Below are questions we hear from patients and their families who are interested in learning more about our neuropsychology services.
Getting to the heart of the brain.
If you have a known, suspected or disputed problem with the way your brain works, the neuropsychologists at Mary Free Bed can help.
We’ll interview you, observe you and run a series of tests that evaluate attention levels, memory, mood and other mental functions. Then we’ll determine whether there are any abnormal brain functions and help with planning treatment.
Mary Free Bed employs several neuropsychologists. Doctors Jacobus Donders, Kate Wilson and Luke Anderson are board-certified in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology.
Mary Free Bed offers brief neuropsychological screenings and comprehensive neuropsychological assessments. We also provide follow-up treatment, including behavioral management consultations and psychotherapy.
A referral from your primary care physician, pediatrician, neurologist or other medical professional is typically required if you want to utilize Mary Free Bed’s outpatient neuropsychology services.
A neuropsychological evaluation is a series of assessments by a psychologist with special expertise in the relationship between the brain and human behavior. Your psychologist will use the evaluation to understand why your brain might not be working in a normal and healthy way — and find out what needs to be done to improve the brain’s function.
The psychologist may recommend certain types of therapy, but those will most likely need to be approved first by your own doctor and your insurance company. Often, the evaluation can help your doctor decide what kind of treatment you need.
Most neuropsychological evaluations at Mary Free Bed are done because physicians or other service providers request them. A much smaller number are independent medicolegal evaluations. These are typically requested by a lawyer, claims adjuster or other person involved in a case where there is disagreement about the nature or cause of the problem. Under those conditions, the psychologist performing an IME has agreed to do a one-time evaluation and will not continue as your treating doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the evaluation take and who should attend?
Plan on the evaluation taking a full morning and most of the afternoon. A typical evaluation is at least six hours. The neuropsychologist may find it helpful to talk to your spouse or adult children as part of the evaluation process. This will only be done with your permission.
If the evaluation is for your child, the length may vary depending on the child’s specific needs. For children younger than 18, a custodial parent is required to sign forms and participate in part of the interview. The parent (or an adult designee) should stay on the premises while the child is being evaluated.
In almost all circumstances, no one will be allowed in the testing room other than the patient and the neuropsychologist. The neuropsychologist may decide to allow an exception for a very young children or in very unusual circumstances.
How will I learn about the results?
The neuropsychologist will schedule a time to go over the results with you. Typically, these are available the same day, but always within three working days.
The person who referred you (most often your physician) will receive a formal report within 10 working days. You may also request, in writing, that the report be sent to others, such as doctors or a school principal.
Please note that if the evaluation is done as part of an independent medicolegal evaluation (IME), the psychologist cannot give you information about the results.