Neuropsychology

We provide inpatient and outpatient psychometric assessments for suspected brain changes/injury and cognitive impairment.

Clinical Neuropsychologists are specialists in the assessment, identification and diagnosis of cognitive disorders and associated psychological conditions.

Common areas of cognition that are assessed by a Clinical Neuropsychologist include:

• attention and concentration
• speed of information processing
• learning and memory
• complex skills such as problem solving, reasoning, and planning. 

A Clinical Neuropsychologist’s opinion may be sought for:

• diagnosis and differential diagnosis
• assessment of decision-making capacity
• characterisation of cognitive strengths and weaknesses
• rehabilitation and discharge planning
• development of tailored cognitive strategies.

We provide a range of acute and subacute services, both inpatient and outpatient, with Clinical Neuropsychologists embedded across CALHN services as well as statewide services, including spinal and brain injury rehabilitation.

The CALHN Outpatient Neuropsychology Service, based at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, accepts referrals from inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, GPs, private specialists and other health professionals.

A written referral to the CALHN Outpatient Neuropsychology Service is required prior to an appointment being issued. 

E-referrals, email or fax referrals are accepted. Referrals for patients living outside of the CALHN catchment are only considered if made by a CALHN clinician or specialist involved in the patient’s care.

All other neuropsychology services accept internal referrals only.

Referrals should include:

• patient details – address, date of birth, contact phone number, Medicare number, pension card
• reason for referral
• relevant clinical history of the patient
• list of current medications
• current treatment regimen
• recent relevant test results – x-ray, pathology, etc.
• referrer's name and contact details.

If a previous cognitive assessment has been conducted by a psychologist or neuropsychologist please state the name of the clinician/service and when the assessment occurred.