When to refer for a neuropsychological assessment

A neuropsychological assessment is recommended when an individual is experiencing changes in their cognitive or thinking skills or changes in their behavior. This could include difficulty focus on tasks, forgetting information, trouble organizing or planning activities, difficulty following directions or getting lost, trouble coming up with words or understanding what others say, or difficulty completing tasks due to cognitive concerns. These difficulties could be due to a number of medical, neurological, psychological, or genetic causes. An assessment will help understand your unique situation.

Questions a neuropsychological assessment can answer include;

What are an individual’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses?
What is the severity of observed cognitive impairment?
What is the cause of the observed cognitive impairment?
What is the prognosis for recovery?
What impact will cognitive difficulties have on an individual’s daily functioning?
Is the individual likely to require additional support in school or employment?
What are the treatment options?