What is Neuropsychology? A Guide for Michigan Families
When someone is struggling with attention, learning, memory, emotional functioning, or changes in everyday abilities, it is not always clear where to begin. Parents may wonder why their child is working so hard but continuing to struggle in school. Adults may feel overwhelmed by difficulties with focus, organization, anxiety, or sleep. Older adults and their families may be concerned about changes in memory or independence.
Neuropsychology can help provide answers, clarity, and direction to these questions.
At Brush Neuropsychology Services, PLLC, located in Troy, Michigan, we provide comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations and evidence-based therapy for children, teens, adults, and older adults. Our goal is to help individuals and families in southeast Michigan and beyond better understand what they are experiencing and identify practical next steps.
What Is Neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a specialty area of psychology that examines the relationship between the brain, behavior, emotions, and everyday functioning.
A neuropsychological evaluation looks at how a person processes information and approaches different types of tasks. Depending on the reason for the evaluation, this may include areas such as:
Attention and concentration
Learning and memory
Language abilities
Visual and spatial skills
Processing speed
Executive functioning, such as planning, organization, and self-monitoring
Academic skills
Emotional and behavioral functioning
Adaptive and everyday living skills
Neuropsychological evaluation involves much more than administering tests. The process integrates a person’s history, collateral information, current concerns, medical or educational information, behavioral observations, and performance across multiple measures. The goal is not simply to produce a set of scores. It is to develop a meaningful understanding of the person’s strengths, challenges, and needs.
When Might a Neuropsychological Evaluation Be Helpful?
A neuropsychological evaluation may be helpful when there are questions about a person’s cognitive, academic, emotional, behavioral, or everyday functioning. Referrals may arise because of longstanding difficulties, a recent change in functioning, a known medical or neurological condition, or the need for greater diagnostic clarity.
For example, a child may be struggling with learning, attention, or behavior at home or school. A college student may need clarification regarding difficulties with academic performance, organization, or test-taking. An adult may notice problems with concentration, memory, efficiency, managing responsibilities, or questions about their ability to continue working in high-level jobs. An older adult or family member may have concerns about changes in memory, judgment, language, or independence.
An evaluation can help identify areas of strength and difficulty, clarify possible contributing factors to reported concerns, and guide recommendations for treatment, education, work, medical care, or daily functioning.
An evaluation may be helpful when there are concerns involving:
Attention and Executive Functioning
Attention difficulties may involve trouble sustaining focus, filtering distractions, shifting attention appropriately, or maintaining consistent concentration over time. Executive functioning difficulties may affect planning, organization, task initiation, time management, working memory, self-monitoring, and the ability to manage multistep responsibilities.
Because attention and executive functioning problems can occur together or separately, a neuropsychological evaluation can help clarify the nature of the difficulties and determine whether factors such as ADHD, anxiety, sleep disruption, learning problems, medical conditions, or other concerns may be contributing.
Learning and Academic Progress
Some students continue to struggle with reading, writing, mathematics, or academic efficiency despite appropriate instruction and significant effort.
Neuropsychological evaluation can clarify how a student learns, identify possible learning disorders, and provide recommendations for instruction, intervention, accommodations, and support at home or school.
Memory and Cognitive Changes
Changes in memory, language, judgment, or independence can be concerning and distressing for individuals and their families.
An evaluation can help characterize the pattern and extent of cognitive changes, establish a baseline for future comparison, and assist medical providers with diagnostic clarification and treatment planning.
Concussion or Other Neurological Concerns
Following a concussion, brain injury, or neurological illness, a person may experience changes in attention, processing speed, memory, emotional functioning, or stamina.
Neuropsychological evaluation can help identify areas of strength and difficulty while informing recommendations for school, work, treatment, and daily activities.
Emotional and Behavioral Concerns
Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, stress, and sleep difficulties can affect concentration, memory, motivation, and performance.
An evaluation can help clarify how emotional and cognitive factors interact, particularly when symptoms overlap or when previous treatment has not fully addressed the person’s concerns.
What Happens During an Evaluation?
Although each evaluation is individualized, the process generally includes several components.
The first step is an intake appointment. During this meeting, the clinician gathers information about the person’s current concerns, developmental or medical history, educational and occupational experiences, emotional functioning, and treatment history.
