Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation
presence of a wide variety of diagnosable cognitive impairments, including issues related to attention, learning, memory, executive functioning (planning, reasoning, problem solving), language skills, visuospatial skills and adaptive functioning (activities of daily living).
These impairments can arise from many different brain diseases/insults, e.g., traumatic brain injury, concussion, exposure to explosive ordnance blast waves, seizure, brain tumor, stroke, learning disability, and ADHD, among others.
- Evaluation typically includes synthesis of the clinical interview and testing data with historical information gathered from document review (medical/military/academic/forensic records) and collateral interviewing of family, friends and co-workers
- Evaluation always includes consideration of neurocognitive malingering (feigning of symptoms)
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Depending upon the referral question, evaluation may also include emotional functioning testing to explore related psychiatric concerns (addiction, anxiety, depression, PTSD, psychosis, mania) and/or referral for appropriate brain imaging techniques
Testimony
on how neurocognitive impairments may be related to behavior relevant to specific crimes and legal issues. Brain injury can not only result in cognitive impairment/dementia, but can also result in neurologically-based personality changes including increased aggression, emotional lability, impulsivity, apathy and paranoia. These kinds of changes, in addition to changes related to neurocognition, have implications for both pre-trial (competency, criminal responsibility, ability to form intent) and post-trial (sentencing) scenarios.
Review
of expert opinions offered by opposing counsel both by reviewing data and in-trial testimony.