, in terms of cognition, and is easiest to understand when we think about the specific tasks we measure, like memory and attention. In contrast, psych assessment is about psychological symptoms. Obviously, the brain is also involved in emotional and mental health functions, but a psychological assessment is less focused on the nuts and bolts of cognition, and more focused on overall emotional wellbeing, and specific psychiatric symptoms.

Different tests

These two types of testing may have some overlap in the tests involved (for example, a short measure of depressive symptoms is likely included in both), but generally speaking, neuropsych testing involves a totally different test battery than psychological evaluation, because we’re measuring different things.

Different types of diagnoses

When someone goes in for neuropsych testing, if they receive a diagnosis, it is likely to be a diagnosis related to neurocognitive function, like cognitive disorders due to dementia, traumatic brain injury, ADHD, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. These diagnoses are often used in medical settings. Psychological testing is more likely to result in a psychiatric diagnosis, related to mood or other mental health factors. These might include things like PTSD, depression, or anxiety disorders.

Different recommendations

Although both types of testing will result in a list of recommendations from your doctor about how to cope with or treat symptoms, the lists often look different. For example, neuropsych recommendations may include strategies to compensate for brain changes, like using a notebook to write things down, being allowed extra time for tests in school, or using a pill organizer to track medications. In contrast, psych recommendations are more likely to be aimed at treatment and ways to manage symptoms; things like specific types of psychotherapy that could be helpful, or a recommendation to see a psychiatrist for a medication eval.

This is an overview of what is involved in neuropsychological assessment and psychological evaluation. If you need either type of evaluation, hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the purpose of the testing you’re seeking, as well as what to expect from testing.

Do you need a psychological evaluation or a neuropsychological assessment in Los Angeles?

Whether you are interested in, or need, a psychological evaluation or a neuropsychological assessment Dr. Reger can help. As a Psychologist in Los Angeles, she offers these evaluations at several locations throughout Southern California. Follow these steps to set up your assessment.

1. Contact Dr. Reger with any questions

2. Schedule your appointment, remember it might take most of the day

3. Take the steps to be prepared for the day of your test

Other Services Available with Dr. Reger in Los Angeles

Dr. Reger specializes in assessments for med-legal capacity, workers’ compensation, and before surgery or operations. Additionally she provides individual therapy for older adults, trainings, and public speeking.

A Note to Physicians & Other Professionals in Los Angeles About Neuropsych Testing

As a clinical psychologist, I get referrals from physicians, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, and other psychologists for psychological and neuropsychological assessments. Neuropsychology can be mysterious to those outside the field. So I’ve found that many providers are unsure how best to refer someone for neuropsych testing, and how to get the most out of it when they have a question about cognition. Here are a few tips.

Understanding The Value of Neuropsych Testing

Testing is expensive, time consuming, and requires a lot of effort from patients. So it’s easy to understand why it might seem like more trouble than it’s worth. Often, neuropsych testing can offer answers and insight that clinical interviews and physical labs simply cannot. Neuropsychological Testing can provide:

• A differential diagnosis. Such as vascular dementia versus Alzheimer’s type dementia. This gives insight into the expected progression of the disease as well as areas of vulnerability and opportunities for additional support.

• Rule-outs. For example, it can determine if cognitive deficits are the result of psychiatric or substance problems rather than mild traumatic brain injury as originally suspected.

• Information on learning style and barriers. This is useful for academic accommodations or for recommendations on how to best support retention in physical rehabilitation programs.

• Monitoring of cognitive change over time. In neurodegenerative diseases like MS, testing every few years can help us understand function and inform treatment planning.

• Individualized recommendations. This is the greatest value of neuropsych testing. We can recommend strategies for managing problems with memory, organization, or functional decline. We can recommend evidence-based treatment for psychiatric needs. A Psychologist can comment on practical strategies to support carryover in rehabilitation, or strategies to support independent living for as long as possible. With appropriate testing, an experienced evaluator can offer tailored recommendations that can have a substantial impact on function and quality of life.

A Clear Referral Question for Neuropsych Testing

Neuropsych evaluation starts with a referral question. When the referral comes from another professional, I’ve often seen something like “Please test for dementia.” This doesn’t give much information. Instead, I recommend including as many of these elements as you can:

• Brief summary of symptoms. “Patient has noticed problems with focus, attention, and slower thinking.”

• Timeframe and/or precipitating event. “Patient began having these problems after infection with COVID in September of 2020.”

• Any observations you or others have made related to the referral. “I’ve seen this patient for the past five years, and I’ve also noticed a change in ability to remember what we’ve talked about at appointments. Patient’s partner now comes to every appointment with them to help communicate and remember what is discussed.”

• The desired outcome from testing. “Please offer a diagnosis.” Or “Please comment on the patient’s learning style and ways to improve carryover during rehab stay.” Or “Please provide an updated assessment of the patient’s cognitive function to inform treatment planning.” It could also be “Please recommend appropriate academic accommodations.”

Find a Neuropsychologist You Trust and Build That Relationship

Develop a relationship with a psychologist you trust to do thorough and competent neuropsych testing. This allows you to have a solid referral when you encounter patients who could benefit. If you work with older adults, this is crucial, but even if you work with kids or adults of any age, having a go-to neuropsych referral is helpful.

You never know when someone will report symptoms that sound a lot like undiagnosed ADHD, even in their 40s. Or when a patient will be in an accident and sustain a blow to the head with lingering symptoms. Having a relationship in place with a trusted psychologist ensures timely and quality neuropsych testing. This also fosters communication, as you become familiar with the release of information procedures for a given practice. As well as the type of information your psychologist wants about the patient. Good communication results in a thorough assessment and useful recommendations, both for patients and their providers.

Prepare Your Patients for neuropych testing

My final tip is that it’s helpful for referring professionals to prep their patients a bit for why they’re being referred for testing and what to expect. Even sending patients to my website testing pages or a blog post here to learn a little about neuropsych testing can help. People usually feel anxious about testing; but the more you prepare them by letting them know why they need testing and what to expect, the easier it will be for them to give their best effort. This results in the most accurate and useful results. You might say something like this:

“I’m referring you to Dr. Reger for neuropsychological testing. I’m concerned about your difficulty remembering things, episodes of getting lost lately, and new problems managing your medications on your own. Testing will give us some answers, and help us plan for the future. It is usually a long appointment, so be prepared for that. Dr. Reger will tell you more specifically what to expect on the day of testing. She will ask you questions and have you do some paper-and-pencil testing. Once you have the report, we can discuss Dr. Reger’s recommendations and where to go from there.”

Steps for Referring Someone for Neuropsych Testing in Los Angeles, CA

If you are looking for a Neuropsychologist you can refer someone to for neuropsych testing Dr. Reger can help. In order to start the process of a neuropsychological assessment follow these steps:

1. Send a referral and reach out with any questions

2. Have them schedule their appointment at one of our testing locations in Southern California

3. Get individualized recommendations and treatment suggestions for your client

Other Mental Health Services Available in Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Reger offers psychological and neuropsychological assessments for a variety of reasons. This includes cases of med-legal capacity, before operations or surgery, and for workers’ compensation psych claims. Beyond evaluations, she offers therapy for older adults.

Psych Claims for Workers' Compensation: What to Expect from Your QME Evaluation in California

If you’ve been scheduled for a Qualified Medical Evaluation (QME) in psychology as part of a workers’ comp claim in California, you may want to know what to expect from that process. As a psychologist conducting QME evals for psych claims with workers’ compensation I have found that applicants (injured workers) often have no preparation for the psychological evaluation, and sometimes don’t know what type of evaluation they’re coming in for. This can happen when folks have many types of injuries and have a lot of medical appointments, or when they expect a psych evaluation to be similar to other medical appointments. Here is a primer about what to expect.

WHEN YOU ARE REFERRED FOR A QME Psychological EVALUATION

Most of the time, injured workers are referred for a QME evaluation in psychology because their claim for a “psychological injury” (a mental health problem caused by something that happened at work) has been denied. The workers’ comp system in California sometimes requires testing to “prove” an occupational injury has occurred and also to understand how much of the injury was caused by work. When it comes to workers’ compensation claims for stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health concerns, it is not always clear that the cause was work, or how individual mental health history may play into the situation. That’s where a psychologist with testing expertise comes in.

REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE TIMELINE for psych claims with workers’ compensation

If you’re reading this, you likely already know that the workers’ compensation system can move slowly. Unfortunately, it can take a long time to be seen for a QME evaluation. Expect:

• At least two months from the time your QME evaluator is selected to when you are evaluated

• After testing, the QME doctor has one month to write a report

• If you’re referred for treatment, you may wait if:

  • the provider you’re referred to has a waitlist

  • the adjuster can’t find an appropriate provider with an immediate opening.

