Other Neuropsychological Evaluations
Changes in thinking can occur for many reasons.
A neurological illness, injury, medical condition, or other health concern may affect memory, attention, language, processing speed, problem-solving, or other cognitive abilities. In some cases, the main question is whether a change has occurred at all. In others, the goal is to understand the pattern of strengths and weaknesses and how those changes affect everyday functioning.
A neuropsychological evaluation can help clarify what has changed, why it may have changed, and what recommendations may be useful moving forward.
Reasons someone may be referred for neuropsychological testing
Neuropsychological testing may be useful when cognitive concerns arise in connection with:
Traumatic brain injury
Concussion or persistent post-concussive symptoms
Stroke
Epilepsy or seizure disorders
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Other neurological conditions
Brain tumors or other structural brain conditions
Medical illness affecting cognition
Treatment-related cognitive changes (e.g., effects from chemotherapy)
Unexplained changes in memory, attention, language, or executive functioning
Questions about cognitive strengths and weaknesses following illness or injury
Diagnostic clarification when symptoms have more than one possible explanation
The exact purpose of the evaluation depends on the individual referral question.
What can a neuropsychological evaluation help answer?
Depending on the situation, an evaluation may help clarify questions such as:
Is there objective evidence of cognitive impairment?
Which cognitive abilities are most affected?
Which abilities remain relatively strong?
Is the pattern consistent with a known neurological condition?
Could mood, sleep, medication, pain, or another factor be contributing?
How significant are the changes compared with expected functioning?
How might the cognitive findings affect work, school, or independent living?
What strategies or accommodations may be helpful?
Is additional medical or neurological follow-up appropriate?
The goal is not simply to identify deficits. It is to understand the overall pattern and translate the findings into useful recommendations.
What areas of thinking are evaluated?
The specific tests used depend on the referral question, but a neuropsychological evaluation typically assess:
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The ability to focus, sustain concentration, and filter out irrelevant information.
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How efficiently information is taken in and responded to.
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How effectively new information is learned, retained, and recalled.
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Skills involved in planning, organization, problem-solving, inhibition, mental flexibility, and self-monitoring.
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Word retrieval, verbal fluency, comprehension, and other language skills (e.g., ability to accurately name objects).
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The ability to perceive, organize, and reason with visual information.
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The ability to analyze information and solve novel problems.
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Mood, anxiety, sleep, and other psychological factors that may affect cognitive performance.
What a neuropsychological evaluation includes
The evaluation is individualized based on the reason for referral.
It may include:
We review the current concerns, medical and neurological history, onset and progression of symptoms, medications, sleep, mood, substance use, and everyday functioning.
A detailed clinical interview
1
We review medical records, imaging reports, prior evaluations, and other clinical information that can provide important context.
Review of relevant records
2
Testing is selected to evaluate the specific areas of concern and to provide a broader understanding of cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
Cognitive testing
3
The neuropsychologist considers whether fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, emotional symptoms, medication effects, or other factors may be influencing cognitive functioning.
Assessment of contributing factors
4
After the evaluation, we meet to review the results, discuss what the findings mean, and outline next steps.
Feedback session
5
You receive a written report summarizing the findings and providing individualized recommendations.
Written report and recommendations
6
Cognitive symptoms after a head injury can include problems with attention, memory, processing speed, fatigue, irritability, and mental efficiency.
A neuropsychological evaluation can help determine whether there is evidence of persistent cognitive change and how those findings fit with the broader clinical picture.
Because symptoms after concussion or traumatic brain injury can also be influenced by sleep, pain, mood, stress, and other factors, the evaluation considers more than test performance alone.
Traumatic brain injury and concussion
Stroke
Stroke can affect cognitive functioning in different ways depending on the location and severity of the injury.
An evaluation may help identify changes in:
Attention
Memory
Language
Visual-spatial functioning
Processing speed
Executive functioning
Judgment and problem-solving
Results can help guide rehabilitation, return-to-work planning, compensatory strategies, and recommendations for daily functioning.
Epilepsy and seizure disorders
People with epilepsy may experience concerns involving memory, attention, processing speed, or language.
Neuropsychological testing can help characterize the pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses and may be useful as part of broader neurological care.
In some cases, testing may also provide a baseline for monitoring changes over time.
Some individuals with epilepsy may require brain surgery to treat seizures when nothing else is working. In those cases, a neuropsychological evaluation is often helpful to classify strengths and weaknesses specific to the left or right hemisphere of the brain prior to surgery. Red Pine Neuropsychology offers such pre-surgical evaluations.
Other neurological and medical conditions
Cognitive changes can also occur in association with a wide range of neurological and medical conditions.
Depending on the referral question, an evaluation may help clarify the cognitive effects of:
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Brain tumors
Neurological infections
Autoimmune or systemic illness
Cancer treatment
Chronic medical conditions
Other disorders affecting brain function
Because every condition affects people differently, the evaluation is tailored to the individual rather than based on a fixed test battery.
Frequently asked questions about neuropsychological testing
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No. Some people are referred because a diagnosis is already known, while others are evaluated specifically because the cause of their cognitive symptoms is unclear.
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No. Neuropsychological testing evaluates cognitive functioning through structured clinical assessment and standardized testing. Imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans are separate medical procedures.
Interestingly, studies have actually shown that a neuropsychological evaluation can identify specific dementias (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease, Vascular dementia) with more accuracy than a brain scan alone; however, the accuracy of diagnosis is typically strongest with data from multiple sources (such as a neuropsychological evaluation, brain scan, and relevant laboratory findings altogether).
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Often, yes. When clinically appropriate, the neuropsychologist can provide recommendations related to accommodations for the workplace or academic setting.
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Yes, with your written authorization.
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That is a common reason for referral.
Some people experience memory, attention, or executive-function difficulties without a clear diagnosis. Others have several possible contributing factors at the same time.
A neuropsychological evaluation can help organize that information and determine whether the pattern is more consistent with:
A neurological condition
A psychiatric or emotional factor
Sleep disturbance
Medication effects
Pain or fatigue
Another medical issue
A combination of several factors
The goal is diagnostic clarification, not simply labeling symptoms.
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Once testing is complete, the results are interpreted alongside the clinical history and available medical information.
During the feedback session, we review:
The overall cognitive profile
Areas of strength and weakness
Whether objective cognitive impairment is present
The likely explanation for the findings
Recommended medical or neurological follow-up
Compensatory strategies
Work or school recommendations when appropriate
Other treatment recommendations
A written report is also provided.
Memory and cognitive evaluations in Farmington, Utah
Red Pine Neuropsychology provides comprehensive adult memory and cognitive evaluations in Farmington, Utah, serving patients throughout Davis County and the greater Salt Lake City area.
A physician referral is not required.
Ready to get some clarity?
If you or someone you care about has noticed changes in memory, thinking, or everyday functioning, a neuropsychological evaluation can help clarify whether those changes are expected for age or whether further evaluation and treatment may be appropriate.
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