Why am I being assessed?

Injuries or illness can affect how the brain works in many different ways — some are obvious (e.g. difficulty walking or speaking) and others are harder to notice (e.g. difficulties with memory or concentration). People often also experience fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, frustration, or low mood.

What is a neuropsychological assessment?

A neuropsychologist is a specialist in brain functioning, particularly after illness or injury. They use a range of psychological tests to estimate how your thinking skills worked before and compare that with how they are working now.

Because many factors influence thinking, your neuropsychologist will also ask about your life and health - including previous injuries, medical history, and use of alcohol or other drugs.

What will it involve?

• Questionnaires: You may be asked to complete questionnaires about everyday thinking (e.g. memory, concentration), daily activities (e.g. cooking, shopping), and feelings (e.g. anxiety, frustration, low mood). If you cannot complete these, let your psychologist know in advance - a family member, friend, or carer may be able to help.
• Interview: Your psychologist will ask about your history up to and including the injury/illness - e.g. childhood, education, family, work, and other health issues (including any previous head injuries or conditions affecting the brain).
• Thinking tests: You’ll complete tests of memory, concentration, hand–eye coordination, and more complex skills like problem solving. Please tell your psychologist about any hearing, vision, or coordination difficulties at your appointment.
• Collateral information: With your permission, your psychologist may also speak to someone who knows you well (e.g. a family member or friend) about changes they’ve noticed.

Time: The full assessment commonly takes 3-4 hours, sometimes longer. It’s often preferable to complete it in one visit so results can be prepared promptly. If fatigue is a concern, the assessment can be split across sessions.

Things to think about beforehand

• Try to get good rest the night before and the morning of your appointment.
• Please avoid alcohol or other substances the day before and the day of your assessment, as these can affect test performance. (Caffeine is generally fine and can be helpful.)
• Plan to rest after the appointment - many people feel tired for the remainder of the day.
• If you are driving, be aware you may be very tired afterwards, which could affect your ability to drive safely.

Useful things to bring with you

• Food and snacks, especially if your appointment spans lunchtime.
• A current list of medications.

Additional Things to Know