Testing may then involve several hours of structured activities designed to measure different areas of functioning. For children, information from parents, teachers, school records, and previous evaluations may also be especially helpful. For adults and older adults, medical records or input from a family member may provide additional context when appropriate.
After testing is completed, the neuropsychologist reviews and integrates all available information. A feedback appointment is then held to explain the results, answer questions, and discuss recommendations.
Recommendations may address areas such as:
Academic or workplace accommodations
School-based interventions
Executive-functioning strategies
Medical follow-up
Therapy or behavioral treatment
Sleep and wellness habits
Family or caregiver support
Planning for greater independence or safety
Referrals to other community professionals
A written report is also provided when applicable so that the findings can be shared with schools, physicians, therapists, or other providers with the individual’s permission.
How is Neuropsychological Evaluation Different from a School Evaluation?
School evaluations and neuropsychological evaluations can both provide valuable information, but they often serve different purposes.
A school evaluation primarily determines whether a student qualifies for special education services under educational criteria. A neuropsychological evaluation generally takes a broader clinical perspective, examining cognitive, academic, emotional, behavioral, developmental, and medical factors together.
For some students, the two types of evaluation may complement one another. Neuropsychological findings can help families and school teams better understand why a student is struggling and what types of support may be most effective.
Neuropsychology is Not Merely Diagnosis
Receiving a diagnosis can sometimes provide clarity and access to appropriate resources. However, diagnosis is only one possible outcome of an evaluation.
A comprehensive evaluation may also:
Identify strengths that can be used to support weaker areas
Explain why previous strategies have not worked
Distinguish between conditions with overlapping symptoms
Provide a baseline for monitoring future changes
Help families prioritize treatment recommendations
Improve communication among families, schools, physicians, and therapists
Offer practical strategies for everyday functioning
In some cases, an evaluation may determine that a suspected diagnosis is not the best explanation for the person’s concerns. That information can be equally valuable because it helps redirect attention toward more appropriate interventions.
Supporting the Broader Community
Neuropsychological services can also strengthen collaboration throughout the community.
Families may use evaluation results to communicate more effectively with schools and medical providers. Physicians may receive additional information to support diagnosis and treatment planning. Therapists can use cognitive findings to adapt interventions to a client’s learning style. Schools may gain a clearer understanding of the supports a student needs to access instruction.
By connecting cognitive, emotional, medical, educational, and everyday information, neuropsychology can help different members of a care team work from a shared understanding.
Knowing When to Reach Out
You do not need to know exactly what type of evaluation or service is needed before contacting a neuropsychologist.
It may be helpful to seek consultation when:
Concerns are interfering with school, work, relationships, or independence
A person’s performance is inconsistent or difficult to explain
Previous interventions have not produced the expected improvement
Several possible conditions appear to overlap
A family needs guidance about appropriate next steps
A physician, therapist, or school has recommended further evaluation
Cognitive or emotional changes have developed following an illness, injury, or significant life event
An initial conversation can help determine whether neuropsychological evaluation, therapy, consultation with another provider, or a different community resource would be the most appropriate next step.
Clearer Understanding and Practical Next Steps
Neuropsychology helps translate complex concerns into a clearer and more individualized understanding of how a person functions.
At Brush Neuropsychology Services, we provide evidence-based neuropsychological evaluations and therapy across the lifespan. We work with individuals, families, schools, physicians, and other community professionals to clarify strengths and challenges and develop practical recommendations to help you move forward.
For more information about our evaluation or therapy services, contact Brush Neuropsychology Services. Consultations can be requested through our website or by calling us at (248) 270-5974.
About the authors:
David Brush, Ph.D., L.P., is a clinical neuropsychologist and co-founder of Brush Neuropsychology Services, PLLC. He provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for individuals across the lifespan and evidence-based therapy for teens, adults, and older adults. His training includes a doctoral degree from the University of Central Florida, residency through the Birmingham VA Medical Center, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Children’s of Alabama, followed by a neuropsychology fellowship through Michigan Medicine and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Jordan Brush, M.S., L.L.P., is a limited licensed psychologist and co-founder of Brush Neuropsychology Services, PLLC. She provides evidence-based therapy and psychological assessment for children, teens, and adults. Her training includes a master’s degree in clinical psychology and clinical experience through the University of Michigan.
