Neuropsychology

What is neuropsychology?

Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that is dedicated to understanding the connections between brain function and behaviour. Clinical neuropsychologists are psychologists who have extra training in measuring and understanding cognition (i.e., thinking and memory skills) and brain-behaviour relationships.

 Clinical neuropsychologists have training in how the brain develops and changes over time, how different parts of the brain work and impact behaviour, how neurological or mental health conditions can affect thinking and memory skills, and how people can cope with cognitive challenges in daily life.

What is neuropsychology assessment?

A neuropsychological assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s thinking, learning and memory skills that is conducted by trained clinical neuropsychologist.

Clinical neuropsychologists collect information about a person’s thinking, memory, and psychological wellbeing, and help them to make sense of it based on their history and lived experience. They provide a detailed profile of a person’s thinking strengths and weaknesses, including their ‘IQ’, attention, thinking speed, memory, language, and executive skills (i.e., higher-level abilities such as planning, reasoning and inhibition).

Neuropsychological assessments can help people to identify their thinking and memory strengths and weaknesses. This process can help to produce evidence-based cognitive or behavioural strategies that can assist a person to cope with thinking and learning difficulties or optimise these skills in their daily life. Assessments can also be useful in exploring, understanding, or managing conditions affecting thinking and memory abilities (e.g., dementia, concussion, severe mental illness, ADHD, etc.) or help to evaluate a person’s eligibility for psychosocial or disability support services.

What can happen during an assessment?

During an assessment, a neuropsychologist will:

(1) Speak with the client and/or their family to gather information about their thinking and memory concerns. They will also review any previous reports that are relevant to their concerns (e.g., previous cognitive assessments).

(2) Examine multiple thinking and memory domains using a range of standardised pen-and-paper or computer-based tests. These tasks are selected by the neuropsychologist during the evaluation and can include answering questions; reading, writing, and drawing; remembering information that a person hears or sees; or solving problems and puzzles.

(3) Share the results of the assessment with the client in an individual feedback meeting and provide them or their care team with a detailed neuropsychological assessment report.

How long does an assessment take?

Neuropsychology assessments take several hours to complete. The face-to-face component of the assessment takes approximately 3-4 hours. This is normally completed on one day with a few rest breaks. Other assessment components, such as online questionnaires and informant interviews (if required), would normally be completed on another day.  

What can we offer at Aruna Psychology?

We offer private clinical neuropsychology assessment to adult clients (i.e., 16 years or older) who are seeking an evaluation of their thinking and memory skills to help them move forward in life. These are completed by our senior clinical neuropsychologist and director, Dr Shayden Bryce.

While not required, a referral from a treating practitioner such as a GP, psychiatrist or psychologist is always preferred as this can help with coordinating care after the assessment (e.g., assistances with implementing recommendations). We are always happy to speak with you about your cognitive concerns or your referral if you are unsure whether a neuropsychological assessment can help you. 

Fees for neuropsychological services may depend on the nature of your request.  Please contact reception@arunapsychology.net or visit the FAQs for more information.

For independent information on neuropsychological assessment, please click here