 Neuropsychology at MHNI
Frequently Asked Questions
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Neuropsychology at
MHNI
(by Barbaranne Branca, PhD,
ABPN, DABFE, DABFM)
What is a neuropsychologist?
A neuropsychologist examines how changes in the brain (via aging, injury, or disease)
alter cognition including thinking, language, judgment, ad emotion. They scientifically
evaluate the degree of function and create treatment programs for individuals who
have experienced dramatic changes in their cognitive (thinking) skills. Over the
past forty years special tests have bee developed which carefully measure our ability
to think, remember, use language, or perform arithmetic operations. Such tests help
a neuropsychologist determine the degree of impairment resulting from an injury
(eve mild injury) to the brain. The neuropsychologist works with the physician to
diagnose ad treat problems of mood ad behavior.
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Once the degree and type of impairment are diagnosed, how does
the neuropsychologist assist the patient?
Once the extent of impairment is precisely identified, the neuropsychologist develops
a treatment program to help the patient learn how to compensate for the change in
function. External memory aids such as detailed daily calendars may help the patient
cope with forgetfulness and direct their activities
of daily living. The neuropsychologist may aid family members and significant others
to understand the patient's change in cognitive function, providing supportive psychotherapy
for any disruption in family life.
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