Undergoing a Neuropsychological Examination
Here is information about what to bring to the examination and what to expect when you undergo a neuropsychological assessment. If you have not experienced a neuropsychological examination before, please have a look at the information below.
When should you get there?
If you are visiting Ormond Neuroscience for the first time, you should arrive at least 20 minutes before the time of your appointment. There is a fair amount of paperwork that needs to be completed, so please be on time.
We do our utmost to see you at the designated time, so it is unlikely that you will be kept waiting. If you are late, your appointment will usually be cut short to prevent your late arrival from inconveniencing every other patient who has an appointment for that day, but you will nonetheless pay for the full period. Fair is fair.
What should you expect?
An Interview
An interview consultation takes place with every client or patient who visits Ormond Neuroscience. This allows us to get to know you and understand the problems that are affecting you. It also enables us to ask questions that are relevant to making an appropriate diagnosis. Since the brain is so complex, there are usually many questions that need to be asked, and a basic interview will take in the region of one hour to complete. Click here for technical details on the functional domains and signs and symptoms that are probed during the interview.
If you were referred for a medicolegal examination, it is probable that a psychometrist will first do a structured interview in order to obtain all of the relevant background information and to get an overview of your current difficulties and functioning. Later, you will be seen by Digby Ormond-Brown, the neuropsychologist, who will round out the interview, clarifying matters and asking additional questions and ensuring that we have all the relevant information.
Psychometric Testing
Many patients are required to undergo psychometric testing. This consists of a battery of tests that probe brain functions, such as sensorimotor coordination, concentration, memory, and problem-solving. A psychometrist will be allocated to you and he or she will administer the tests. It usually takes about 2-3 hours to complete the tests, including a 15-minute break. For further details regarding psychometric testing, click here.
What to bring to the examination?
Medication. Bring a list of all the prescription medication that you are taking. That means the name of each drug, the dosage, and the frequency. For example, Epanutin 300 mg, morning and evening (which implies that you take a total of 600 mg each day). Alternatively, provide us with a copy of your most recent prescription. Ideally, you should email this information through before you attend the consultation. If there is any doubt, simply put all your medication into a bag and bring it along.- B
rain scans, including the written report from the radiologist and the CD or DVD that contains the actual images. If you don’t have a disc, then bring the film plates. If you only have printed images, bring them along, although they tend to be fairly useless! The brain scan is important and you should make every effort to bring it with you. Sometimes your doctor might keep the disc. If so, please get it back–you paid for it, after all, and it is yours. We will copy the disc and give it back to you. - Medical reports on your condition. For example, if you underwent an EEG, bring along the neurophysiologist’s report. If you underwent blood tests and have the laboratory results, bring those too.
- Informant. Please bring along someone who knows you well and who can comment on any changes in your functioning. This needs to be someone who will provide an honest, forthright opinion, even if you don’t like what they have to say! A spouse or parent is usually the appropriate informant.
- Reading glasses, if you need them.
A snack. Take something to eat during the break since the testing can take 2-3 hours to complete and you may get hungry. You need to keep you blood sugar optimal to perform at your best on the tests.- Identification. Please bring some form of identification, such as your driver’s license or your ID book or card.
