What is clinical neuropsychology?
Clinical Neuropsychology is a discipline included in Clinical Psychology and it focuses on brain function. It has become a fundamental tool for the diagnosis of multiple psychiatric and neurological disorder, from ADHD in children to to Alzheimer's disease in old-age.
Our Clinical Neuropsychology Service offers assessments, support and treatment to adults and children with cognitive or learning impairments. This discipline covers a wide variety of problems. Some problems will be diagnosed during childhood, such as learning dissabilities, ADHD or autism. Other problems are more common in the elderly, like dementia, brain-strokes, multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s disease. While young adults may also suffer cognitive impairment from brain damage (whether from trauma, substance misuse or serious mental illness).
What can neuropsychological tests measure?
Neuropsychological tests assess person's strengths and weaknesses in terms of: attention, memory, language, intelligence, processing speed, executive function, spatial vision, mood, behaviour and personality traits. The complete neuropsychological evaluations that we carry out provide a wider knowledge of the clinical situation at any age of the following diseases:
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Intelligence quotient (IQ)
Competence and capacity
Memory loss related to cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer's disease
Brain damage
Learning disabilities or language disorders
Cognitive impairment due to medical illness, surgery or radiotherapy
Cognitive impairment associated with mental illness (major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) or substance misuse (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine).
What is a neuropsychological assessment for?
The results of neuropsychological tests can help professionals understand patient's situation in different ways. As examples:
A neuropsychological evaluation provides objective information about cognitive performance, comparing the results with the average performance in people from same age and same condition. For example, it allows us to measure whether a person's intellectual performance is normal, higher than normal (High Ability), or lower than normal (Intellectual Disability). It will also give us a score to know how much better or worse than normal the performance is.
A neuropsychological evaluation may help the clinician to reach a more accurate diagnosis, especially when there is comorbidity. For example, we could differenciate between a depressed patient with cognitive impairment from a ADHD patient with comorbid depression.
Neuropsychological evaluation can be performed to tailor individualized treatments considering the patient's cognitive strengths and weaknesses. For example, it can help direct cognitive rehabilitation in a person who has suffered a stroke based on the areas of brain function that have been mostly affected.
During the evaluation, the neuropsychologist may notice that the patient is very anxious during the execution of the tests and recommend psychotherapeutic treatment. Similarly, we could detect a high degree of impulsivity and request an evaluation by a psychiatrist.
All assessments are accompanied by a neuropsychological reports carried out by our neuropsychologist. The report provided will be fully valid to request social assistance in all the European Union.
How is a neuropsychological evaluation like?
Generally speaking, a neuropsychological evaluation consists of an individual interview with the neuropsychologist, followed by a battery of written neuropsychological tests. In the case of children, the first interview is usually held with the child's parents or caregivers.
How long is a neuropsychological assessment?
Regarding what we are going to study, assessments may be longer or shorter. As an example, a complete evaluation will last five to six hours and will include: measurement of brain function, mood assessment, attention level, behavior and anxiety levels.
How difficult a neuropsychological assessment is?
A neuropsychological assessment consists on a battery of tests. Therefore, you will be ask to answer a whole lot of questions. Some questions will be easy and others complicated, although most people will consider it an interesting challenge.
How can I get prepared for a neuropsychological assessment?
It is recommended to get enough sleep the night before and eat a light meal the day of the appointment. If you are taking any medication, discuss this with the neuropsychologist to see if it could influence your test results.
Do I get a clinical report?
After evaluation, our clinical neuropsychologist will go through all your answers to provide you with a complete clinical report. The report will include the scores of the tests interpreted, a diagnostic conclusion with detailed and tailored recommendations.
What is assessed in a neuropsychological evaluation?
The following areas are assessed in a standard neuropsychological evaluation:
Intelligence
Attention and concentration
Language
Learning and memory
Visuospatial skills
Executive function (problem solving, sequencing, reasoning)
Mood and personality traits
Assessment of cognitive impairment and dementia
Developmental level in children
Assessment of basic academic skills (reading, writing, calculation and arithmetic)
Mental state examination
Neuropsychologist in Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline and dementia can occur in various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, cerebrovascular accidents (strokes), in multiple sclerosis, and in infections of the central nervous system. Cognitive impairment can also be a consequence of acquired brain damage, such as traumatic brain injury, brain surgery, or as a sequel to brain radiotherapy.
The work of clinical neuropsychologists is essential in assessing the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes that may occur in the context of a neurological disorder or as a result of brain damage. Neuropsychological assessments allow for the detection and quantification of cognitive deficits, as well as monitoring their progression over time. Obtaining this information is crucial for designing an appropriate intervention plan for each individual, taking into account both the affected and preserved cognitive functions. That is, both the weaknesses and strengths of each patient's cognitive profile are evaluated. A neuropsychological assessment also allows us to evaluate changes and possible improvements that occur over time as a result of the treatment implemented and to make the necessary adjustments or adaptations when required.
Early intervention is very important in neurodegenerative diseases, as it can delay the progression of the disease. Thereby extending the time in which the person can maintain their personal autonomy and continue performing daily life activities independently.
“Early detection and intervention help to improve the prognosis.”
ADHD Assessment in Children and Adults
The symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) usually begin in childhood and can persist into adulthood, especially without early detection and appropriate treatment. Symptoms evolve with age. Thus, in adults, hyperactivity is not usually very prominent. Whereas difficulties in paying attention, the ability to filter relevant information, impulsivity, and problems in working memory often persist.
In this context, neuropsychological assessment is a very valuable tool for detecting ADHD in children and adults. We can conduct these neuropsychological evaluations in both Spanish and English.
Intellectual Quotient Assessment
Within the field of neuropsychology, we also perform assessments of intellectual quotient (IQ). These evaluations are fundamental for understanding a person's general cognitive abilities. They are useful both for the diagnosis of various neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as for planning educational or professional interventions, and guidance in personal development.
English-speaking Neuropsychologist in Madrid
menteAmente works with a team of neuropsychologists, providing care to patients of all ages. Therefore, we have both a Child and Adolescent Neuropsychologist and a Neuropsychologist for Adults and Older Adults on our team. We are situated in the heart of Madrid, in the Retiro district.
Child and Adolescent Neuropsychologist
Neuropsychologist for Adults and Older Adults