FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONSABOUT

NEUROPSYCHOLOGICALEVALUATION
KathrynWilderSchaaf,PhD,LillianFloresStevens,PhD,MeganHolcomb,PhD,StephenSmith,PhD
LauraArtman,PhD,andJeffreyS.Kreutzer,PhD,ABPP

VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity
DepartmentofPhysicalMedicineandRehabilitation
RehabilitationPsychologyandNeuropsychologyDivision
Richmond,VA

Afteraninjuryorillnessthataffectsthebrain,peoplearecommonlyreferredfor
neuropsychologicalevaluation.Mostpeopleknowlittleabouttheevaluationprocess.Manyarenot
surewhattheywillbeaskedtodo,howtheyshouldprepare,orwhowilldotheevaluation.The
purposeofthisbookletistoprovideanswerstothemostcommonquestionspeoplehaveabout
neuropsychologicalevaluation.Pleasekeepinmindthatthesearegeneralguidelines.Weencourage
youtocontactyourneuropsychologypracticetogetadditionalinformationregardingpoliciesand
practices.

1. Whatisaneuropsychologicalevaluation?
Neuropsychologicalevaluationoftenincludesatleast3components:(1)areviewofyourmedical
andotherrecords,(2)aninterviewwithyouand,often,anotherpersonwhoknowsyouwell(a
familymember,closefriend,orcaregiver),and(3)administrationofteststhatmeasureyour
abilitiesandmood.Usingthesethreesourcesofinformation,aneuropsychologistwillprovide
youwithacomprehensivereportthatsummarizesrelevantmedicalhistory,yourevaluation
results,areaswhereyourcognitiveoremotionalfunctioninghaschanged,andrecommendations
forwork,home,andfamily.

2. WhydoIneedaneuropsychologicalevaluation?
Theevaluationishelpfultoanswerquestionsaboutreturntonormallife.Youmayhave
questionslike:
o WhencanIgobacktowork?
o CanIstartdrivingagain?
o CanIlivebymyselfordoIneedtolivewithmyparents?
o WhatkindofaccommodationsdoIneedforschool?

o AmIdepressedoramIjusttired?
Althoughdoctorsareabletolookatscansandimagesofthebrain,picturesdonotalwaysshow
howthebrainisworkingandhowthebrainhasbeeninjured.Bydoingneuropsychologicaltesting,
doctorsareabletoseehowyourbrainisworking.Thesetestswillalsohelpyouandyourdoctors
understandhowyourabilitiesandmoodhavechanged.Onceyouhavecompletedtheevaluation
process,yourhealthcareproviderwillbeabletogiveyourecommendationsthatwillhelpyouand
yourfamilytodevelopaplanforgettingbetter.

3. Whatskillsandabilitieswillneuropsychologicaltestsmeasure?
Typically,neuropsychologicaltestswillexamineavarietyofskillsandabilities:

GeneralIntelligence

Language

ProblemSolving

VisualandSpatialPerception

PlanningandAbstractThinking

MotorandSensorySkills

AttentionandConcentration

AcademicSkills

LearningandMemory

Dependingonyourillnessorinjury,theevaluationmayfocusonsomeabilitiesmorethanothers.

4. Whyistheneuropsychologistaskingaboutmymood?
Afterabraininjuryorstroke,manypeoplereportchangesintheirmood.Feelingworried,sad,
anddiscouragedarecommonafteraninjury.Feelings,emotions,andmoodalsoplayanimportant
roleonourabilitytofeelgoodaboutourlivesandtothink.Feelingworried,upset,ordownmay
affectapersonsattention,concentration,ormemory.Yourneuropsychologistwillaskyouanumber
ofquestionsaboutyourcurrentmoodtobetterunderstandhowyourfeelingsandemotionsmaybe
affectingyourscoresonmeasuresofthinkingandtoseeifcounselingmightbeahelpfulnextstep.

5. WhowillImeetwithduringmyappointment?
Neuropsychologicalevaluationistypicallydonebyaclinicalneuropsychologist,apsychologist
withspecializedtraininginhowthebrainworks.Aneuropsychologistusespencilandpapertestsand
questionnairestobetterunderstandhowthebrainisworking.
Mostneuropsychologistsmeetwithpatientsforaninterview,andspeciallytrainedtechnicians
oftendotheactualtesting.Atechnicianorpsychometristissomeonewithadvancedtrainingon
howtoadministerthetests.

