Epilepsy Talk
Exactly what IS Neuropsychology? | October 11, 2024
I never had a clue what neuropsychology was all about. Although it sounded like a good idea.
Then a while ago, I had an assessment. (Mercifully, it was the two-hour test and not the 8-hour version.)
The neuropsychologist I went to had all the records from my last 12 years with my neurologist and it was clear he had done his homework.
The question was, did my deficit in memory come from my history of seizures, my previous concussions (one of which had been only a month ago) or even age itself? (I thought to myself, geeze, I’m only 70!)
Here’s basically what happened…
First he interviewed me.
He wanted to know what I perceived as my problems, a very brief history and my husband was included in order to give his input.
Then, when my husband left, I was given numbers to remember in order and then in reverse.
With each succession, more numbers were added to the list.
There was the same exercise with words.
Interestingly, about ten minutes after each exercise, I was asked to do it again.
But only with the numbers or words that I had remembered from the first time.
I was asked to complete geometric images which became more and more complicated, and my “progress” was timed.
There were also words to define and stories to remember after ten minutes’ time.
(I did great with the names, places and most of the stories, but couldn’t remember any of the numbers to save my life.)
At the end, it was determined that although my EEG had been “clean,” there was further damage to my brain tissue than in my last EEG, two years ago.
The major conclusion was that my memory and processing of information were below normal and to help me get up to speed, the neuropsychologist suggested a 30 hour cognitive computer program called “Posit Science.”
Now for those not “in the know,” (like I was) here’s a brief run-down on exactly what neuropsychological tests are and their purpose…
Neuropsychological tests are a series of measures that identify cognitive impairment and functioning of your brain.
An evaluation may be brief or may last several hours. Usually, both easy and difficult tests are given to see how you do on different levels. Some of the tests will be timed, others will not.
The different tests given are to measure different functions. Each is linked to a specific area of the brain.
If you do well overall, but do poorly on a few tests that measure the same function, the neuropsychologist knows which area of your brain is not working properly. That area may be where seizures are coming from.
And because the neuropsychologist is a professional within the field of psychology, with special expertise in the science of brain-behavior relationships, he/she is in the rare position to evaluate what’s going on in your brain and how it affects your emotional and physical behaviors.
The tests themselves provide data about the following areas:
Language
Academic skills
Intellectual functioning
Attention, memory, and learning – visual and verbal
Speed of processing
Perceptual and motor abilities
Planning and organization
Problem solving and conceptualization
Emotions, behavior, and personality
The end result is to qualify:
Ability to understand and express language
Attention and processing speed
Short-term and long-term memory
Visual-spatial organization
Visual-motor coordination
Reasoning and problem-solving ability
Planning, synthesizing, and organizing abilities
Once the evaluation is complete, the neuropsychologist will examine the results of your tests.
Those results are compared with the results of people the same age as you who have a similar background.
If you’ve been tested before, the neuropsychologist will compare the new results with your results on earlier tests.
He/She then writes a report. If the results show that one area of your brain is not functioning normally, the report will say that.
And it may include recommendations for further treatment, for job retraining, or for retesting at a later date.
To me, the beauty of neuropsychology is that it doesn’t just look at the brain, or emotions, or capabilities alone. It looks at the whole neurological system as one, integrated picture.
As Oliver Sacks, the legendary physician, professor of neurology and psychiatry said:
“In each human being, things are constantly shifting in their significance, as is the underlying neurophysiological response.“
For me, it was a real eye-opener!
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Resources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/neuropsychologist
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/317596-overview
http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/neuro.aspx
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Epilepsy Talk 
I have had 4 neuropsychological testing. The last one I declined in memory in all the tests. I went to memory clinic. The doctor that interviewed me noted I was having sz’s while answering questions. She felt I didn’t have a severe problem. She suggested Briviac. I started to be more clear and my memory was better. So grateful for her help!
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Comment by spike2wv — October 11, 2024 @ 9:55 AM
Wow! That’s amazing. And eye-opening.
Do you think this was a coincidence or that other people experience seizures during testing?
