NeuroPsychological Testing in Portland, Oregon
Have you recently suffered from a stroke or traumatic brain injury?
Are you or a loved one experiencing symptoms of memory loss or confusion late in life?
Have you been previously diagnosed with a disability and want to learn more extensively about your condition?
Do you sense that you are struggling with your cognitive functioning and don’t know why?
If you answered yes to one or several of these questions, you may be ready to seek the support of neuropsychological testing. If you aren’t sure yet what that means or if it is the right path for you, we are here to help guide you in the right direction.
We are now offering neuropsychological testing at our Portland, Oregon location.
At Insight Northwest Counseling we have an incredible and highly experienced team of mental healthcare providers who are eager to help you in your journey to mental health and wellness. Our team continues to expand to provide full-spectrum care, no matter your circumstances or mental health needs. Along with our team of therapists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, we recently welcomed licensed psychologist Laura O’Connor to our group of mental health professionals. Laura is expertly trained and experienced in many areas of the mental health and psychology field, including psychological evaluations and neuropsychological testing. If you think that you or someone you love needs neuropsychological testing, we encourage you to book a free consultation with us today.
While many individuals seeking neuropsychological testing are referred by a doctor or other health care provider as a result of an event or traumatic brain injury, there are other circumstances or conditions that could benefit from these extensive assessments as well.
Neuropsychological testing gives you the opportunity to not only understand the capacity in which you are functioning in your life, but the reason behind it as well.
While there are many purposes of neuropsychological testing, some of the most common purposes are to:
Extensively evaluate an individual’s strengths and challenges in their daily life and experience
Try to get a better understanding of the capacity at which the individual is functioning
If there was an event or brain injury, assess how much change incurred as a result
If not, identify what could be inhibiting their cognitive ability
Obtain more comprehensive diagnosis
Collaborate with the individual to formulate a treatment plan beyond the testing process
While many of the individuals who are seeking neuropsychological testing are doing so out of medical necessity or under the guidance of a doctor or specialist, medical circumstances are not the only cause for seeking out this type of assessment. Neuropsychological assessments help to identify what neurological challenges an individual may be facing and how it is imposing on their health and well-being – whether that be neurodivergence, learning disabilities, or a mental health condition or illness.
Common symptoms that may signal the need for neuropsychological testing include:
Changes in short-term memory
Easily confused or losing sense of direction
Attention deficit challenges – easily distracted, unable to multitask
Language difficulties (struggling to find the right words and/or understand what is being said to them)
Poor judgment and decision making/acting impulsively
Decrease in fine or gross motor skills
Change in mood and behavior (anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings)
If you or a loved one are facing unexplained difficulties with your mental health or any suspected impairment in your cognitive function, click the button below to book your free consultation or keep reading to learn more about our neuropsychological testing services.
What is Neuropsychological testing?
Neuropsychological testing is a series of comprehensive assessments performed by a licensed clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist, to evaluate an individual’s cognitive functioning through their behavior, motor skills, mood and mental state and other observations. This series of tests is often required after a traumatic brain injury, a surgery or procedure that would impact or change the brain’s function. However, those are not the only reasons behind an individual undergoing a neuropsychological evaluation.
It is important to note that there is a distinct difference between neurology and neuropsychology.
The neuropsychological testing process will be performed by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist, who are not trained to assess the physical or biological function of the brain. Neuropsychologists do not perform or utilize medical brain assessments such as MRI’s, PET scans, CAT scans or EEG’s. They do, however, commonly request and utilize the records of those tests if performed by another clinician or specialist, to conduct a fully comprehensive assessment and report. In the cases of traumatic brain injury or any medical event specifically, your psychologist will likely be in communication with your other physicians, mental health care providers or any other specialists from whom you are receiving treatment, in order to offer the best and most well-rounded care.
Research shows that suffering from a brain injury or other brain-altering event or procedure, can cause irreversible change to a person’s functioning in many ways. It can impact memory, both short and long-term, ability to process information, multi-tasking skills, as well as mood, temperament and coordination. Neuropsychological testing is commonly recommended by doctors, surgeons, rehabilitation specialists and other health care professionals following a brain injury to assess what changes in the brain have occurred, and how that is impacting an individual’s ability to experience and thrive in their daily life.
