NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
Neuropsychological assessments are performance-based evaluations done based on individuals’ various cognitive skills. The tests aim to evaluate a variety of cognitive ability areas and include evaluating skills such as memory, attention, reasoning, processing speed, judgment, problem-solving, spatial and language functions.
At Mizu Therapy & Assessment, our certified education psychologist (with a special interest in neuropsychology), Riza van der Merwe, works with children, adolescents and students. The information learnt from the neuropsychological assessment is used to help determine which areas of functioning have been impacted, help uncover the reason for the individual’s struggles and come up with interventions geared toward improving functioning at home and work.
WHEN ARE NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS NEEDED?
Neuropsychological assessments for children can be requested for various reasons:
To diagnose neurological conditions such as autism, brain tumours, learning disabilities and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders (ADD/ADHD).
Brain injuries caused as a result of a motor vehicle accident, sports injury (concussion) or infection. After brain injury, there is a time period whereby the individual/child is not functioning optimally. In these disorders, there is potential damage to the brain, and the neuropsychological evaluation can assist in determining which areas of functioning have been impacted and how the person’s functioning has been affected.
Attention and learning-related problems are the two most common reasons for obtaining neuropsychological assessments. In both these instances, the purpose of the assessment is to determine what is causing problems with the child’s attention or learning. The assessments also outline the steps necessary to deal with the problems and include recommendations for the child, family and school.
Oftentimes, children/adolescents have been evaluated or tested by their school system (e.g. educational assessment), but the interventions were not effective or helpful to the individual. Neuropsychological assessments are helpful in further making finer distinctions in their ability and functioning than educational evaluations, which can lead to more effective treatment and diagnosis of the child/adolescent.
TYPES OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
Mizu Therapy & Assessment specialises in a variety of neuropsychological assessments to best support our clients’ varying needs. All assessments are done in the strictest of confidence. These tests provide additional information about a variety of developmental disorders. We specialise in forensic neuropsychological assessments and developmental neuropsychological assessments for the diagnosis of autism, attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD), dyslexia, mathematical disorders or dyscalculia, spelling difficulties, dysgraphia and other learning disabilities or disorders.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
Developmental neuropsychological assessments are required for the diagnosis and correct treatment of autism, attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), dyslexia, mathematical disorder or dyscalculia, spelling disorder, dysgraphia and other learning disabilities or disorders.
FORENSIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
Forensic neuropsychological assessments are often required by legal (attorneys) or medical entities (medical aids) in cases of concussion and traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychological testing is helpful in specifying the origin, severity, and development of a disorder and customising recommendations to create a specific treatment plan.