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 11, 2024 @ 10:01 AM
I think it’s patients have seizures while testing and not aware of if it. I am reading your message a year later! I had a status attack and apparently I ruined my apple phone. I had no clue what was happening! I was seeing a busy University location but when I left the hospital in Berkeley they told me to contact UCSF. The Nurse Practioner said I had an anxiety attack at Berkeley. Hmm, why was unconscious for 2 days and they added more seizure medications and added an additional medication in my sz needs. I went to a different Epileptologist and she noted I was having seizures in her office. Brother! I told her I was a retired EEG technician and why do they think I am faking when I have no I idea I doing it. She laughed . You will be fine here. I gave her a hug! The lady at UCSF wanted to give me a psych med. I thought no. They added seizure medications, I don’t remember 2 days of my life. I cannot see my EEG! My present Epileptologist said you need help! We will help you! Yea! I wish I could write like you!
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Comment by spike2wv — May 20, 2025 @ 10:59 AM
Wow Spike, it sounds like you got screwed. And messing with an EEG technician, too. How stupid did they think you were? I guess we can easily say they were the stupid, ones. And dangerous, too.
Happily you escaped them and their anxiety attack diagnosis. Here’s hoping you have better luck with your present epileptologist!
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 20, 2025 @ 11:26 AM
Neuropsychologist is like what is a Neurologist in the old days. They break down into specialities! The one I saw just tests the patients. What part of the brain seem to have weak symptomologies. Memory of pictures, numbers , stories, colors each emphasizes locations of brain sensors if patient cannot verbally express, can they write it.Their is math calculations and spelling and vocabulary . The Dr . I was with asked if I had it at UCLA. He told me about the individual was great with patients but not Dr’s! I laughed, I had seen her twice and when I was doing EEG I saw her other side! We did EEG ‘s on one test. Grateful MRI are done now! Have a great week!
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Comment by spike2wv — August 2, 2025 @ 7:44 PM
She is very thorough. While in hospital she said I noticed you had activity. Why did you not push the buttton. I still have medication in me. It’s not going to show anything. I showed the nursing staff my little sz. They asked why I didn’t call! Why bother! The Dr. said push the button. I told if I have one that I am going unconscious I will push button! They kept me on my main med the whole time ! Just little ones! My Epileptologist said you have a lot of little sz that were recorded. Your focus is in your speech center. I told her. I wanted to go home and rest! I saw my activity a few times. I would love to help others. Thank you for your articles!
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Comment by spike2wv — August 2, 2025 @ 7:56 PM
Phylis
You have the beauty in writing and research . I did that at UCLA for dementia research. I would copy journal articles in the library and do EEG’s on patients to differentiate the type of dementia they were having it was great!
One day my Dr., had a seizure told him he needed a MRI stat! He told me I am the doctor! I said you have to listen to me! He got an MRI! He had an aneurysm. He got it removed! We have been friends ever since !
I had a hugging sz one time in our lab when interns, residents and medical students came in and I apparently hugged all the men and then walked out ;and came back after my friend in the lab grabbed me and the Dr. walked in to review EEG’s . They all starred at me and then I briefly explained my seizure disorder. Life is a Festival! My Dr. and I are the same age and are good friends!
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Comment by spike2wv — May 20, 2025 @ 12:06 PM
Spike, you have the beauty of great knowledge mixed with compassion and caring.
Let’s start a fan club. You be the President and I’ll be the Vice President.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 20, 2025 @ 4:32 PM
I love your compassion to everyone! You be the President that supports everyone!!!!
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Comment by spike2wv — May 21, 2025 @ 12:07 AM
I read the new things that people are doing to help diagnostics in patients in sz . I remember seeing rhythmic delta activity or rhythmic activity in theta in a portion of the brain. I saw when patients were awake. I thought they needed to have a MRI . They. Needed a full work up . It’s fun to deal with patients. I don’t remember seeing this when I was working in the 80. Always learning something new. My husband is a pharmacologist, he theorizes it might be medication. Or patient had surgery or artifact of patient! I love to research! We all have signature!
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Comment by spike2wv — May 21, 2025 @ 12:40 AM
You’re way over my head, Spike. I wish I could write like you research. Together they would be a marriage made in heaven! 🙂
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 21, 2025 @ 6:44 AM
Phyliss,
Sorry for your mom’s passing! My mom’s passing , I knew when I couldn’t breath right at night! The nursing home stated she had passed during the night!
Your mom made you use your brain or imagination! I thank her for that. Plus the guy upstairs!
Memories we always have our moms some will be funny some will make you smile😊 Take it easy! You are a super person to a lot of people❣️
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Comment by spike2wv — July 14, 2025 @ 8:22 PM