In the process of neuropsychological testing, the psychologist will use a variety of testing methods. There are different types of assessments to measure each function, so the testing process will look different for each individual depending on their needs and condition. Your psychologist has the knowledge and expertise to perform a screening prior to the assessment in order to determine which testing methods will be the most useful in understanding your condition. These series of tests and assessments will give the psychologist the information needed to rule out certain conditions and illnesses, as well as to pinpoint the most accurate diagnosis.
Through neuropsychological testing, you may be able to receive a diagnosis for:
ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Nonverbal Learning Disorder
Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia
Concussion/traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Intellectual Disability
Specific Learning Disorder
Communication Disorder
Tic Disorder/Motor impairment
Parkinson’s Disease
Neurocognitive disorders
The goal of neuropsychological testing is to gather as much detailed information about a person’s current behavior, symptoms, and mental functioning, as necessary to reach an accurate diagnosis and begin the most effective treatment plan.
Who is it for?
Neuropsychological testing is used for the assessment of children, adolescents, and adults. As the needs for the assessment vary greatly, there is no age requirement or specific age group that benefits most from testing. For young children and adolescents who are receiving the assessment, it is common that their parent or guardian has noticed behaviors or challenges that are inhibiting their ability to thrive and seem to be unexplained. It Is also common that teachers, coaches, mentors, or other school administrators have referred them for testing, to pinpoint a learning disability or neurodivergence that could be the cause of any challenges they are experiencing in the classroom setting.
In adults, neuropsychological testing serves many purposes. Whether it Is trying to pursue an ADHD or autism spectrum disorder diagnosis later in life, or receiving care after a traumatic brain injury, many people benefit from testing. While many people conclude on their own that they would like to seek testing, often it is those around them that are able to see changes more clearly in behaviors, mental function, memory, or mood.
If you or someone you love are in need of neuropsychological testing, reach out to us as soon as you are ready to make an appointment with our psychologists on staff.
What are the benefits of neuropsychological testing?
Whether you are seeking testing for a mental health condition, neurodivergence or to proceed with the necessary care after a brain injury or medical event, we want you to feel supported and comfortable. It is crucial to know that while the process can feel intimidating, the benefits of receiving the testing and report far outweigh the negative aspects and difficulty.
Receive an accurate diagnosis
So many people walk through life with an underlying mental health condition or other disability and never know what is causing their challenges. There are many symptoms that can be considered manageable, and many adjust to challenges as a part of their “normal” lives. But it can be truly life-changing to pinpoint the “why” when it comes to any symptoms you are experiencing. Neuropsychological testing can uncover changes in your mental and cognitive ability, as well as determine the causes behind those changes - whether it be a neurological illness, mental illness, neurodivergence or a product of aging. A clear and detailed diagnosis will guide your healthcare and allow you to proceed along the best path of treatment.
Measure cognitive functioning
One of the most common benefits of neuropsychological testing is to measure a person’s cognitive ability. The testing process will identify an individual’s strengths and weaknesses and if there has been a considerable change to either. If you have suffered from a concussion, stroke or other brain trauma, your referring physician or specialist may request that you seek a neuropsychological exam to measure what changes have taken place and the extent of those changes. This can help you to move forward in your life with a better understanding of your strengths and limitations and assist you in receiving any accommodations necessary to function in work, school, or your personal life.
Establish a baseline
In some situations, a neuropsychological exam can be performed in two phases. One series of tests will be performed prior to an event such as a surgery or other medical procedure to measure the “baseline” for a person’s functioning; then the next series of tests will come at some point following the procedure to measure the person’s rate of recovery and/or see if they have returned fully to their prior ability level. Having this information can determine when it is best for a person to resume their normal life, job, or other responsibilities safely.
Determine any necessary intervention or treatment
If you have received a diagnosis through a neuropsychological assessment, one of the main benefits of that is to determine how you can best move forward with treatment. Beyond that, however, the evaluation is used to determine which areas of rehabilitation should be emphasized following a traumatic brain injury or other medical event. The information found through testing can help an individual and their rehabilitation team to understand what the recovery process will look like and decide what areas of focus matter most to them in their recovery and lives.
How it works
It is important to note that neuropsychological testing is not one individual test. In fact, it is a series of multiple tests that are each structured differently and serve different purposes. The testing process is different for everyone and strategically built by your psychologist to optimize the process and best suit your needs. The assessment is typically anywhere from 3-7 hours and can be broken up into smaller segments over the course of multiple days, depending on the patient and provider’s needs.
