Should I have a neuropsychological evaluation?
Written by:Neuropsychological assessment is a procedure specifically designed to explore the cognitive functioning of people.
It consists of approximately 2h notation of amounts tests, then the neuropsychologist barema according to their age and educational level, and draws the appropriate conclusions.
The results of the assessment are delivered personally to the patient through neuropsychological report; with it, the neuropsychologist will explain personally what have been the results of the scan.
How neuropsychological assessment done?
First, an interview with the patient allows the professional information is performed. This serves as a guide to exploration will be done through standardized tests that provide insight into the operation of different aspects: memory, visuospatial functions, attention, perception, praxis, orientation, calculation, language and executive functions.
The person carrying out the assessment and draws conclusions from the tests applied is the specialist clinical neuropsychology. According to the official school of psychologists, clinical neuropsychologist in Spain is a professional who, after studying psychology, specializing in theoretical training in the understanding of higher mental abilities and features more than 4,000 hours of clinical practice.
Why neuropsychological assessment done?
Perhaps his neurologist asks for the test as a tool to know what is happening in your brain to diagnosis. Neuropathology in dementia or other cognitive know the profile along with the results of neuroimaging and neurological examination are key processes for diagnosis.
On the other hand, it may be that you have subjective complaints of memory or concentration and wants to determine whether they are within normal limits or age.
Often, people who have a family history of dementia are distressed to forgetfulness, even if they are everyday, considering the possibility of developing Alzheimer's. Neuropsychological assessment determines whether these problems are normal or pathological age.
Finally, it also serves to know what their strong and weak points intellectually.