Neuropsychological consultation has a major role in diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, educational, and vocational planning. It is especially valuable as an objective measure of pre- and post-treatment assessment. Patients who would benefit include adults and adolescents with the following conditions or needs:

• Acquired brain injury (i.e., stroke, traumatic brain injury, central nervous system infection, toxic encephalopathy, brain tumor, or hypoxia)

• Degenerative disease (i.e., Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis)

• Medical conditions affecting central nervous system function (i.e., cardiovascular, renal, liver, respiratory disorders, and Lyme disease)

• Psychiatric conditions with a high index of risk for organic involvement (i.e., chronic alcoholism, schizophrenia)

• Memory, attention, or language problems that impair functioning, but for which the causes are unknown

• Identification and description of cognitive abilities in preparation for neurosurgery, including post-surgical testing

Neuropsychological testing is a way of examining the relationship between the brain and cognitive abilities. Neuropsychological tests are an important part of an overall evaluation because they provide an objective measure of an individual's strengths and weaknesses. Neuropsychological assessment provides a systematic evaluation of cognitive abilities such as intelligence, memory, language, attention, problem-solving ability, visual-motor skills, sensorimotor abilities, personality/emotional functioning, and academic skills. A typical evaluation involves administration of neuropsychological and psychological tests, record review, and an interview with the patient, including a parent or other family member when available. Neuropsychological tests usually involve paper-and-pencil or computer based measures.

An evaluation takes from as few as 1-2 hours to as many as 8 hours depending on the referral question. Evaluations are flexible and tailored to a specific referral question. The results of the evaluation are often the first step in developing an effective treatment or remedial plan. Services at the UCHC Neuropsychology Service are provided for adolescents and adults.

• To determine the presence, nature, and severity of cognitive dysfunction related to illness or injury of the brain

• To determine cognitive capacity for work, school, and independent living

• To provide baseline information to track cognitive impairments over time

• To aid in differential diagnosis of complex patient presentations suspected of having neuropsychiatric components

• To examine cognitive functioning for the purposes of Independent Medical Examinations or other forensic evaluation purposes

• To identify psychological factors such as depression that either falsely appear as disorders of brain function or contribute to cognitive dysfunction

• To provide diagnostic information needed prior to neurosurgical procedures

• To provide treatment recommendations for cognitive disorders and psychological adjustment

Most major insurance companies will pay at least part of the cost for a neuropsychological evaluation. Call us with your insurance information and we will check on the extent of your coverage for our services.

Referrals for neuropsychological evaluations may be requested by physicians, by other health care professionals, by patients themselves, or by family members. Referrals are accepted from inpatient and from outpatient clinics, and also from general practitioners and specialists. Please call our patient coordinator, Tina Rich, at 860/679-6728 to schedule an appointment or to get more information.

Written and verbal feedback is tailored to the needs of the patient and the referral source. Typically, a comprehensive report summarizing the findings, including recommendations for potential treatments and the likely consequences of the patient's difficulties in daily functioning is prepared for the referring physician. A feedback session with the patient and family also is often provided.

The Neuropsychology Service is a division of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Forensic Evaluation Clinic - Independent Medical Evaluations needed for workman's compensation, insurance claims, and legal proceedings are provided. Dr. Kaplan has over 25 years experience conducting forensic evaluations and providing trial testimony.

Adult Outpatient Clinic - Dr. Kaplan sees adult patients for neuropsychological evaluation who present with a variety of problems and referral questions. Test battery length and content are flexible and dependent on the nature of the referral questions.

Huntington's Disease Clinic - The mission of the Huntington's Disease (HD) Program of the University of Connecticut Health Center is to provide care and treatment to HDpatients and their families. Persons eligible include Connecticut residents who have, orare at risk for, Huntington's Disease. An initial evaluation consists of a visit with theneuropsychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, social worker and neuropsychologist. A visit withour genetic counselor can be arranged for those individuals interested in pre-symptomatic testing. For more information, please contact the Huntington Disease Clinic at 679-4418.

UCHC Inpatient Clinic - Short neuropsychological batteries are used to assess UConn Health Center inpatients for cognitive dysfunction and neurologic conditions. These complete test batteries are designed to be repeatable so that multiple assessments of cognitive function can be performed during an inpatient hospitalization if needed by the nature of the referral question.

The Neuropsychology Service is actively collaborating with the Alcohol Research Center, in the studies of neurobehavioral risk factors predisposing substance abuse, the Huntington Disease Center and the Departments of Neurology, Medicine and Geriatrics in a NIH-funded longitudinal study of white matter disease in the elderly.

The Neuropsychology Service is located in the main hospital building at the University of Connecticut Health Center. To reach the main campus of the UConn Health Center, access I-84 East or West, take Exit 39 and proceed onto Farmington Avenue (Route 4 East). Continue three more lights (1 mile) and turn right into the main Health Center entrance.

After going through the stop sign near the helipad, bear left at the fork in the road and continue up the hill until you reach the main hospital entrance.

If there is a guard at the gate, he will direct you to a parking lot. Otherwise, please park in any of the four lots near the main entrance

Volunteers at the Information Desk in the Main Lobby can direct you to the Neuropsychology office or call the patient coordinator. Alternatively, you can use the escalator in the lobby to go up to the first floor. Continue straight to the corridor that overlooks the center courtyard and take a right.

Our clinic reception is the first right alcove in this hallway.