CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY/ MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT - DEMENTIA EVALUATION
(NEUROLOGY CONSULT-LIAISION)
(NEUROLOGY CONSULT-LIAISION)
Neuropsychological evaluation per Neurology or PCP referral -standardized neurocognitive testing (quantified measurement) of functions to include attention, concentration, memory, language, spatial perception, and neuro-executive skills (e.g. multitasking or divided and selective attention, attentional and conceptual flexibility, planning, organization, step sequencing and completion, and problem-solving); also neurobehavioral examination focusing on decision-making, social judgment, impulse control, mood regulation, and stress coping / stress tolerance)
Neuropsychological evaluation and medical consult-liaison to help referring providers with differential diagnosis and prognosis pertaining to established or suspected central nervous system conditions: Mild Cognitive Disorder (MCI), pseudodementia (question of depression vs. dementia), dementia such as Alzheimer's or vascular (ischemic disease) or frontal lobe dementia (e.g. primary progressive aphasia), stroke (CVA), Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Hydrocephalus (NPH), and other CNS degenerative diseases and transient organic brain syndromes
As a Board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologist, I am a specialist trained and experienced in evaluating and treating problems with functioning and coping (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral deficits or changes) associated with brain injury or illness or learning disabilities and other kinds of CNS Disorders and brain syndromes. I am skilled in applying standardized neuropsychological testing and other diagnostic methods to help referring physicians with differential neurological diagnosis, also to diagnose and treat neurobehavioral conditions and/or illness or injury adjustment and coping issues, related to medical diagnosis.
I have particular expertise with Mild Cognitive Impairment or MCI (pre-dementia screening and ruling out pseudodementia), stroke or CVA, Parkinson's (PD), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I do a lot of evaluation and consultation pertaining to these conditions and recovery prognosis.
I also have extensive neuropsychological training, experience, and practice with neuropsychological evaluation and consultation pertaining to TBI and MTBI, also with ADHD and other learning disabilities. But as of January 2022, I have no longer accepted patients presenting primarily with those conditions or with related medical-legal and/or disability or academic accommodations.
Your evaluation with me will be geared toward what your neuropsychological test results imply for prognosis and treatment, your everyday functioning and what can be done about it. You can expect an opinion on your recovery or rehabilitation potential and recommendations for treatments, strategies, or life choices or support systems which will maximize your independence and quality of life.
Your evaluation will start with a diagnostic interview (review of intake questionnaire information and relevant history and symptoms) and include neurobehavioral status examination and standardized neurocognitive testing; tests that will require you to process different kinds of information, verbal and visual and sometimes under time pressure; some tests asking you to just pay attention and track what you hear or see and others requiring you to remember new information (e.g. word lists or numbers and symbols or geometric designs) and/or problem-solve and make decisions based on that information, e.g. figure out patterns or principles that tie information together.
The Neuropsychological Exam, Explained (National Academy of Neuropsychology)
| neuropsychassessment.pdf |
In Remembrance of Ralph M Reitan, PhD (one of the most influential figures in the history of Clinical Neuropyschology and Advisor to Sureyya S Dikmen, my Mentor at UW, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, my Post-Doctoral Fellowship training, 1984-1985)
| ralph_m_reitan_phd_abn_memorial.pdf |
| remembrance_dr_reitan__sureyya_dikmen_.pdf |
| sureyya_s_dikmen_phd_bio.pdf |