6. WhatwillIlearnfromaneuropsychologicalevaluation?
Aneuropsychologicalevaluationshouldprovideyouwith:
a. Abetterunderstandingofyourbrainsstrengthsandweaknesses.
b. Informationforyourdoctorandcareteamthatwillguideyourtreatmentplanandhelp
themtobettertreattheproblemsyouareexperiencing.
c. Recommendationsforyourdaytodaylifethatwillhelpyouandyourfamilymembers
withyourrecovery.
d. Recommendationstohelpyousucceedinschoolorworkortoliveindependently.

7. Howlongwillthetestingprocesstake?
Thelengthoftestingtimedependsonyoursituationandhowquicklyyouwork.Testingisusually
completedinlessthan3hoursbutsometimestakesupto8hoursorlonger.Testingisusually
completedinonedaysoyouwillnothavetocometomultipleappointments.Duringtesting,you
maybecometiredorneedabreak.Pleasebesuretoletthepersontestingyouknowifyouneed
sometimetostretch,usetherestroom,haveadrinkofwaterorsnack,orjustneedabreak.

8. WhatwillIbeaskedtododuringaneuropsychologicalevaluation?
Typically,aneuropsychologicalevaluationwillbeginwithageneralinterview.Youwillbeasked
questionsaboutyourhistoryandbackground.Youranswerswillhelptheneuropsychologistknow
youbetterandgetagoodunderstandingofyoursymptoms.Ifafriendorfamilymembercomeswith
you,theymaybeincludedintheinterviewtohelpexplainproblemsandconcerns.Next,youwilldo
writtenandoraltests.Forsometests,youwillbeaskedtowriteordrawsomethingandforothers
youwillneedtolistenandanswerquestions.Also,youmaytakesomeofthetestsonthecomputer.
Youwillbegiveninstructionsforeverytaskandsomearetimed.

9. DoIneedtostudybeforeItakethesetests?
No.Thereisnothingyouneedtostudybeforeyourneuropsychologicalevaluation.Thetestsare
tryingtogetasenseofwhatyouareabletodonow,sothereisnoneedtolearnanynewmaterialor
practiceskills.

10. HowcanIprepareformyevaluation?WhatshouldIbring?
Differentpracticeshavedifferentrequirements.Ingeneral,however,thefollowingguidelines
maybehelpful.

a. Makesureyougetagoodnight'ssleepthenightbefore.
b. Makesureyouhaveplentyoftimetogettoyourappointment.Giveyourselfplentyoftime
fortravel,tofindthelocation,andforparking.
c. Makesureyoueatsomethingbeforeyouarrivesothatyouarecomfortableuntilthelunch
break.
d. Ifyouwearhearingaidsoreyeglasses,bringthemwithyou.
e. Ifquestionnairesweremailedtoyou,completethemandbringthemwithyoutoyour
appointment.
f. Takeyourmedication(s)asyounormallydo,unlessyourdoctorhastoldyouotherwise.
g. Bringasnack,yourlunch,ormoneytobuylunch.
h. Bringyourinsurancecard(s)andpictureID.
i.

Bringmedicalrecordsthatarerelatedtoyourcurrentillnessorinjury.

j.

Ifyouareinschool,bringcurrentacademicrecords.

k. Ifasked,bringyourcaregiver,closefamilymember,orfriend.Oftentheycanprovidehelpful
informationtobetterunderstandyoursituation.

11. Willtheevaluationmakemefeeluncomfortableorfrustrated?
Someofthetasksandquestionsmaybeeasyandothersmaybehard.Besuretotryyourbeston
alltests.Thetestsaredesignedtochallengeyou.Somepeoplefeelfrustratedorupsetiftheydont
knowalltheanswers,butotherpeoplesaythetestingprocesswasinterestingandfun.

12. Willtheevaluationcostmeanything?
Paymentforaneuropsychologicalevaluationdependsonyoursituation.

Forsomepeople,theevaluationispaidforbytheirhealthinsurancecarrier.Youwillbe
requiredtopayanyapplicablecopayordeductible.Mostinsurancecompanieslimitthe
numberofhoursforwhichtheywillpayfortesting.Also,mostinsurancecompaniesonly
allowoneevaluationpercalendaryear.

Forotherpeople,thefeefortheevaluationmaybepaidforbyanotherpayersourcesuch
asWorkersCompensationorDepartmentofRehabilitativeServices.Insomesituations,
yourevaluationmaybepaidthroughyourmedical/legalpersonalinjurycase.

Youmayalsopayforanevaluationoutofpocketifthetestingisnotacoveredbenefit
withyourinsurancecarrierorifyoudonothavehealthinsurance.

Youmaycontactyourprovidertoseeifthereareanyotherpaymentoptions.


