Signs and symptoms that may signal the need for neuropsychology services include:

• Decline in memory
• Altered mental state or confusion
• Impairment in thinking

Test results can help patients, families and medical providers by:

• Confirming or clarifying a diagnosis.
• Revealing the practical implications of a neurocognitive impairment (e.g., how an impaired decision-making capacity relates to home, community, school or work reintegration).
• Providing a profile of strengths and weaknesses to guide medical staff, rehabilitation, educational, vocational or other services.
• Documenting changes in functioning since prior examinations, including the effects of treatment.
• Clarifying what compensatory strategies would help optimize the patient’s functioning.
• Resulting in referrals to other specialists, such as, but not limited to, cognitive rehabilitation professionals, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, educational therapists, special education teachers or vocational counselors.
• Providing guidance to patients, family members or caregivers, and medical staff.

Develop a behavioral management plan and provide guidance to patients, family members or caregivers, medical staff.

Neuropsychological evaluations (NPE) at Cedars-Sinai assist providers with diagnosis, treatment planning and ongoing monitoring of a patient’s cognitive status. The NPE uses standardized tests and procedures that assess how behavior and skills are related to brain structure. A completed NPE provides doctors with an in-depth understanding of the patient's cognitive abilities, including attention, memory and executive functioning (e.g., planning, organizing and problem-solving) as well as linguistic, visuo-perceptual, motor and sensory skills, and their psychological state.