Neuropsychological Assessments

By Devin Eastman, APCC, PsyD Student

What are Cognitive Assessments?

Cognitive assessments strive to understand how you learn, process information, and

understand the world around you. These tests evaluate thinking, learning, understanding, and

using language, memory, attention, reasoning, making decisions, and applying judgment.

Cognitive assessments must be conducted by a doctoral psychologist in a clinical setting.

Testing can aid children and adults in understanding their strengths and weaknesses when it

comes to processing information and learning. Information in this area can aid in improving

academic success or job performance, identify potential learning disabilities, and aid in

narrowing a diagnosis.

Cognitive assessments come in many forms and many individuals have had some form

of an assessment throughout their life already. A basic example of these exams may include the

mirror test, in which doctors place a dot on a baby or animal’s forehead. If the subject tries to

touch their forehead to remove the dot, instead of the mirror, the subject has achieved visual self-

awareness. A more complex cognitive test may include tests that aid in a diagnosis of ADHD, IQ

score, and determine if a subject is at risk for cognitive decline. While these tests range in

difficulty and focus areas, they all emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of a client and strive

to achieve a better understanding of functioning.

When Should You Consider Cognitive Assessments?

Deciding if you should seek a cognitive assessment is an individual choice that should be

discussed with a trusted provider. In children, parents may consider conducting an assessment if

their child is struggling in school, with behavioral problems, or they have experienced a

significant illness or head injury. These assessments can be used to communicate with the school

systems and aid children in receiving the help they need to succeed. While these assessments aid

providers in accurate diagnoses, they can also evaluate learning and milestones over time and

identify problem areas that should be emphasized by teachers, tutors, and parents to increase

long-term success.

For adults, cognitive assessment should be considered if you or a loved one is

experiencing concerns in functioning. This may look like forgetting items and appointments

frequently, word-finding struggles, or increased anxiety or irritability. These symptoms can

appear over time as we age, or after a significant illness or concussion. Many younger adults are

also seeking assessments to identify learning disorders that may have gone unnoticed in

childhood. Identifying these as adults can aid in increasing job performance and streamlining

learning with an individual understanding of their strengths or weaknesses. If there is a history of

cognitive decline or various disorders in your family, cognitive assessments can monitor

development and identify risk factors. Overall, if have any concerns about functioning or you

wonder if cognitive assessment testing is right for you, discuss with your doctor or a trusted

provider.

What does a Cognitive Assessment Entail?

If you are coming in for an assessment you will likely have an intake meeting with the

psychologist and discuss any questions you may have, why you are seeking an assessment, and

what to expect. This meeting will aim to build a relationship between the client and provider to

make the assessment process as comfortable as possible. The assessment appointment itself will

contain one to two hours of testing. The testing may look like a variety of activities or games.

While you will be provided breaks by your provider, you should arrive at the test rested, fed, and

as close to your baseline functioning as possible. After the assessment, you will have a follow-up

meeting to discuss the results and recommendations made by the provider.

Cognitive assessments are nothing to fear and will emphasize the patient’s comfort throughout the process.