Wednesday 1 July 2015

The Components Of Neuropsychological Testing

By Jordan Schmidt


The human brain is complex and responsible for many of the processes in the body. When it is malfunctioning, other problems can arise. Sometimes this comes in the form of changes to the thoughts and actions of an individual. Neuropsychological testing is carried out in New York, NY and other parts of the world as a way to test the function of the brain.

Doctors perform these test to identify brain problems. These assessments are designed to help them check to see if patients have issues with the organ that are impacting their ability to remember, problem solve, concentrate and reason. Usually more than one test is completed during this process and it is all carried out by psychologists who are specially trained to do this work.

The results of these tests given the doctor an overall look at how well the brain is functioning. Using this information, professionals can determine the best rehab or treatment solutions for patients. Doctors may encourage this type of testing for people who have disease that might impact brain health, including: tumors, epilepsy, AIDS, dementia or similar diseases, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease and stroke.

Patients may also be asked to participate if they have sustained an injury that may have affected the brain, such as serious brain injury or concussion. This might also be necessary for those who have an history of abusing alcohol or drugs, both of which impact brain function. Sometimes patients are tested if they have been exposed to pollution, chemicals or poisons that may damage this organ. ADHD patients may undergo tests and doctors may perform these if they want to check on the effectiveness of treatment.

Preparing may be request. Talk with the doctor when addressing concerns or questions related to the procedure. Other things people should consider: meaning of results, how the process is done, why testing is necessary and potential risks. It is essential that people are well-informed of how this is done. They should get proper sleep and an adequate meal beforehand because tiredness and hunger can impact results. If patients need glasses or hearing aids, they should bring them along.

More than one test can be taken. The kind given to a patient is based on what the practitioner wants to assess. Exams of this kind are meant to test limits for the patients. That is, they can expect some parts to be challenging. Most times these tests will involve the patients completing certain tasks or answering a set of questions. Tests are conducted with special objects, computers, or with standard paper and pencil.

These may check memory and attention span. Some check speech and language skills, as well as organizing, planning and reasoning abilities. It is common for people to get nervous before taking these.

Results provide information on the capability of a patient when it comes to remembering, thinking and reasoning. Doctors should take out time to explain the results in a way that their patients understand them clearly. Often it will take several weeks to receive the complete and official results.




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