Explore Behavioral & Mental HealthNeuropsychological Testing Services
What’s Involved in a Neuropsychological Assessment
We offer neuropsychological testing at UConn Health to examine memory and other cognitive abilities for patients experiencing changes in their thinking.
Our assessment services are available for adults. A typical evaluation involves neuropsychological and psychological tests, a record review, and an interview with you and a spouse or family member when available. These tests usually involve paper-and-pencil or computer-based measures. Evaluations are flexible and tailored to a specific referral question, and they could take anywhere from two to eight hours, depending on the referral question.
Evaluation results are used to understand if cognitive changes are related to a neurological or psychiatric condition, or if they are a normal part of aging. Findings are then used to develop an effective treatment or rehabilitation plan. Our comprehensive neuropsychological assessment helps with a systematic evaluation of cognitive abilities such as:
- Attention
- Intelligence
- Memory
- Language
- Personality and emotional functioning
- Problem-solving ability
- Sensorimotor abilities
- Visual-motor skills
How to Access Our Services
We accept referrals from a wide range of medical professionals, including those working in both inpatient and outpatient settings and general practitioners and specialists. If you or your health care provider think a neuropsychological evaluation could be beneficial, have them contact us to start the process.
Indications for Neuropsychological Consultation
Neuropsychological consultation is a crucial tool for diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, educational, and vocational planning. Examples of patients who may benefit include adults with the following conditions or needs:
- Memory disorders and dementia
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussion
- Stroke
- Brain tumors
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders
Common Neuropsychological Referral Questions
Neuropsychological evaluations play an essential role in:
- Identifying the cause of cognitive dysfunction and tracking changes over time
- Informing rehabilitation, employment, and independent living decisions
- Untangling complex patient presentations with possible neuropsychiatric components
- Conducting Independent Medical Examinations
- Recognizing psychological factors like depression that may contribute to cognitive difficulties
- Supplying diagnostic information ahead of neurosurgical procedures
- Offering treatment recommendations for cognitive disorders
Patient Costs for Testing
Most major insurance companies will pay at least part of the cost for a neuropsychological evaluation. Call us with your insurance information and we will check on the extent of your coverage for our services.
Getting Your Evaluation Results & Feedback
Our providers offer written and verbal feedback tailored to your needs and the referral source. Typically, your referring physician will receive a comprehensive report summarizing the findings, complete with potential treatment recommendations. Additionally, we often offer a feedback session for you and your family, addressing questions and providing additional information.
Specialty Clinics
Adult Outpatient Clinic
UConn Health's neuropsychologists specialize in evaluating adult patients experiencing changes in their cognition. The length and content of the test battery are adaptable and designed to address the specifics of each referral
Huntington's Disease Program
The Huntington's Disease (HD) Program at UConn Health is dedicated to caring for individuals with HD and their families. If you're a Connecticut resident with HD or are at risk for developing it, our program is here for you. Our team, including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, genetic counselors, and neuropsychologists, will guide you through an initial evaluation. For those interested in pre-symptomatic testing, we can connect you with a genetic counselor. To learn more, contact the Huntington's Disease Clinic at 860-679-6700.
Inpatient Clinic
Our inpatient clinic conducts short neuropsychological assessments for UConn Health inpatients with cognitive dysfunction. These assessments are designed to assist with diagnosis and inform treatment, including discharge planning.
Comprehensive Education
Neuropsychology Testing Practicum
Through our Neuropsychology Service, we collaborate with graduate students from accredited clinical psychology training programs in Connecticut. This immersive experience covers various aspects of neuropsychological testing, including administration, interpretation, report writing, and providing feedback to patients and their families.
Teaching the Providers of Tomorrow
We help train specialists of tomorrow with in-depth lectures and seminars for medical students and psychiatry, neurology, and geriatrics residents and fellows. Trainees of all levels can observe neuropsychological testing and gain insight into the role of neuropsychological assessment in patient diagnosis and treatment planning.
Psychology Predoctoral Internship
As part of the Greater Hartford Clinical Psychology Internship Consortium, our Neuropsychology Service offers an intensive rotation in neuropsychology for interested interns. This training encompasses test selection, administration, interpretation, report writing, and the ability to provide valuable feedback to patients and their families.
Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship
Our comprehensive two-year fellowship within the Neuropsychology Service prepares fellows for careers as scientist-practitioners, ideally leading to board certification (ABPP) in neuropsychology. The program covers adult neuropsychological assessment across diverse clinical scenarios, such as head injuries, dementia, stroke, epilepsy, and psychiatric disorders. Most patient interactions occur in outpatient settings, with occasional inpatient consultations available. The fellowship also offers valuable opportunities for didactic learning and research involvement.