A: Neuropsychology is a specialty area within the broader field of clinical psychology that focuses on brain-behavior relationships.
Clinical neuropsychologists evaluate patients who are presenting with a variety of conditions. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation report includes a description of a patient’s cognitive and emotional functioning with prognosis the goal of diagnostic clarification, prognosis, rehabilitation recommendations, other treatment planning, and/or return to work or school decisions.
A: The Clinical Neuropsychologist has:
A: The Clinical Neuropsychologist uses psychological, neurological, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological principles, techniques and tests to evaluate patients' neurocognitive, behavioral, and emotional strengths and weaknesses and their relationship to normal and abnormal central nervous system functioning. Tests include measures of memory, learning, visual-spatial processing, attention-concentration, motor skills, basic sensory-perceptual processes, and psychological functioning. Depending on the referral question, a neuropsychological evaluation typically takes between 3 – 8 hours. Shorter evaluations are typically performed in one day or appointment. Often, longer evaluations are “broken up” into two half-day test sessions.
A: You should bring any relevant adaptive aids (i.e. glasses for reading; hearing aids) that you normally use for optimal functioning. It is also important to get a good night’s sleep prior to your evaluation appointment. You should also eat a good meal (i.e. breakfast prior to a morning appointment). You are also welcome to bring snacks/drinks, particularly if your evaluation appointment is more than 3 hours. Please leave your cell phone at home. At the very least, all cell phones should be turned off, as they are a distraction to the evaluation process.
A: Since there is no patient-psychologist relationship in an IME, the usual confidentiality between patient and psychologist does not apply. In addition, the results of this type of examination, as summarized and contained in a report, are the property of the requesting/paying party.
A: The patient will not be provided directly with results, with an interpretation of results, or with diagnostic opinions or therapeutic recommendations. Such information may be included in a report sent to the requesting/paying party (attorney) and must be obtained directly from that party in the usual and customary manner.
A: Results are typically sent out to the referring attorney within two weeks of the last testing session date. Please discuss any time constraint issues with Dr. Anderson prior to scheduling.