Clinical Neuropsychology

Clinical neuropsychology is an applied science of brain-behavior relationship, and by definition is a specialty that applies the principles of assessment and interventions (treatment) based on the scientific study of human behavior as it relates to normal and abnormal functioning of the central nervous system (APA 1996, 2003) and its role in influencing the neurocognitive performance (e.g. memory, attention, planning, organising, visual perception, language and speech), neurobehavioral functioning (e.g. mood, personality, emotion) and other psychological processes.

As a professional field within psychology with special expertise in applied science of brain-behavior relationships, clinical neuropsychologists use this knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or rehabilitation of patients across the lifespan with neurological, medical, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, as well as other cognitive and learning disorders (SCN, 2022, NAN, 2001).

Typically, clinical neuropsychologists use psychological, neurological, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological principles, techniques and tests to evaluate patients’ neurocognitive, behavioral, and emotional strengths and weaknesses and their relationship to normal and abnormal central nervous system functioning (NAN, 2001). These includes conditions such as (but not limited to):

1. Neurological/ Neurosurgical diseases such as Brain Tumors, Epilepsy, Stroke, Aneurysms and Arteriovenous Malformations
2. Traumatic brain injury resulting from motor vehicle accidents, falls or assaults.
3. Movement Disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinson Plus Syndromes, Motor Neuron Disease, Tic and Tourette Syndrome, Huntington’s Disease
4. Inflammatory diseases/ Brain Infections of the central nervous system such as Multiple Sclerosis or Encephalitis
5. Aging-Related /Neurodegenerative conditions such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia and etc.
6. Disorders of Consciousness / Coma Recovery, Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (Prolonged Vegetative State), Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
7. Metabolic Diseases
8. Developmental/ Learning Disorders
9. Neurodevelopmental Delays (Paediatrics), Syndromic Diseases (e.g. Leigh Disease, Lennox Gastaut) and Intellectual Disabilities
10. Psychiatric Conditions or Mood Disorders with Cognitive markers
11. Mental Capacity, Medico-legal Evaluation and Expert Witness

Neuropsychological assessment and evaluation are essential for diagnostic workouts, treatment planning, interventions, prognostication, and a baseline for future clinical evaluation and monitoring as well. 

Procedures / Treatments Performed:

1. Comprehensive Neuropsychological, Neurobehavioral, and Emotional Testing and Evaluation
2. Cognitive Remediation/ Rehabilitation Therapy (Restorative and Compensatory)
3. Cognitive Reserve Stimulation
4. Multisensory Stimulation and Rehabilitation
5. Presurgical Planning, Intraoperative Brain Mapping, Post-surgical Cognitive and Functional Mapping
6. N-TMS Mapping and Stimulation (Therapeutic)
7. WADA Hemispheric Dominance Assessment
8. Motor Planning and Functional Stimulation.
9. Adaptive Skills Training and Behavioural Modification
10. Visual Imagery and Passive Tactile / Active Motor Rehabilitation