Have you ever wondered how your brain works, what's the science behind your thinking, memory, and behavior? Sometimes we think, "Oh, I can't remember things as well anymore," or "I can't get things done as neatly as I used to." Today, we're going to talk about a special test that can help you with that.
What is Neuropsychological Testing?
Simply put, neuropsychological testing is a set of tests that healthcare providers, or doctors, use to get information about how your brain is working. There are psychologists who are specially trained to do this, we call them neuropsychologists . They are the ones who look at these test results and understand the relationship between the health of your brain and your behavior, mood, and the way you think (we also call this cognition ).
Think of it this way, just like when something goes wrong with your car, you take it to a mechanic to have it checked. But this one checks the functioning of our brain , which controls things like our thinking and memory.
What can we learn from this test? / Why is this being done?
This test can provide doctors with a lot of valuable information. Here are a few examples:
- Diagnosis: If you have a problem with your thinking or understanding, these tests can help you figure out what's causing it. For example, you may have memory loss. This can help you determine whether it's normal as you get older, a neurological condition, such as depression, anxiety, or something else.
- Identify your cognitive strengths and weaknesses: Sometimes, doctors may recommend this test if you have had brain damage, such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury . Or, if you play a sports game or have a family history of dementia , this test is also used to get a baseline. This can then be compared with future tests to see how you are doing. It can also be used to see if a treatment will help you.
- Understand your personal risk of changes in thinking ability that may occur with some brain surgeries: There are some surgeries that involve the brain that can cause slight changes in the way you think after them. This will also help you assess the extent of that risk.
- Make plans for future treatments and interventions: For example, things like occupational therapy or speech therapy . These test results can help you decide what areas of rehabilitation you need to focus on, what strengths you can use to overcome weaknesses, and how to make adjustments to your schoolwork or work, or what skills are most important for you to develop.
What does this neuropsychological evaluation test?
During a neuropsychological evaluation, several of your mental functions are tested. Some of them include:
- General Intellect.
- Reading/Reading Comprehension.
- The ability to use language and understand what others say.
- Attention/Concentration.
- The time it takes to receive, understand, and respond to information (we call this Processing Speed).
- Learning and Memory.
- Reasoning.
- The higher-level skills used to organize and plan things, manage time, solve problems, multitask, make decisions, and maintain self-control (this is called Executive Functions). Imagine you are planning a trip, or managing your monthly bills, that's what this is all about.
- The ability to understand the relationships between objects and space (Visuospatial Skills). This includes things like drawing, tying shoelaces, and making a bed.
- Fine Motor Skills: These are fine motor skills that involve the fingertips, such as writing.
- Mood and Personality.
What medical conditions can these neuropsychological tests help diagnose?
These tests cannot be said to directly diagnose a disease. However, they can provide doctors with more information to help diagnose and manage the disease. Here are some examples:
- Alzheimer's disease.
- Brain Tumors.
- Dementia.
- Epilepsy.
- Learning Disabilities.
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and Stroke.
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
- Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
When is this neuropsychological testing done? / When is this needed?
Doctors, such as neurologists and primary care specialists , may want to do this test if they notice certain changes in your behavior or thinking. Some of these signs include:
- Unexplained personality changes: For example, a sudden increase in anxiety or depression, or the onset of delusions or hallucinations.
- Changes in short-term memory: It's like asking the same question over and over again. Imagine, your mother asks you a little while after breakfast, "Son, did I eat?" Things like that.
- Difficulty communicating and dealing with others.
- Difficulty speaking or finding words.
- Difficulty drawing or using a map.
- Items are often lost or the roads are difficult to find.
- New difficulty in managing bills and money.
- Feeling like you have poor focus and concentration.
- Weaknesses in decision-making and judgment.
- Difficulty recognizing people you know well, close family members, and friends.
- Difficulty organizing work and finishing tasks you start.
Don't worry if you have one or two of these signs. However, if these symptoms persist or seem to be getting worse, it's best to talk to a doctor.
How is this neuropsychological test performed?
This is a bit of a long process, but let's see how you can understand.
What happens before the test?
Your neuropsychologist may have you fill out surveys about your mood and mental health symptoms before the test day. Or, if you are having this test done on your child, the medical team will likely ask you to fill out questionnaires about your child's behavior.
When you come for the test, they will talk to you. This is to understand any questions or concerns you and your family may have about your mental functioning. They will also look at your medical and psychological history, education, and employment background. If a family member is coming with you, they may ask for your permission to ask for information from them. If the test is being performed on a child, the neuropsychologist will talk to you and the child together, as appropriate.
This basic information is what helps the neuropsychologist decide which tests to give you. Then, a trained technician who works under the supervision of a neuropsychologist – we call them psychometrists – administers these tests to you.
What do you do during the test?
You will have to take several tests for memory, cognition, verbal communication, and motor skills. These are usually things like:
- Writing or drawing.
- Solving puzzles or answering questions.
- Responding to things displayed on a computer.
Many people may find some of these tests to be very easy and some to be very difficult. You don't have to do everything right, and no one "fails." The purpose of this test is to identify your personal strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it is important to try as hard as possible on each test in order for the results to be accurate and useful.
Finally, your healthcare team will score these results and interpret their meaning.
How do you prepare for this test?
To get the most accurate results, you need to perform as well as possible that day. To do this, do the following:
- Get a good night's sleep the night before the test.
- Try to have a good breakfast.
- Unless otherwise instructed, take all your medications as usual.
- Bring any glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, or other assistive devices you use.
- If you have had any previous neuropsychological, psychological, or educational testing, share the results with your care team. This includes reports from Intellectual Evaluations , Psychoeducational Evaluations , and Multifactored Evaluations (MFEs) . If your child has an Individual Education Program (IEP) , bring a copy of it as well.
Are there any risks with this test?
There are no real risks associated with these neuropsychological tests. However, since the test usually takes several hours, some people may feel tired, a little dizzy, or restless. So, plan a light dinner the evening of the test. If your child is having the test, don't expect much from them for the rest of the day (and take it easy for yourself).
How do you interpret these neuropsychological test results?
Most of these tests are administered in the same way for everyone (that is, they are standardized ). Your neuropsychologist will compare your results with those of other people your age. Sometimes, they will also compare your results with those of people with the same level of education (this is called norm-referenced) .
What kind of results do we get? What do they tell us?
Your neuropsychologist will write a detailed report explaining your results. This report will identify both your strengths and areas where you are not performing as well as expected. It may also include recommendations and interventions to improve those skills, and possibly even referrals to other specialists. They will not give you a diagnosis, but with your permission, they will share your results with your other doctors.
When will we know the results of this test?
It usually takes a few weeks for the neuropsychologist to score the tests, analyze the results, and make recommendations. During this time, try to go about your daily activities without worrying too much about the results.
Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)
There are many reasons why doctors may order a neuropsychological test. This tests a range of mental functions. They may want to see how your memory is working, whether your symptoms are changing with age, or something else. Or your child's healthcare team may want to better understand your child's needs and gain a better understanding of how your child thinks and behaves.
Whatever the reason for the test, it's normal to feel a little nervous and anxious until the results come back. But no matter where you are on the journey to a diagnosis, a neuropsychological test is a valuable piece of information that can help inform your next steps. Together with your healthcare team, you can get closer to any interventions and treatments you need. So, if you're referred for this type of test, see it as a help to you.
` Neuropsychological testing, brain function, cognition, memory, behavior, diagnosis, neuropsychologist
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