What to Expect
During your visit, you will meet privately with a neuropsychologist to discuss your symptoms, review your history and talk about your present situation and concerns. You will then work with a skilled technician on a variety of tasks designed to measure different abilities, such as concentration, learning and memory, and language skills.
You may be asked to answer questions, work on paper and pencil tasks, or do other tasks that are very much like games or puzzles. Many of these are simpler; others are more complex so that most people cannot do them perfectly. But there is no passing or failing, and many people find the tasks fun and interesting.
Testing for Memory Loss or Cognitive Changes
Please ask a family member to complete the below form if you are a patient over the age of 65 who is being seen for neuropsychological testing for memory loss or cognitive changes.
Assessment of Functional Status Form (PDF 42.7 KB)
Once completed, please fax the form to 612-879-0722 (Attention: Neuropsychology), or log in to your My Noran Clinic Patient Portal and send it as a message attachment.
This evaluation helps determine how your brain is functioning. Head injuries, strokes, neurological conditions, and medical conditions (such as heart disease) can cause changes in thinking abilities, including concentration, learning and memory, language, and problem-solving skills. Neuropsychologists specialize in assessing a person's functional abilities and identifying areas of difficulty. Your referring doctor will use the findings to help with diagnosis and treatment planning. Neuropsychological assessment is particularly useful if other tests have not provided clear answers. It can also help determine whether pain, stress, depression, or anxiety are contributing to cognitive problems.
First, you will meet with a neuropsychologist to review your history and discuss your current concerns. You will then work with the neuropsychologist and a skilled technician on a variety of tasks designed to measure different cognitive abilities. You will be asked to answer questions, work on paper-and-pencil measures, and do other tasks that are similar to games or puzzles. Many of the tasks are simple, while others are more complex. Most people cannot perform them perfectly, and there is no passing or failing.
This varies depending on the amount of testing required. If you are age 65 or older, please be prepared to spend 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours at the clinic. If you are under age 65, please be prepared to spend 4 to 6 hours at the clinic.
For the interview portion of the appointment, you are encouraged to be accompanied by a family member or other individual who knows you well, although this is not required. You will be unaccompanied during the testing portion.
Testing usually moves quickly - most people do not find it too tiring. However, short breaks are available if needed.
Our clinics do not have dining facilities. Please eat a good meal before your appointment. If you have a condition, such as diabetes, that requires you to eat every few hours, please bring a light snack to the appointment.
If you wear glasses, use reading glasses, or use hearing aids, please bring them to the appointment.
Our staff is not equipped or trained to assist with transfers (e.g., from wheelchair to vehicle), or to provide restroom assistance. If you have mobility limitations that require assistance with transfers or restroom use, someone capable of assisting you must accompany you to this appointment, and must remain on site during your evaluation.
About two weeks after testing is completed, a written report will be sent to the referring physician. You may then meet with the referring doctor and/or the neuropsychologist to discuss test results and treatment recommendations.
If you are unable to keep this appointment, please notify our office at least two business days in advance. Due to the very high demand for neuropsychology services, if you miss your appointment without notifying the clinic, or if you cancel less than two business days in advance, it is possible that you will not be rescheduled. If you are rescheduled, the wait time for the next available appointment may be as long as six months.
Please do not hesitate to call us at (612) 879-1500.