Neuropsychology
At Psychology Services of Alaska, our neuropsychologists have expertise in assessing conditions such as ADHD, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, movement disorders, traumatic brain injuries, mood disorders, and various other conditions. Our team is here to guide you, and we believe that recognizing how the brain works can empower you in your healing journey.
Providers, refer your patients for a therapy consult here.
What Is A Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A neuropsychological assessment is a specialized evaluation that examines how your brain's health influences your cognitive functions, emotions, and behaviors. The assessment delves into various areas such as memory, attention, problem-solving, and language skills and is beneficial for conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, traumatic brain injuries, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
When To Consider Getting Evaluated?
An evaluation should be considered if a person is experiencing any of the following:
- Changes in general cognitive abilities: frequent forgetfulness, difficulty finding and/or understanding words, forgetting names of familiar people, getting lost going to familiar places, or difficulty making decisions.
- Behavioral or Mood Changes: Sudden, unexplained changes in behavior, mood, or personality.
- Concerns Regarding Neurodivergences: Struggles with attention and concentration that were present in childhood and are still impacting functioning, or pervasive difficulties relating to communicating with others.
- Problems following certain medical events: Changes in behavior or cognitive functioning following a concussion, other recent brain injury, heart attack, stroke, or sepsis.
One should also consider getting evaluated if they suspect, or have been told by a medical professional, that they have a condition such as ADHD, traumatic brain injury, autistic spectrum disorder, or dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
How To Request an Evaluation
If you're considering a neuropsychological assessment, you can:
- Contact us directly: Reach out to our team at Psychology Services of Alaska to discuss your concerns and schedule an appointment .
- Ask your doctor for a Referral: While not always necessary, a referral from your primary care provider or other specialist can help us get your evaluation covered by your insurance.
What To Expect From An Evaluation
Evaluations generally consist of two appointments. The first appointment lasts approximately 4-6 hours and includes the diagnostic interview and assessment portion of the evaluation.
- Diagnostic Interview: The neuropsychologist will conduct a comprehensive interview to gather information about your medical history, current symptoms, and daily functioning.
- Assessment: The evaluation involves a series of standardized tests, typically administered using pencil and paper or, occasionally on a computer. The specific tests are based on current complaints, usually assessing all cognitive domains, including learning and memory, intellectual ability, language, visuospatial functioning, executive functioning, attention, processing speed, psychomotor functioning, and psychological functioning.
The second appointment will be your feedback session, which takes about an hour.
- Feedback and Recommendations: After analyzing the results and comparing them to same-aged peers, we'll review them with you and provide a detailed report outlining your cognitive profile and personalized recommendations for treatment or support.
We will do our best to schedule your appointment within 30 days of your referral; however, your wait time will vary depending on the flexibility of your schedule.
Insurance Coverage
Many insurance plans cover neuropsychological assessments. Once you provide us with your insurance information, we can reach out to your insurance carrier to verify your benefits and determine if any pre-authorization is necessary. While we will verify benefit information with your insurance company, we cannot guarantee coverage. Questions about what services are covered should directed to your insurance carrier.
Take the Next Step
Understanding your cognitive health is a vital component of overall well-being. At Psychology Services of Alaska, we're committed to guiding you through this process with compassion and expertise. Contact us today to schedule your neuropsychological assessment and embark on a path toward enhanced cognitive health.