I recommend trying to be as patient as possible. Use your best coping skills and self-care! It can be frustrating, and no individual person involved has control over the overall timeline, including you.

QME Psychological EVALuations: THE DAY OF

For a QME evaluation for psych claims with workers’ compensation, as with any psychological or neuropsychological testing, you should expect a lengthy appointment. Depending on the question at hand and the approach your QME takes, testing and interview may last anywhere from three hours to eight hours.

tips for being prepared

You should usually expect an interview about what happened and your personal history, as well as some type of testing, either with pencil and paper, or on a computer or tablet. Here are some ways to prepare:

• Sleep well the night before

• Eat a good breakfast

• Wear glasses, hearing aids, and any other assistive devices you use

• Bring water

• Bring snacks

• Bring a list of your medications if you can’t remember them

• Take your normal morning meds, unless you take anything that will make you very drowsy and can go without it (like an as-needed pain medication)

• Be honest during the interview-the best way to advocate for yourself is to tell the truth

• Give your genuine best effort on testing

• Try to relax

The Best strategy for testing for Psych Claims

Testing days can be tiring, but the purpose is for the QME doctor to form an opinion based on all of the evidence, so it’s in your best interest to support that process as best you can. Some people think they should play up their symptoms or do very poorly on testing to show how distressed they are, but this tends to backfire because tests are designed to pick up on those types of behaviors.

Truly, the best test day strategy is to show up as well-rested and calm as possible, be honest with your evaluator, and give your best effort on the tests, so that the QME doctor gets a true sense of what’s going on for you and can make confident recommendations.

AFTER TESTING for psych claims with workers compensation

Once you have finished testing, you will wait for the QME doctor to write and send their report. You may never see that report, but it will go to the claims adjuster, both attorneys (if you have one), and the workers’ compensation judge. The QME doctor provides their medical opinion about any diagnosis and the cause. The judge will use the report (among other reports and information presented about the case) to decide your claim, and any award, medical care, or work restrictions are ultimately up to them.

get a QMe evaluation for your psych claims for workers compensation in Los Angeles, ca

Do you have psych claims for workers’ compensation and need an evaluation? Dr. Reger provides QME psychological evaluations at several locations in Southern California. To schedule your appointment with a Los Angeles Qualified Medical Examiner follow these steps:

1. Contact (424) 262-1925 to schedule your appointment

2. Meet with a Psychologist for your QME psychological evaluation

3. Get answers that you need to continue with your work comp claim

OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN LOS ANGLES, CA

There are a variety of neuropsychological and psychological assessments that you can receive from Dr. Reger. Some of which inculde cognitive and dementia testing, pre-surgical assessments, and med-legal evalutaions.Besides evaluations she also provides individual therapy, counseling for older adults, and provides mental health consultations and presentations.

What is A Neuropsychological Assessment?

Perhaps your older parent has noticed trouble with short-term memory lately. Perhaps your child has been having a hard time learning a subject at school. Maybe you are struggling to stay organized in the midst of your busy life, and seem to have more problems with this than the people around you. Perhaps a neighbor suffered a stroke or head injury. Or maybe someone you know is having unexplained and scary neurological symptoms, like numbness, weakness, forgetfulness, or headaches. In any of these situations, a neuropsychological assessment, sometimes shortened to “neuropsych testing” may be recommended. Here are some basics if you want to know more about neuropsychological testing and aren’t sure where to start.

What is A Neuropsychological Assessment For?

A neuropsych eval is a structured set of tests designed to understand a person’s brain function in order to answer a specific question. These are often questions about diagnosis, like whether a person has:

• Dementia

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• A learning disorder

• A mental health diagnosis like depression or anxiety

A neuropsychological assessment can also help medical providers and teams understand the extent of problems caused by health conditions, for example:

• Stroke

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

• Epilepsy

Cognitive evaluation might also be advised to understand the impact if there are brain changes after medical treatment, such as:

• Radiation

• Chemotherapy

• Surgery

• Effects of certain medications

Neuropsych testing may also be recommended every so often to monitor change and adjust treatment planning to someone’s needs. One example of this is in patients with MS or other progressive neurodegenerative disorders. These folks may have cognitive testing every few years to monitor brain change over time and to learn what additional support might be best for them as the MS progresses. This is testing for the purpose of treatment planning and can make a big difference in quality of life.

