Psychological & Psychometric Assessments
Canberra Neurology offers memory assessments to help identify and understand changes in memory, thinking and mood. They can assist with diagnosis, care planning and support, and are suitable for older adults and anyone, along with their family or carer, noticing changes in memory or thinking
A psychological assessment is a systematic process used by psychologists to understand an individual’s cognitive, social, psychological, and emotional functioning and behaviour. It involves gathering information from multiple sources and integrating that information into professional conclusions and recommendations.
A psychological assessment may include one or more of the following:
It is a structured or semi-structured conversation designed to gather and clarify the information completed prior to the assessment session. The purpose is to understand the client’s concerns, history, current functioning, and the context in which difficulties occur.
A cognitive screen is a brief assessment used to identify whether a person may have difficulties in cognitive functioning that warrant further investigation. The goal is to identify the presence or absence of cognitive impairment
These are standardized assessment tools designed to measure psychological constructs. These tests will assess attention, memory, and thinking skills such as Verbal reasoning, Visual-spatial reasoning, Working memory, Processing speed and so on.
Psychological Symptom measures completed by the individual, prior to the assessment session in the waiting area. These are self-report measures around mood and anxiety and other mental health screening measures.
Assessment of adaptive and / or independent functioning through questionnaires completed by the client and carers prior to the assessment session.
After your assessment, please follow up with your referring physician to discuss any further management.
Mild cognitive impairment describes memory or thinking changes that are noticeable, and measurable on testing, but not severe enough to interfere significantly with day to day independence. It has many possible causes. Some are readily treatable, such as thyroid dysfunction, vitamin deficiency, sleep disorders, medication effects, depression or anxiety. In other people it represents an early stage of a neurodegenerative condition, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease.
Establishing which applies matters, because it shapes what happens next. Our assessment is designed to answer that question. It includes:
You will receive a clear explanation of the findings, a management plan, and advice on follow up.
A new class of treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease, given by infusion, has become available in Australia. These treatments are not suitable for everyone. Eligibility depends on the stage of disease, confirmation that Alzheimer’s disease is the cause, imaging findings, other health conditions and current medications, and careful monitoring is required during treatment.
These therapies are not currently subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which means patients meeting the criteria face significant out of pocket costs. That position may change.
As part of the Memory Clinic at Canberra Neurology, our neurologist and geriatrician can assess whether you may be a candidate, explain the potential benefits and risks, and identify patients who should be prioritised for consideration. Where treatment is appropriate, the infusion can be coordinated at the nearest suitable facility. Where you are not suitable, the reasons will be explained and any alternatives discussed with you.
