Neuropsychological

The Neuropsychological Assessment Service at CFIR provides comprehensive psychological assessments to support clients in understanding their brain functioning as it relates to emotions, behaviour and cognition.

How do I, or a loved one, know if a neuropsychological assessment is required?

There is a range of neurological, medical or psychological conditions that can lead to neuropsychological impairments, such as:

  • Acquired brain injury (e.g., accident, concussion, stroke, traumatic brain injury)
  • Learning and vocational challenges (e.g., ADHD, learning disabilities)
  • Major neurocognitive disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia)
  • Some physical health diagnoses (e.g., endocrine disorders such as diabetes and hyper/hypothyroidism; epilepsy; infectious conditions such as meningitis, encephalitis; metabolic conditions such as hypoxia and liver disease)
  • Mental health diagnoses such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and substance abuse

Below are some questions to consider in determining whether you or a loved one might benefit from a neuropsychological assessment. These questions are not for self-assessment or diagnostic purposes, but if some are answered “yes” an evaluation from a neuropsychologist in the Neuropsychological Assessment Service might be appropriate.

  • Having difficulties adapting due to a brain injury or to an illness affecting cognition?
  • Experiencing problems concentrating, paying attention, or making decisions?
  • Experiencing difficulties with thinking (e.g., memory problems, problem-solving) that interfere with your regular tasks at home, school, or at work?
  • Thinking about returning to work or sports after a head injury?

Help Is Available

If you said yes to any of the above, you might consider meeting with one of the highly trained mental health professionals in the Neuropsychological Assessment Service at CFIR.

Mental health professionals at CFIR can provide you with a comprehensive assessment and then support you to get the help you need.

How can I get a referral to the Neuropsycholical Assessment Service? Who can refer to this Service?

You can refer yourself or a loved one to our service.

Health care professionals, such as physicians, psychiatrists, neurologists, and psychologists also refer patients to our service.

Lawyers also refer to our service for the purpose of obtaining evaluations of their clients.

What’s involved in a neuropsychological assessment? How long will it take?

A neuropsychological assessment is a process that typically involves a review of relevant documents (e.g., medical records, previous assessments, work appraisals, report cards, transcripts), a clinical interview with the client (and family member, if applicable), a few hours of neuropsychological testing using standardized measures of cognition, production of a written report, and a feedback session for the client and family.

A neuropsychological assessment provides an overview of both your strengths and challenges, and offers recommendations for managing any difficulties that may be present. A diagnosis, which involves classifying your presenting symptoms according to a catalogue of psychological disorders, may also be rendered upon completion of a comprehensive assessment.

There are a few differences between a psychological assessment and a neuropsychological assessment, including the amount of cognitive testing, the greater breadth of areas assessed, and the interpretation of results in terms of brain functioning. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment includes measures of the following domains: intellectual ability, executive functioning (planning, sequencing, problem solving), language abilities, learning and memory, attention/concentration, visual perceptual/constructional skills, speed of information processing, motor and sensory functioning, emotional functioning, and personality.

The entire neuropsychological assessment process, described above, will take approximately two to three weeks to complete. Please consult with a neuropsychologist at CFIR to determine the length of time required to complete your particular assessment.

What type of report or recommendations might I expect?

Based on our assessment, we will prepare a report for you that may include assessment findings, diagnostic considerations, and recommendations for appropriate accommodations or strategies to adjust to neuropsychological impairments.

Find A Therapist

We have many mental health therapists at each of our locations who offer this service. Please select a location below to see a list: