March is Brain Injury Awareness Month: Neuropsychological Assessment

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month – Neuropsychological Assessment

A neuropsychological assessment is often recommended for kiritaki following a brain injury if they’re experiencing changes in thinking, memory, or behavior. This assessment is completed by Psychologists with specialized postgraduate training in neuropsychology.

The assessment includes an interview and a series of tests designed to identify both strengths and weaknesses following a brain injury. It measures and evaluates thinking, mood, and behavior through observation, testing, and personal interviews.

Why is a neuropsychological assessment important?
* Helps guide rehabilitation and therapy programs
* Aids decisions on returning to school, study, driving, work, and other key areas of life after a brain injury

Insights from Chris, one of our Neuropsychologists:
“Neuropsychology plays a critical role in TBI rehabilitation, with specialist skills in understanding how brain injuries or illnesses affect cognition (thinking), emotion, and behavior.

Often, people think of Neuropsychologists as simply administering a big test after a brain injury. But neuropsychology isn’t just about tests — it’s more like how a mechanic uses a spanner: a tool that helps get to the heart of the problem. While we could probably do the job without them, the tests add another layer of information, making the job easier and more thorough.

Neuropsychology sits at the intersection of mind and body, scientist and practitioner. As a scientist, I aim to understand what neuroscience tells us about the brain, how it works, and how it shapes what we do. As a practitioner, I apply that knowledge to specific clients or situations, helping them understand what’s happening and how they can better manage it.

It’s rewarding because, as the saying goes, knowledge is power. Translating complex scientific research into everyday ideas empowers people to understand themselves and their brains, giving them more control over lives that might feel like they’re spiraling out of control.