Neuropsychological tests are specialized assessments that evaluate cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functions. They provide insights into brain function and potential cognitive disorders. These assessments can diagnose conditions like ADHD, Learning Disorders, memory issues, and others. We create a neuropsychological test battery uniquely tailored to the question you want answered and the insights you hope to reach. In this post, we review examples of neuropsychological tests and how we put together a neuropsych test battery in a sample case.
We provide neuropsychological testing that covers many of the tests and conditions noted below. However, remember that some neuropsychological tests cannot be delivered remotely, there are limitations to what they provide, and this type of evaluation can be expensive, so it is important to be an informed consumer.
Common Neuropsychological Tests:
Here are some examples of neuropsychological tests that we use:
- Trail Making assesses visual attention and task-switching abilities. It consists of two parts: Part A involves connecting numbers in order, and Part B requires connecting alternating numbers and letters in sequence. Performance times and errors are recorded. This helps us measure concentration, attention, and focus. This measure is difficult to give remotely.
- The Stroop measures selective attention, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed. You are presented with color names printed in different ink colors and asked to name the ink color while ignoring the word. This helps us measure how easily you can overcome distraction. This one can be given remotely.
- Wisconsin Card Sorting evaluates cognitive flexibility and executive functions. Participants are asked to sort a deck of cards based on changing sorting rules, and their ability to adapt to the new rules is assessed. This one cannot be given remotely.
- Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure assesses visuospatial skills, memory, and planning abilities. After a delay, you are asked to copy a complex figure and then reproduce it from memory. This one can be given remotely.
- Digit Span evaluates working memory. Participants are read a sequence of digits and must repeat them forwards or backward, with the sequence length increasing as they progress. This one can be given remotely.
- Boston Naming evaluates language and naming abilities. You are shown pictures of objects and are asked to name them. This one can be given remotely.
- California Verbal Learning (CVLT) assesses verbal learning and memory. You are read a list of words and asked to recall as many as possible after different intervals. This one can be given remotely.
We might choose among these examples of neuropsychological tests or find others that more specifically fit your needs and the questions you want answered.
Uses for Neuropsychological Tests
A neuropsychological test is an incredibly versatile tool clinicians, researchers, and educators use to assess various cognitive functions and identify potential brain-related strengths, deficits, or conditions. Here are some key uses:
Neuropsychological Tests in Research
A neuropsych test can be used in research settings to study brain-behavior relationships, cognitive development, effects of drugs or interventions on cognition, and more. We do not do assessments primarily for research, but there may be a study where the results would be helpful to the researchers. Of course, in this case, we will ask for your permission to release any results (likely just your age and gender, as well as scores that do not in any way identify you).
Neuropsychological Tests in Forensic Evaluations
Neuropsychological tests are frequently used in forensic evaluations, such as to assess cognitive functioning related to legal cases. This includes evaluating competency to stand trial or assessing the impact of brain injuries on behavior. We only provide a limited number of services in this area.
Neuropsych Test Batteries for Diagnosis
Workplace Neuropsychological Tests
In the workplace, neuropsychological tests can assess individuals’ cognitive abilities and determine their suitability for specific job roles, accommodations, or vocational training. Some professions, especially those involving high cognitive demands (e.g., pilots, military personnel), may use these assessments for pre-employment screenings or monitoring cognitive fitness.
Sports Assessments
In sports medicine, neuropsychological tests are most commonly associated with evaluating athletes who have suffered concussions. These help determine readiness to return to play. However, they can go well beyond that, assessing athletes who have ADHD or learning differences and giving suggestions for how they can ensure that the strengths and weaknesses associated with their diagnosis work to their advantage on the field of play.
Progress Monitoring with a Neuropsych Test
Regular administration of neuropsychological tests allows you and your providers to track your progress to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and adjust treatment plans as needed. They aid in designing treatment plans from the start. For example, when a child receives accommodations for ADHD, these assessments help determine whether these steps are working and how to refine them as time progresses. The same holds for learning differences.
