In New Zealand, a Neuropsychologist is a Registered Clinical Psychologist who has specialised in completing neuropsychological assessment and intervention. This is a specialist scope of practice recognised by the NZ Psychologist Board. This field, known as neuropsychology, explores the intriguing relationship between the brain and behaviour through clinical interviews and standardised assessment tools.
Neuropsychological assessment can be useful for:
Exploring neurological and psychological symptoms
Identifying neurological disorders
Assessing functioning
Making recommendations for rehabilitation after injury or illness
Diagnoses of certain conditions
These assessments can also be useful for making diagnoses, such as dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment. Assessment can then be used to track changes over time, particularly for things like memory loss and age-related changes.
At NeuroHealth, we are fortunate to have Dr. Jonathan Hackney (Clinical Neuropsychologist) working with our team. His PhD research explored the detection of pre-dementia in older adults living in the community. He has also worked in a range of rehabilitation settings, supporting patients who have experienced conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injuries, dementia, and neurological conditions affecting the brain.
If you would like to know more about assessment options or whether this would be useful for you, please have a look at our services to see if there is something we can help you with.
