A Clinical Neuropsychologist is a psychologist specially trained in the science of brain-behavior relationships. A Clinical Neuropsychologist specializes in assessment and intervention based on the scientific study of human behavior across the lifespan as it relates to normal and abnormal functioning of the central nervous system.

A neuropsychological assessment involves the evaluation of cognitive abilities and psychiatric functioning using a battery of standardized assessment measures. These evaluations can be used to help diagnose or rule out conditions as well as to describe the impact of a condition on a person’s functioning and to help make decisions about one's needs. For part of the evaluation an in-depth clinical interview is conducted, a comprehensive history is taken, and all available and relevant medical, legal, psychiatric, vocational, and educational records are reviewed. Feedback is provided and findings are summarized in a detailed report in most cases.

Individuals with a history of any of the following concerns, and many more, may benefit from Neuropsychological evaluation:

• Head injury

• Failure to achieve developmental milestones

• Learning or attention deficits

• Exposure to drugs, alcohol, or maternal illness in utero

• Exposure to chemicals, toxins, or heavy metals

• Any neurological condition (e.g., multiple sclerosis [MS], Parkinson’s, hydrocephalus, brain tumors, infection)

• Seizure disorders

• Substance abuse

• Strokes

• Dementia

• Psychiatric disorders

Neuropsychological assessment is useful for measuring many areas of functioning, such as:

• Intellectual functioning

• Academic achievement

• Language processing

• Visuospatial processing

• Attention/concentration

• Verbal learning and memory

• Visual learning and memory

• Executive functions

• Speed of processing

• Sensory-perceptual functions

• Motor speed and strength

• Performance and symptom validity

• Personality assessment

Common applications of Neuropsychological assessment include:

• Assist with diagnostic clarification

• Assess for deficits associated with specific disorders, such as dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), HIV-related dementia, MS, and stroke

• Evaluate for dementia versus symptoms that can look like/mimic dementia

• Establish a baseline of cognitive functioning (e.g., to help monitor functional effects of a neurodegenerative disorder)

• Assist with evaluation of epileptic versus psychogenic non-epileptic events

• Help to determine if there are any cognitive or psychological effects of a traumatic brain injury

• Evaluate for symptom validity and help rule out malingering or symptom exaggeration

• Make recommendations about, and/or guide rehabilitation programs and monitor patient progress

• Assist the primary care provider in referring to specialists

• Help determine patient’s ability to live independently or with supervision

• Evaluate one’s ability to manage legal and financial affairs

• Assess capacity to participate in medical and legal decision making

• Evaluate ability to return to work and school affairs

• Helpful as a component of determining candidacy for surgery (e.g., transplantation or bariatric)

• Assessment of CNS lesions and/or seizure disorders before and after surgical interventions, such as corpus callosotomy or focal resection

• Evaluate the cognitive effects of various medical disorders and associated interventions

• Assessment of cognitive effects of chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], hypertension, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection, coronary artery bypass graft [CABG])

• Assist clinical drug trials to assess efficacy of interventions

• Individualized monitoring of pharmacologic interventions

• Assessment of the cognitive effects of exposure to neurotoxins

• Assess memory and cognitive functioning after interventions such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and contemporary therapies

• Diagnose learning disabilities, identify learning styles and make recommendations about strategies to improve learning, academic placement, etc.

• Assess for high stakes testing accommodations (e.g., LSAT, GRE, MCAT)

• Assess neuropsychological functioning to assist in criminal and civil forensic matters (e.g., question of intellectual disability in competence to stand trial evaluation, assess validity of reported cognitive changes since motor vehicle accident)

*MFNC does not accept insurance. However, if provided by clients, we will complete paperwork so that individuals can seek at least partial reimbursement for out-of-network providers. Whether an individual receives reimbursement for services is contingent on one's insurance carrier and plan.