Client History Form
Please assist us by completing this form and bringing it to your appointment.
download the form in pdf
download the form in pdf
What will I be asked to do and how long will it take?
A neuropsychological assessment is composed of interviewing and testing designed to gain an understanding of the difficulties you may be having as the result of an accident or other condition. The assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that takes several hours to complete.
The evaluation begins with an interview, which can take an hour or longer. Completing the Client History Form prior to your appointment helps us collect important information and will save you time on the day of your appointment.
Following the interview process, you will get started with the formal testing, which can take anywhere from four to seven or eight hours to complete. Tests include measures of memory, attention and problem-solving, among others. The length of testing can depend on several factors including the complexity of a person's problems, work style (some people work more slowly and methodically than others) and the need for breaks (it is okay to take breaks as necessary, especially if pain or fatigue are an issue). In some cases, the assessment will be completed over the course of two days.
The ultimate goal of the evaluation is to gain a better understanding or your problems and the impact of these problems on your life. An important focus is on how your symptoms may be affecting your ability to work.
Do I get to take breaks?
As noted above, we will work at your pace. We understand that testing can be mentally tiring and, for example, sitting for long periods can be difficult for people with back problems, so we allow breaks as necessary to manage these issues.
Do I need to bring anything to the appointment?
Please feel free to bring to the appointment anything that you feel might help you during the day. For example, if you use an Obus Forme to sit more comfortably you might want to bring that along. We would encourage you to bring any medication you normally take, including pain relievers.
It is important to remember to bring your reading glasses if you need them.
While there is a restaurant in our building and snacks available at the convenience store nearby, some people prefer to bring a lunch. We usually take a half hour to an hour for lunch but we are open to a shorter break if you prefer. Some people prefer to take a shorter lunch break in order to finish testing a little earlier.
You may also bring a completed Client History Form. Bringing this completed form into your appointment will save time.
Can I study for these tests? Is there anything I can do to prepare?
No. These aren't like school tests. You can’t study for them and, unlike school tests, neuropsychological tests are not graded pass or fail. In general, your performance is compared to others with a similar background such as age, gender and educational experience.
While you cannot study for these tests your best preparation is to get a good nights' sleep prior to the evaluation. It is also a good idea to have something to eat prior to the appointment. If you're not a breakfast person, feel free to bring snacks with you.
We hope that this provides some helpful background and addresses any questions you may have regarding the assessment. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
A neuropsychological assessment is composed of interviewing and testing designed to gain an understanding of the difficulties you may be having as the result of an accident or other condition. The assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that takes several hours to complete.
The evaluation begins with an interview, which can take an hour or longer. Completing the Client History Form prior to your appointment helps us collect important information and will save you time on the day of your appointment.
Following the interview process, you will get started with the formal testing, which can take anywhere from four to seven or eight hours to complete. Tests include measures of memory, attention and problem-solving, among others. The length of testing can depend on several factors including the complexity of a person's problems, work style (some people work more slowly and methodically than others) and the need for breaks (it is okay to take breaks as necessary, especially if pain or fatigue are an issue). In some cases, the assessment will be completed over the course of two days.
The ultimate goal of the evaluation is to gain a better understanding or your problems and the impact of these problems on your life. An important focus is on how your symptoms may be affecting your ability to work.
Do I get to take breaks?
As noted above, we will work at your pace. We understand that testing can be mentally tiring and, for example, sitting for long periods can be difficult for people with back problems, so we allow breaks as necessary to manage these issues.
Do I need to bring anything to the appointment?
Please feel free to bring to the appointment anything that you feel might help you during the day. For example, if you use an Obus Forme to sit more comfortably you might want to bring that along. We would encourage you to bring any medication you normally take, including pain relievers.
It is important to remember to bring your reading glasses if you need them.
While there is a restaurant in our building and snacks available at the convenience store nearby, some people prefer to bring a lunch. We usually take a half hour to an hour for lunch but we are open to a shorter break if you prefer. Some people prefer to take a shorter lunch break in order to finish testing a little earlier.
