| In order to get the best and most successful | | | | that a patient's performance on a series of tests |
| recovery from a brain injury, you will likely utilize a | | | | shows that he/she suffered a brain injury that |
| neuropsychologist. A good question: what is | | | | resulted in significant deficits in thinking abilities after |
| neuropsychology? Neuropsychology comes from the | | | | being involved in a trauma such as being hit by a car. |
| Greek words "neuron" [meaning "nerve"] "psyche" | | | | WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A |
| [meaning "mind"] and "logos" [meaning "the study of"]. | | | | NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST? |
| Put together, you have "the study of mind and | | | | The following is by no means meant to be an |
| nerves." | | | | exhaustive list of the questions or concerns you |
| Neuropsychology is concerned with the study of the | | | | should have when choosing a neuropsychologist nor is |
| relationship between the central nervous system | | | | the following meant to disqualify any |
| (brain and spine) and behavior. Neuropsychology also | | | | neuropsychologist you are considering, these are |
| involves studying ways to measure recovery from | | | | meant to enable you to begin a discussion with the |
| brain damage as well as strategies that can be used | | | | neuropsychologist. |
| to rehabilitate (make better) people with such | | | | 1. Does the neuropsychologist should have a doctoral |
| disorders and to improve their care. | | | | degree in clinical psychology from an accredited |
| Neuropsychologists have extensive training in the | | | | university or college? |
| anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous | | | | 2. Did the neuropsychologist complete coursework in |
| system. They use a variety of psychological tests | | | | other neurosciences such as neuroanatomy (the |
| and assessment techniques to diagnose specific | | | | study of the structure of the brain and spinal cord) |
| disorders of the brain. These disorders often result in | | | | and neuropathology (the study of disorders of the |
| problems with thinking, emotions, and/or behavior. | | | | brain and spinal cord)? |
| Neuropsychologists study ways to measure recovery | | | | 3. Did the neuropsychologist attend a graduate school |
| from brain damage as well as strategies to | | | | program that complies with the guidelines for |
| rehabilitate (make better) people with brain damage | | | | neuropsychological training set forth by Division 40 |
| and improve their care. | | | | (Neuropsychology) of the American Psychological |
| Neuropsychologists can provide psychotherapy (a | | | | Association? For further information, go to |
| psychological treatment through talking) to patients | | | | 4. Did the neuropsychologist do an internship |
| with brain damage and try to understand ways in | | | | (supervised training at the end of graduate school) at |
| which a patient's environment (for example, family) | | | | a program that meets the guidelines set forth by |
| improve or worsen a brain damaged patient's overall | | | | Division 40 of the American Psychological Association |
| condition. Although neuropsychologists also study the | | | | and the International Neuropsychological Society. |
| functioning of the spine, most neuropsychologists | | | | 5. Is the neuropsychologist Board Certified? One who |
| focus on the functioning of the brain. | | | | is board certified has been agreed upon by a board |
| Neuropsychologists also teach courses in colleges and | | | | (group) of peers (other neuropsychologists) to meet |
| universities about neuropsychology, intelligence | | | | the rigorous standards necessary to practice |
| testing, personality testing, and/or other topics. Many | | | | neuropsychology, and has achieved the highest level |
| neuropsychologists conduct research to better | | | | of education possible in this field. To assure that you |
| understand the functioning of the brain. They usually | | | | are being served by a neuropsychologist who is |
| do this by studying brain damaged patients and | | | | competent to practice neuropsychology, it is usually |
| comparing them to patients who have not suffered | | | | recommended that you see a board-certified |
| brain damage. | | | | neuropsychologist. |
| In a legal setting, a neuropsychologist may testify | | | | |