UT Southwestern Medical Center offers state-of-the-art neuropsychological assessment to examine the brain function of patients with a variety of neurological conditions.
Through the use of neuropsychological testing, our neuropsychologists examine the link between the patient’s neurological condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, and the condition’s effect on the patient's daily life.
Some of the areas considered are:
- Academic performance
- Intellectual abilities
- Motor abilities
Neuropsychological evaluations help to determine the impact of disease process – and other factors – on a patient’s cognitive functioning. Testing can help determine how well a person thinks or carries out daily tasks.
At UT Southwestern, a neuropsychological test is recommended in situations when it is suspected that brain impairment is affecting cognitive function or behavior. Typical referrals are made to track progress after rehabilitation, to plan educational or vocational programs, to determine a disability, or for legal purposes.
Testing may diagnose or rule out cognitive impairment related to the following conditions:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Attention deficit disorders, such as ADHD or ADD
- Brain trauma
- Cognitive changes following surgery
- Developmental learning disorders
- Effects of toxins or chronic substance abuse
- Language disturbance
- Parkinson’s disease
- Psychiatric or neuropsychiatric disorders
- Seizure disorder
- Stroke and other cardiovascular disorders
It is important to note that neuropsychological assessment is different from psychological assessment or psychiatric evaluation. While both are conducted by psychologists, they involve different procedures and are conducted by psychologists with different areas of expertise.