13. WhatshouldIexpectfromaneuropsychologicalevaluation?WillIfindouttheresultsofthe
evaluation?
Theresultsoftheevaluationarenormallypresentedinareport.Acopyofthereportexplaining
thetestresultswillbeprovidedtoyouifrequested.Thereportwilltypicallyinclude:asummaryof
thetestsyouweregiven,asummaryofimportantmedicalandpersonalhistory,currentproblems
youareexperiencing,testresults,acomparisonofyourresultstootherpeopleyourage,and
recommendationsthatwillhelpyouandyourfamilymoveforwardingettingbetter.Werecommend
thatyoutakesometimetoreadoverthereport,thinkaboutquestionsyouhave,andreviewthe
reportwithyourreferringortreatingdoctor.
Ifyouwouldliketodiscusstheresultsandrecommendationsinyourreport,askyour
neuropsychologistaboutafeedbacksession.Duringthefeedbacksessionyouwillbegivenachance
toaskquestionsandtalkaboutconcerns.

14. Whogetstheresultsofmyevaluation?
Yourneuropsychologicalevaluationresultsarewrittenintoaconfidentialreport.Typically,the
onlypeoplewhocanreadthereportareyou(thepatient)andtheproviderwhomadethereferral
(i.e.,physician,rehabilitationspecialist,orlawyer).Youmaychoosetogivetheresultstoother
people,oryoucanaskforthemtobereleasedtootherpeoplebysigningaReleaseofInformation
form.Weencouragepatientstogetandkeepacopyoftheirreportfortheirpersonalrecords.

15. Whataretheresultsusedfor?
Theresultscanbeusedforanumberofthings,andwilldependonyoursituation.Ingeneral,
resultscanbeused:

Tounderstandyourcurrentstrengthsandweaknesses.Ifyoudomoretestinginthe
future,yourneuropsychologistcanseehowyourabilitieschangeovertime.

Tohelpyourrehabilitationteamcomeupwiththebesttreatmentplanforyourcurrent
difficulties.

Tohelpyoumakedecisionsaboutreturningtoworkorschool.

Tohelpyoubemoresuccessfulatworkorschool.

Tomakerecommendationsforadditionaltreatmentthatwillhelpyouwithrecovery.

Toreferyoutootherprofessionalswhocanhelpyou.

Toprovideinformationifyouareinvolvedinacourtcase.

Toprovideyouwithsomewaystocopewithimpairmentsandimproverelationships.

Toprovideinformation,resources,orrecommendationstoyourfamilyastheyhelpyou
withrecovery.

Tohelpdocumentyourdisability(e.g.,socialsecurityclaims).

Tohelpdetermineifcounselingcouldhelpyou.

16. WillyoutellmewhatIcanandcantdoaftertheevaluation?
Manypeopleworrythattheirevaluationresultswillbeusedtomakedecisionsaboutwhether
theycandrive,gobacktowork,managetheirownmoney,cook,stayhomealone,etc.These
decisionsmaybeultimatelymadebyyou,yourphysician,andyourfamily.However,basedonyour
strengthsandweaknesses,aneuropsychologistwillmakerecommendationsthatseemtofityourlife
atthistime.Theserecommendationsarefocusedonyoursafetyandlettingyoubeasindependent
aspossible.Ifyouhavequestionsorconcernsaboutrecommendationsinyourreport,meetwiththe
neuropsychologistwhodidyourevaluation.
Rememberthatneuropsychologicaltestingisa"snapshot"ofyourabilitiesatonepointintime.
Peoplewhoactivelyengageinphysicalandemotionaltherapiescanshowmanyimprovementsover
time.Yourrecommendationsmayincludesettingupanappointmentforreevaluationafteracertain
amountoftime.Ifyoucompleteareevaluation,yourneuropsychologistwilllookatyourabilities
againandwilllikelymakeadjustmentstooldrecommendations.

17. DoIhavetocomebacktogettheresults?
Manypeopleliketosetupafeedbackmeetingaftertheevaluationiscomplete.Usuallythe
sessionlastsabout60minutes.Duringthistime,yourneuropsychologistwillexplaintheevaluation
results,gooverrecommendationsforyouandyourfamily,andanswerquestionsyoumighthave.A
feedbacksessionisnotrequired,butcouldbehelpful.Ifyouhavequestionsaboutyourevaluationor
results,youcanalsoaskyourotherdoctors(e.g.,neurologist,rehabilitationdoctorortherapist).

ThisworkwassupportedbyGrants#H133A070036and#H133P040006fromtheNationalInstituteonDisabilityandRehabilitation
Research(NIDRR),OfficeofSpecialEducationandRehabilitativeServices(OSERS),DepartmentofEducation,Washington,D.C.