What is a Neuropsychological Evaluation?
Dr. Joshua Masino is a specialist in brain functions and how behavior and skills are related to brain structures and systems. His expertise includes working with patients with impairments due to traumatic brain injury, substance abuse disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, stroke, metabolic disorder, demyelinating disorder,... more
A neuropsychological evaluation is an assessment of how one’s brain functions, which indirectly yields information about the structural and functional integrity of your brain. The neuropsychological evaluation involves an interview and testing. Tests typically involve responding to writing prompts. Some tasks in a test might be completed by the patient with assistance from a technician, but the majority require administration by a neuropsychologist or trained, skilled psychometrist.
Neuropsychological tests evaluate functioning in a number of areas including intelligence, executive functions (such as planning, abstraction, conceptualization), attention, memory, language, perception, sensorimotor functions, motivation, mood state and emotion, quality of life, and personality styles. The areas addressed in an individual’s evaluation are determined by the referral question (what the referring doctor and patient want to know), the patient’s complaints and symptoms, and observations made during the interview and test administration.
