Frequently Asked Questions About Neuropsychology
What is neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a specialty within the field of psychology that focuses on the relationship between brain, behavior, and cognition. It involves the study and assessment of how various aspects of brain structure and function relate to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes. Neuropsychology plays a crucial role in understanding and assessing conditions such as (among others) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), neurocognitive disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and dementia), traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric disorders affecting cognition.
Neuropsychologists use a variety of techniques to evaluate cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, languge, perception, and executive functions. Conditions assessed and disagnosed by neuropsychologists include the following:
1) Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities
2) Neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment
3) Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cognitive and emotional consequences associated with it
4) Cognitive and functional impairments resulting from strokes and other vascular disorders
5) Cognitive and behavioral effects of epilepsy
6) Cognitive and emotional aspects associated with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
7) Cognitive and emotional effects of brain tumors and their treatment
8) Cognitive impairment and psychological symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS)
9) Psychiatric conditions with neurological components such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, where there may be overlapping cognitive impairments or neurological manifestations
10) Other acquired brain injuries or disorders, including infections, toxic exposures, metabolic disorders, and other conditions affecting brain function
Neuropsychologists use a variety of techniques to evaluate cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, languge, perception, and executive functions. Conditions assessed and disagnosed by neuropsychologists include the following:
1) Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities
2) Neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment
3) Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cognitive and emotional consequences associated with it
4) Cognitive and functional impairments resulting from strokes and other vascular disorders
5) Cognitive and behavioral effects of epilepsy
6) Cognitive and emotional aspects associated with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
7) Cognitive and emotional effects of brain tumors and their treatment
8) Cognitive impairment and psychological symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS)
9) Psychiatric conditions with neurological components such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, where there may be overlapping cognitive impairments or neurological manifestations
10) Other acquired brain injuries or disorders, including infections, toxic exposures, metabolic disorders, and other conditions affecting brain function
What are the educational, training, and professional requirements to become a neuropsychologist?
All neuropsychologists are psychologists, but only some psychologists are also neuropsychologists as a specialization in neuropsychology requires extensive additional training beyond clinical psychology training. In particular, the educational, training, and professional requirements to become a clinical neuropsychologist are as follows:
1) A doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited university training program
2) An internship, or its equivalent, in a clinically relevant area of professional psychology
3) The equivalent of two years of full-time work experience and specialized training under the supervision of a clinical neuropsychologist, at least one of which at the post-doctoral level
4) A license to practice psychology or employment as a neuropsychologist by an exempt agency
1) A doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited university training program
2) An internship, or its equivalent, in a clinically relevant area of professional psychology
3) The equivalent of two years of full-time work experience and specialized training under the supervision of a clinical neuropsychologist, at least one of which at the post-doctoral level
4) A license to practice psychology or employment as a neuropsychologist by an exempt agency
How does a neuropsychological assessment differ from a learning disability assessment?
The focus of a school learning disability assessment is to classify the child and determine if a child is functioning below grade level. Our goal in a neuropsychological assessment, however, is to learn what may be holding the child back from reaching their true potential and how to help them achieve that. With our evaluation, the classification of learning disability is still possible. Please see the study below for more information on the importance of a neuropsychological assessment in evaluating learning disorders: The importance of neuropsychological assessment for the evaluation of childhood learning disorders .
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What ages are appropriate for a neuropsychological assessment?
Our practice has conducted neuropsychological assessments with individuals from ages three through 90.
Do you have a notice of privacy practices?
Yes. You can download it here:
| eng_-_notice_of_privacy_practices.pdf |