You may also bring a completed Client History Form. Bringing this completed form into your appointment will save time.
Can I study for these tests? Is there anything I can do to prepare?
No. These aren't like school tests. You can’t study for them and, unlike school tests, neuropsychological tests are not graded pass or fail. In general, your performance is compared to others with a similar background such as age, gender and educational experience.
While you cannot study for these tests your best preparation is to get a good nights' sleep prior to the evaluation. It is also a good idea to have something to eat prior to the appointment. If you're not a breakfast person, feel free to bring snacks with you.
We hope that this provides some helpful background and addresses any questions you may have regarding the assessment. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Neuropsychological Assessment
At PARS, Dr. Pachet sees a variety of clients presenting with concerns related to their cognitive status. Many of our clients have sustained a head injury in a motor vehicle accident, a fall at work, or some other incident involving a blow to the head. Other clients seen may suffer from neurological disorders such as epilepsy, stroke, encephalitis or other brain condition. A neuropsychological evaluation involves completion of a battery of tests that assess your thinking skills, for example, concentration, memory and problem solving, as well as your emotional status. A thorough evaluation also includes a clinical interview, a review of medical records and related collateral information. The length of a neuropsychological evaluation can vary significantly depending on the referral questions. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information regarding the evaluation and what to expect when you come to your appointment.
Capacity Assessment
A capacity assessment is the formal assessment of a person's mental capacity to make decisions about personal and / or financial matters. Assessing a person's knowledge and understanding of certain issues and his or her ability to understand and appreciate the consequences of the choices made around these issues is vital. The ability to follow through with chosen options (initiation) is also integral to capacity. Determination of an individual’s decision-making capacity is made through a semi-structured clinical interview that targets the issues surrounding capacity as well as cognitive testing (if necessary). The latter tests may include measures of memory, concentration, reasoning, and problem solving, among others. The length of time for interview and testing can vary considerably depending on a variety of factors.
Comprehensive Psychological Assessments
A comprehensive psychological assessment gathers information from a variety of sources to evaluate an individual's overall psychological functioning. The goal of this type of evaluation is to investigate an individual's current emotional functioning, personality style and areas of concern to understand how these issues may be impacting their ability to function in everyday life, including work. Following a comprehensive interview with Dr. Pachet, you will be asked to complete a variety of questionnaires that will assess your mood, personality characteristics, general health, functional limitations, pain concerns (if this is an issue for you) and coping strategies. If cognition is a concern, testing of thinking skills and memory abilities is also completed. Testing is typically completed over the course of a full day, with a follow-up session one to two weeks later to review the results of the evaluation. Recommendations for further assessment or treatment are an important part of the feedback session.
Dementia Assessment
A decline in cognitive functioning, including memory, is a normal part of the aging process. A reduction in cognitive capabilities in excess of age related decline might be an indication of dementia or might be related to some other underlying cause. Neuropsychological testing can be valuable in assessing cognitive decline in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. For others, testing can be a source of reassurance when their perceived cognitive difficulties are not in keeping with objective test results. For these individuals, loss of confidence in their abilities might be related to emotional factors, such as anxiety (e.g., it is not uncommon for people to feel like they might be getting Alzheimer’s when their memory starts to fail them at times as they get older).
Vocational Assessment
When someone’s ability to work competitively is compromised, a vocational assessment can be an important step in identifying appropriate employment options. A vocational assessment is the process of determining an individual’s interests, abilities and aptitudes and skills to identify vocational strengths, needs and career potential. You will complete a battery of objective tests designed to assess your intellectual functioning, work related aptitudes, academic skills, and vocational interests, as well as questionnaires that will ask about any physical or functional limitations you may have. In addition, we will obtain important background information from you, including your medical, work and education history. The goal of the evaluation is to identify specific employment barriers, as well as specific vocational strengths, in order to make recommendations for suitable employment alternatives if necessary.