Wednesday, 15 April 2015

The Neuropsychologist In NYC May Work With Patients Or Do Research

By Iva Cannon


Neuropsychology is an experimental branch of psychology. It is practiced in research facilities such as universities or laboratories. The neuropsychologist in NYC as well as other locations may be found working in a clinic or directing a clinical trial project to evaluate a new drug that affects the central nervous system.

He correlates the combined principles of cognitive psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science. He takes all into consideration to view how the human mind processes information it receives. Patients are helped by using medication, rehabilitation therapy and sometimes surgery.

The education of this practitioner includes a doctorate in psychology and post-doctoral training in neuropsychology. He can work in New York, NY or a small suburb in Illinois. His focus is the patient with a disorder affecting the nervous system.

When a person has suffered a cardiovascular accident, also known as a stroke, an evaluation is needed. The treatment plan that will give that patient the best chance at improvement will be based on the results. The early stages of a disease, for example Parkinsons, might not be easy to evaluate. However, when it can be caught in the early stages, it proves advantageous in treatment planning.

Alzheimers disease can be evaluated. However, its presence can only be confirmed through an autopsy. Of course, that is no help to the patient while alive. The assessment will therefore be based on symptoms. This disease robs the patient of memory, cognitive ability and erases the personality eventually.

An evaluation may be done by interview. Questioning will be done about daily tasks and how difficult they are to complete. It will compile a medical history including the list of medication the person takes. There are standardized tests that are used to assess everything from problem solving abilities to emotional status.

There are brain scans such as magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography that are invaluable in reaching a diagnosis. Results of standard tests are compared to those of a control group of the same age. Severe problems are easier to assess than the subtle deterioration that exists in the very early stages.

The complexity of the brain makes diagnosing any disease challenging. It has control centers for sensory information, motor skills and the production of language. When a speech disorder is present in a stroke patient, the Brocas area will be the control center to examine.

It is the optimal understanding of the way the brain dictates behavior that the neuropsychologist brings to the table. His studies focus on the relationship between them. Any physiological disorder will directly affect behavior.

He will determine the extent of the defect and identify the best treatment plan. The hope is to assist the patients recovery in the best way possible. The neuropsychologist can work in the area of pediatrics or focus on dementia that is the result of Alzheimers or another disease.

Studies of the human brain have been done for hundreds of years. Neuropsychology, however, is considered to be a relatively new area. The profession endeavors to understand how the brain functions and how behavior is directly affected by any disorder or disability. Changing abnormal behavior whenever possible is the common goal of this professional.




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