Neuropsychology Assessments in Melbourne & Australia

A neuropsychology assessment involves multiple stages. The time you will spend with the Neuropsychologist will take, on average, between 3-4 hours. From there the Neuropsychologist will collect data and write up the report, this can take anywhere between 8-12 hours, the report is usually ready to be released within 2-3 weeks of the appointment date.

The great news is that preparing for an assessment is not as complex as it may seem. We recommend that you get a good night's rest and make sure that you have eaten before attending. If your routine includes medication, please ensure your routine remains as constant as possible in the lead up to the assessment.

Although we can’t tell you exactly what will be asked, we can say that the assessment includes 2 sections. The first is the interview stage, where you and the Neuropsychologist will discuss topics of interest. The second is the ‘pen and paper’ stage where the cognitive testing happens.

Psychology focuses on emotionality and behavioural traits, a psychology assessment could be looking into the potential of psychological injury induced by stress for example. In neuropsychology we are looking more specifically at cognitive capacity, analysing common brain functions, such as memory, attention, concentration, learning, problem solving and decision making.

Sometimes after an injury, illness or period of leave from work, individual may experience changes in their thinking skills and or may find it difficult to return to work. We assist workers and their employers to understand someone’s cognitive strengths and weakness to guide recommendations to support return to work.

Living with and or supporting someone with a disability can be challenging and while there are support available these often require evidence of the nature and severity of a cognitive and/or psychological impairment. We work with individuals and those who support them to characterise a person's cognitive, emotional and behavioural function to produce evidence of a disability and provide appropriate recommendations to promote independence for the individual.

Our team of experienced neuropsychologists use their knowledge of the interaction between the brain and behaviour to help inform a parent’s ability to meet a child’s needs and provide safe, routine care for that child. Our detailed reports incorporate the parent’s understanding of the current family situation with factors that may be contributing to their ability to parent and or make positive change including the parent’s current cognitive and psychological functioning to inform their parenting capacity and identify strategies and recommendations to foster positive parenting skills.

We can all have trouble making the ‘right’ decision, however, it is often of no consequence which coloured bike we buy. Sometimes, people who have difficulties with their thinking skills, whether that be due to a head injury, stroke, intellectual disability or dementia, can have trouble remembering, understanding and using information to make a well-informed decision about important issues. For example; finances, medical, legal and ethical. Our assessments can be used to form part of an application for Guardianship or Enduring Power of Attorney made through the relevant State or Commonwealth Tribunal.