Before the testing itself, you will meet with the psychologist for an intake interview that will allow them to evaluate your specific needs and determine the best process moving forward. Following that initial appointment, you would then schedule your testing for whatever day(s) work best for your schedule.
The most common methods used to perform a neuropsychological evaluation are:
Interviews
There are two common types of interviews that are performed by a psychologist in the process of neuropsychological testing and assessments.
Structured Clinical Interviews (SCID)
This type of interview is performed by a psychologist to make a diagnosis based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). They entail standardized, predetermined questions to ensure consistency with each patient being interviewed. Since diagnostics can often be incredibly subjective, using a standardized interview template can help to make the process more objective. As with any portion of the neuropsychological assessment process, this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours and is not determined before-hand. Each step of the interviewing process can be different for everyone, as everyone brings their own unique set of challenges into the experience.
Clinical Diagnostic Interviews (CDI)
The second form of interview used in neuropsychological exams is the Clinical Diagnostic Interview (CDI). In contrast with the structured clinical interview that uses a predetermined set of interview questions, these interviews involve a conversation between the psychologist and the tested individual. Being that the interview is less formal or structured, there is more room for detail and a deeper understanding from the dialogue and answers given by the client.
Both types of interviews are frequently used, successful and valid amongst psychologists currently. It has been studied and shown that neither of these types of tests seems to be superior or more successful than the other. The method that the clinician uses depends on their personal preference and what they feel is the best course of action for each specific client.
Norm-referenced tests
Norm-referenced tests are those that are standardized in reference to clearly defined groups of people based on general demographic and other quality characteristics. When performing these types of measures, the psychologist is comparing the client’s results to that of the “standard” in the demographic or general population that the client fits into specifically, to say where they fall on the scale.
Behavioral Assessment
In this portion of the evaluation, the psychologist observes the client’s behavior, demeanor, language, etc. inside of the interviewing space. The psychologist will observe the individual’s behavior and evaluate it as a component in their final report and conclusion.
Informal Assessment Procedures
Informal testing procedures offer additional information to support formal test procedures and can include things such as school records, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), medical records, informal background questionnaires, portfolios, and personal documents. These additional things can offer context and outside input that can be incredibly useful in the process of diagnostics.
In the testing process, a person will likely be evaluated in these core areas:
Intelligence
Language processing
Visual processing
Attention/concentration
Memory
Executive functioning
Speed of mental processing
In the process of evaluating these core areas to complete a comprehensive diagnostic report, the psychologist will use a compilation of several testing methods.
There are numerous methods and formats that are used in testing, but some of the most used in each area of focus include:
Intelligence:
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV)
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)
Academic Achievement:
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Third Edition (WIAT-III)
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Academic Achievement
Language Processing:
Boston Naming Test
Multilingual Aphasia Examination
Attention/Executive Functioning:
Conners Continuous Performance Test, Third Edition (CPT 3)
Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS)
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
Memory:
Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, Third Edition (WRAML-3)
Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)
Speed of processing:
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Oral Language
Simple and Choice Reaction Time
Symbol Digit Modalities Test - Written and oral
The Report
Following your neurological testing, you will meet again with the psychologist to receive and review your full report. Your report will include a detailed review of the findings and results of each assessment. as well as your psychologist’s interpretation of the results and formal diagnosis. In this follow-up appointment you will be able to ask any questions you may have and review your report extensively to gain a full understanding of your condition.
Book Your Testing with Us
As with anything related to mental health, seeking the support of a psychologist and neuropsychological assessment can feel intimidating, overwhelming, daunting, and even embarrassing. While it is all becoming far less stigmatized and misunderstood, there is still a long way to go in breaking down barriers and continuing the discussion openly. With that said, we want to make the process of neuropsychological testing simple, accessible, and as stress-free as possible.
At Insight Northwest Counseling, we have a supportive team of care coordinators who will guide you through the process from initiating your first appointment, scheduling and then throughout your continued care with us. If you are interested in learning more about the neuropsychological testing process, we encourage you to book a consultation with one of our client care coordinators today.
We are all eager to support you in finding true mental wellness.
Areas We Offer NeuroPsychological Testing Include:
LAKE OSWEGO OREGON
PORTLAND OREGON
WEST LINN OREGON
AND MORE…