neurological assessment Flashcards
standardized testing
compares you to the baseline standard to give a baseline level of cogntive functioning, measures atypical behaviour with a biological basis
individualized testing
designed to understands strengths, qualitative, not quantitative
composite testing
incorporates aspects of standardized and individulaized testing
houston guideline
steps in assessing an individual and what classifies you as a neuropsychologist
- assessment
- treatment/interventions
- consultation
- research
- teaching/supervision
purpose of neuropsychological assessment
determine cognitive functioning, what is going on, treatment, and rehabilitation
weshcler tests are what kind of testing
standardized, example: IQ test
what are downsides to standardized testing
mental fatigue, sometimes questions are read to you which decreases score,
why do baseline testing
to have something to compare to after a brain injury
10 categories of assessment
- abstract reasoning and conceptualization
- attention
- daiy activities
- emotional or psychological distress
- language
- memory
- motor
- orientation
- sensation and perception
- visuospatial
7 goals of assessment
- identifying functioning and dysfucntioning
- rehabilitation
- describe midl disturbance in cognitive function
- identify unusual brain organization
- support an abnormal EEG
- demonstrate recovery of a function after brain injury
- help patient and family have realistic expectations
10 core features of assessment
- collaborative
- assess early
- developmental history
- comorbidities
- subjective complaints
- maximize potentials
- not for everyone
- limitations
- adequate intervals
- transparency
collaborative feature
more than results of the test, use family and external factors
assess early feature
baseline testing before treatment at least
developmental history
know medical history and nuances like socioeconomic status
comorbidities
other conditions that influence functioning or alter treatment plan
subjective complaints
Listen to the patient, them and friends and family will know them best and the subtle changes
maximize potentials
make sure they can do what they want/need to get back to
not for everyone feature
not everyone will want to do it, and some will get too tired, modify testing to accomodate
limitations
tests that dont fit culture or native language
adequate intervals
don’t retest in a month or two, but wait a year, and avoid practice effects
transparency
fully informed, realistic expectations, know they are being tested not cured, and why being referred