Who Does Neuropsychological Assessments?

Neuropsychological testing is a highly specialized skill, and can only be conducted by a neuropsychologist or clinical psychologist with specialty training in neuropsychology. Psychological assessment is something that only psychologists with Ph.D. or PsyD degrees are trained to do, and a skill that sets psychology apart from other mental health fields, and from mental health providers with master’s-level training.

Many psychologists do therapy and assessment, including neuropsychological assessment, though there are also many psychologists who only do therapy, or only do psychological assessments. Because psychology is a broad field, individual psychologists have different areas of expertise and typically choose to focus their training on a specific area. This is why it is so important to select a psychologist with expertise and experience that matches your needs. Some neuropsychologists have a board certification, which is an extra step that licensed psychologists can take to demonstrate their expertise. Unlike many medical specialties, board certification is not required for psychologists, and there are many licensed psychologists with a great deal of expertise and experience in neuropsychological testing who may not have pursued board certification.

It’s a good idea to ask questions about your psychologist’s training and experience when you are seeking a neuropsychological evaluation. It is helpful to ask things like:

• What age groups the psychologist works with

• What diagnoses or types of testing do they specialize in

• How long they have been doing neuropsychological testing

• What experience do they have with your specific concern (e.g., MS, dementia, ADHD, cancer, reading disorders, autism)

• What will happen at the testing appointment and afterward

• How long you can expect to wait for a feedback session and a report

What is Assessed in Neuropsychological Evaluations?

Cognitive testing gives a snapshot of functioning in different brain areas and often includes measures of:

• Memory

• Attention

• Processing speed

• Visual and spatial function

• Executive function

• Others depending on the question

Some of these, like memory and attention, may be familiar to you. Other areas or “domains” of brain function may be less clear. Most neuropsychological testing will include tests of executive function. Executive function is the job performed by the brain’s frontal lobes, located right behind the forehead, and includes things like organizing, decision-making, mental flexibility, and keeping us from acting on impulses. For folks with ADHD, executive function is usually lower than average, and neuropsychological testing will often show this as an area of vulnerability. Other neuropsychological domains that may be unfamiliar are processing speed, or how quickly we understand information, and visual-spatial function, or how well we make sense of visual information like pictures and shapes.

The Assessment will be tailored to your unique needs

An experienced psychologist who does neuropsych testing will put together a tailored collection of tests to gather the information they need so they can answer the referral question. This also allows them to provide individualized recommendations for the patient or the referring medical provider. Test batteries can look very different depending on the question asked, the age of the patient, and the purpose of the report. For example, a neuropsych evaluation for a teenager with concerns about ADHD will need to use some different tests than an assessment for an older adult with concerns about dementia or cognitive decline.

Generally, we’re looking at the same areas of brain function, because brains of all ages do the same basic functions. However, we might look at those functions in different ways and use different tests to fit the patient and their needs.

Why is Neuropsych Testing Helpful?

It Gives Insight & Answers

The results of testing can be very useful because a neuropsych assessment can help us understand the problems someone is having with their brain function and what diagnosis they may have. For people having worrisome cognitive symptoms, test results can offer answers and reduce anxiety. In my experience as a clinical psychologist doing neuropsych evaluations, people often feel anxiety leading up to testing, as they fear receiving bad news. But I have observed that even in situations where testing results in a scary diagnosis or prognosis, there is relief in having the information and knowing the answer. This allows individuals and families to move forward with a plan, rather than wondering and fearing the worst.

neuropsych testing can give unique management options

In addition to providing insight into a diagnosis or cause of symptoms, a neuropsych eval can also help doctors determine what treatments may help. Even in situations where there is no cure for cognitive deficits, neuropsychological assessment can help the psychologist recommend strategies for managing problems to help improve quality of life. For example, if cognitive testing shows that someone is having problems learning and remembering verbal information (sometimes called auditory learning), their doctors can provide written information to better support them.

Obviously, this is simple advice, but potentially very meaningful. If a patient has trouble remembering what they are told verbally, and they receive only verbal instructions about how to care for a surgical site after surgery, they are at risk of infection and re-admission to the hospital if they forget the details. Providing clear written steps for at-home wound care is an easy strategy a medical team can use to support that patient, and may mean their ability to go home independently after surgery! Neuropsychological assessment can offer insight into many areas of brain function, which allows the evaluating psychologist to create a “profile” of cognitive function, and make tailored recommendations about the best ways to treat or support brain health.

A Neuropsychological assessment provides treatment options

In addition to offering management strategies, a psychologist can give treatment recommendations based on the results of neuropsychological assessment. If there is a particular psychotherapy that is helpful for people with a diagnosis, the psychologist can recommend that. If it would be useful to see a physical therapist, a dietitian, a neurologist, or another specialist, the psychologist can recommend that. If medications would be helpful, the psychologist can recommend referral to a psychiatrist or other prescribing physician who can assess what is needed and manage those medications. The true value in a neuropsychological assessment is receiving recommendations unique to your situation that will help you navigate what is ahead.

How to Proceed with a Neuropsychological Evaluation.

If you believe you or a family member are in need of a neuropsychological evaluation, you may feel overwhelmed about where to start.

Find A Psychologist or Neuropsychologist

First, I recommend you seek out a reputable psychologist or neuropsychologist in your area. If you are not sure how to do that, there are a few resources you can use:

• Local or state psychological associations often have a directory (like this one on the Los Angeles County Psychological Association website)

• Psychology Today, Zencare, and other listing sites used by psychologists

• Ask your own medical provider for a recommendation

• If you have a psychotherapist, ask your therapist

• Ask around to family and friends. You might be surprised that others have needed a neuropsychological evaluation at one time or another

• Google search for exactly what you need (e.g., “cognitive assessment for dementia in Redondo Beach”)

Ask Your Psychologist Questions

Once you find a psychologist who can give a neuropsych evaluation, you will need to reach out to them to find out whether they’re a fit and learn about things like cost, availability of appointments, and so on. Neuropsychological testing is highly sought after, so be aware that you might have to wait for an appointment. When you call to find out if the psychologist is a fit for you, here are some questions I recommend asking:

• What types of testing do you do?

• What ages do you see? Are any of those age groups a specialty of yours?

• How long have you been in practice as a neuropsychologist?

• How much does a neuropsych eval cost at your clinic?

• Do you take insurance? (And ask about your specific insurance).

• What availability do you have for a testing appointment? Is there a wait to be seen? If so, how long?

• What does the testing day look like? How long does testing last?

• How long before you have the report and feedback to me?

In addition to these basic questions, I recommend asking anything particular to your situation. For example, if you are looking for an evaluation that will be used for disability accommodations at high school or college, ask whether the psychologist can provide that type of report. If you are interested in having the psychologist communicate with other medical providers, mention that and ask what they need from you in order to do so.

Get Prepared for Your neuropsychological assessment

Once you’ve made your appointment, you also need to come prepared on the day of testing. Your psychologist should tell you what to expect but here are some general tips:

• Expect a long day. Testing can take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours, or even require more than one day, depending on the assessment. It’s ok to ask for breaks!

• Be on time. Prepare by mapping your route, anticipating traffic or other possible delays, and leaving a bit early so you are sure to arrive on time.

• Be well rested. Poor sleep can impact testing, so try your best to get a good night’s sleep the night before testing.

• Eat well. Eat a good breakfast the day of testing, bring snacks and lunch, and bring water. Hunger can impact testing!

• Avoid alcohol and drugs. Drinking the night before testing, or taking any non-prescribed medications or drugs can all impact testing. It’s best to avoid taking anything other than your prescribed meds before a neuropsych testing appointment.

• Bring relevant medical records. If you have any medical conditions or a significant medical history, that information will be crucial for your psychologist. You can fill out a records request at your doctor or hospital to provide records to your psychologist. It’s also a good idea to bring a list of your prescriptions if you have any. This requires planning ahead!

• Try to relax. People often feel anxious about testing, but anxiety can impact testing too! Remember that neuropsych assessment is to help you so you should give your best effort, be honest, and try not to let anxiety about testing get in the way.

Hopefully, this information is a helpful introduction to some of the most important information about neuropsychological evaluations and what they are for.

Get A Neuropsychological Evaluation in Los Angeles, CA

If you are seeking a neuropsychological evaluation in Los Angeles or Orange County, Dr. Reger is a Psychologist who is experienced with neuropsych testing for adolescents, adults, and older adults. She has offices in multiple locations around LA and OC, as well as her primary office in Redondo Beach, CA.

1. Reach out today for a free 15-minute consultation about your testing needs.

2. Schedule your neuropsychological assessment.

3. Get answers and find management and treatment options that will help you.