Neuropsychology

The brain and the mind is a little bit like a computer…

…it has hardware (the brain itself), and software (the mind). When a person is experiencing cognitive difficulties, it can either be related to a hardware problem (a problem with the brain itself such as a stroke, a traumatic brain injury or dementia), or it can be a software problem (severe depression, somatisation, or anxiety). Cognition encompasses the entire sphere of the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses, and includes domains such as intellectual functions and the processes of attention, the formation of knowledge, memory and working memory, judgment and evaluation, reasoning, problem solving and decision making, comprehension and production of language.

The neuropsychologist aims to understand whether the difficulties you are experiencing are of a hardware or software nature (this process is called diagnosis), and exactly what aspects of the hardware or software are affected and why (is it a short circuit in the processor i.e. a stroke that caused it, or is it a virus in the operating system i.e. crippling anxiety that is undermining attentional and working memory abilities).

My private practice offers diagnostic services to individuals with all forms of neurological illness affecting the brain and psychological difficulties affecting cognition, such as traumatic brain injury, cognitive difficulties after brain surgery, and general memory difficulties to name just a few. I have also developed a special interest in the diagnosis of complex and uncommon degenerative illnesses that affect the brain such as frontotemporal dementia, uncommon forms of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s dementia.

What to expect during your consultation

A typical neuropsychological assessment is 2 to 2.5 hours long. During the first half of the consultation I take a very detailed history of the current difficulties you’re experiencing, your general health, mental health, family history, current social situation and of course a detailed neurological history. I would have reviewed any neuroimaging (brain scans) prior to our consultation. I then administer various neuropsychological tasks that are designed to elicit various brain functions so that I can observe them and determine whether there is any impairment, and if so, to what extent. After the assessment, I usually give detailed feedback of my findings and recommendations. I will then send out a clinical report to the referring clinician detailing my findings and recommendations.