Types of Neuropsychological Tests
These measures encompass a wide range of assessments that evaluate various cognitive, sensory, motor, and emotional functions. The types of neuropsychological tests we use in our practice include:
Neuropsychological Tests for Cognitive Function
We use neuropsychological tests to screen for cognitive impairments, weaknesses, and strengths. These measures assess memory, attention, processing speed, language capacity, and other executive functions. Sometimes, we do even more specific memory assessments for various functions, including working, short-term, and long-term memory. Some examples of neuropsychological tests we might use are below.
Visual and Spatial
We use neuropsychological tests to screen for visual-spatial abilities and motor functions. These are common when the referral question concerns the potential decline in these areas, a learning difference that may affect these areas, or a person wants information before making a vocational choice. These measures can also be quite helpful in assessing athletes and helping design unique plans for athletic improvement.
Emotional and Personality
While many measures of emotional state and personality are not technically neuropsychological tests, giving these as an adjunct is often helpful to see how these issues may impact neuropsychological functions. Thus, it is not uncommon for us to give measures of anxiety, depression, or overall stress as part of this battery.
Sensory Neuropsychological Tests
Measures that evaluate sensory perception and discrimination, such as the ability to distinguish between different textures, temperatures, or stimuli, can be helpful in some cases to assess for possible declines and establish baseline measures.
These are just a few examples of neuropsychological tests available. The choice depends on the specific cognitive or neurological functions being assessed and the individual’s condition or concerns. We usually combine things in a neuropsych test battery to comprehensively evaluate an individual’s cognitive status.
Neuropsychological Test Battery Example
Here’s an example of a neuropsychological test battery:
A 40-year-old woman is self-referred for a neuropsych test battery after describing difficulty concentrating, short-term memory lapses, and attentional issues. She has suspected that he has ADHD but was never diagnosed. The following covers some examples of neuropsychological tests we might use in this case.
Creating the Neuropsychological Test Battery
1. Clinical Interview
- Purpose: Gather background information, medical history, and details on cognitive or emotional difficulties.
- Example Questions:
- “Can you describe the changes you’ve noticed in your memory?”
- “What kind of challenges are you facing in your daily life?”
2. Examples of Neuropsychological Tests
The following are some examples of neuropsychological tests we commonly use in our neuropsych test batteries:
- Memory Assessment (e.g., Rey Auditory Verbal Learning – RAVLT)
- Task: She is read a list of words and asked to recall as many as possible immediately after and again after a delay.
- Measures: Immediate and delayed verbal memory, learning, and retention.
- Attention and Processing Speed (e.g., Trail Making – Part A)
- Task: She connects numbered circles in sequential order as quickly as possible.
- Measures: Visual attention, motor speed, and cognitive flexibility.
- Executive Function (e.g., Wisconsin Card Sorting – WCST)
- Task: She sorts cards based on changing rules, requiring them to figure out the new rule based on feedback.
- Measures: Problem-solving, abstract thinking, and cognitive flexibility.
- Language (e.g., Boston Naming)
- Task: She is shown pictures of objects and asked to name them.
- Measures: Language production and naming ability.
- Visuospatial Skills (e.g., Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure)
- Task: She is asked to copy a complex geometric figure and then draw it from memory after a delay.
- Measures: Visual memory, spatial organization, and constructional ability.
Aside from the examples of neuropsychological tests above, we have specialty measures for specific issues and concerns.
3. Behavioral and Emotional Assessment:
- Example: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) or Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
- Purpose: Assess mood, anxiety, or personality changes, which may affect cognitive performance.
Neuropsych Test Results and Interpretation
Once the assessment is complete, we analyze the results to determine patterns of strengths and weaknesses across different cognitive domains. In this example, the client shows signs of inattention and distractibility that are not related to anxiety. She also has slowed processing speed, but only when a distraction is in place, which is consistent with the effects of ADHD. Her psychological report guides self-help strategies, possible work accommodations, and ideas for treatment planning with her therapist and possibly an executive functioning coach.
Summary and Our Work
It’s important to note that while neuropsychological tests are valuable tools, they should be used in conjunction with other clinical assessments and information to form a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and potential impairments. In our practice, we provide basic neuropsych test services, but mainly for those looking to see if they have a specific psychological diagnosis, understand their cognitive strengths and weaknesses, or make a case for academic or work accommodations. We can refer you to a specialist if your needs fall outside those areas.
Please get in touch with us if you’d like to hear more about our services or neuropsychological tests in general.
