---

Adult Neuropsychology

Assessments for adults and older adults

A neuropsychological assessment provides a detailed profile of a person's memory and thinking skills. They are recognised as a useful tool for identifying and describing cognitive impairment, particularly where changes are subtle and not evident on shorter cognitive screening assessments or neuroimaging.

These standardised assessments are particularly useful for people who have known or suspected neurological (brain) impairment, such as a head injury, stroke, dementia, excessive alcohol use and psychiatric condition.

​Neuropsychological assessments are known to be a sensitive tool in the early detection of different types of dementia (such as Alzheimer’s disease); and play an important role in differentiating between cognitive impairments due to organic conditions (such as stroke or dementia) and those due to a mental health condition (such as depression).

          Assessments can assist in
​

• The diagnoses of various neurological and neurodegenerative conditions (such as a type of dementia) that are currently difficult (or not possible) using neuroimaging procedures 
• Determining the presence and severity of a neurological condition (such as epilepsy, brain tumour, or trauma) and the consequences of that injury on the individual’s life
• Identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses (e.g. for vocational or rehabilitation purposes)
• Monitoring cognitive changes over time (e.g. following an accident or following a change in medication)
• Providing strategies to manage cognitive and behavioural difficulties that are the consequence of a neurological event, and to help improve quality of life
• Determining decision-making capacity, testamentary capacity, need for guardianship

Who would benefit from an assessment?

​Assessments can be useful for:

• Those concerned about their memory or thinking (having more difficulty in day-to-day life)
• Neurodegenerative conditions (such as a type of dementia - Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease)
• Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury (such as following motor vehicle accidents, falls, assault, brain infections)
• Neurological conditions (such as stroke, tumours and epilepsy)
• Inflammatory diseases implicating the central nervous system (such as meningitis, encephalitis and multiple sclerosis)
• Psychiatric illnesses (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression)
• Developmental disorders (such as ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disorders)
• Intellectual disabilities (such as Down syndrome)
• Brain injury following hypoxia 
• Brain injury due to long-term alcohol abuse
• Post-concussion syndrome (or mild traumatic brain injury)

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

If you are currently registered with NDIS (or have a client who is registered), you can use NDIS funding to obtain a neuropsychological assessment. If you are self-managed or plan-managed, you can refer directly to me. If you are managed by an agency, please talk to your provider about sub-contracting my service.

admin@swneuropsychology.com.au

South West Neuropsychology

0415 955 453