NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
What is Neuropsychology?
Our neuropsychologists specialise in how the brain shapes thinking, learning, behaviour and everyday life. They work with people from early childhood through to later life whose functioning may be affected by a neurodevelopmental, neurological or medical condition, from complex neurodevelopmental profiles to brain injury, epilepsy, functional neurological disorder, prematurity, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. They assess, diagnose and support recovery and adaptation through detailed assessment, cognitive rehabilitation and practical recommendations for home, school and work.
Every assessment is interpreted in context. We take language, culture and educational opportunity into account, and use locally appropriate norms wherever possible, because a score only means something when it is compared fairly.
Neuropsychology sits within our multidisciplinary team. For autism and ADHD, it adds depth to the team’s diagnostic process rather than replacing it. For brain injury and neurological conditions, our neuropsychologists often lead, with other team members joining as needed.
At a Glance
Assessment
Comprehensive and focused neuropsychological assessments for children, adolescents and adults, using validated, standardised tools alongside clinical interview and observation.
Complex profiles
Support for people whose difficulties do not fit neatly into one category, including overlapping neurodevelopmental differences and the effects of medical or neurological conditions.
Brain injury and medical conditions
Assessment after head injury, and for conditions that can affect thinking, such as epilepsy, functional neurological disorder, prematurity, genetic conditions and the effects of treatment.
Practical outcomes
Clear feedback, a detailed report and recommendations that families, schools, employers and other professionals can actually use.
Memory and ageing
Assessment of memory and thinking changes in later life, including suspected dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other progressive neurological conditions.
Where we offer it
In person at Rondebosch, Durbanville, Durban North and Salt Rock, and online where suitable, for people from early childhood through to later life.
What is a neuropsychological assessment?
A neuropsychological assessment looks at the relationship between the brain and behaviour. It explores a wide range of cognitive abilities in depth, often more broadly than a standard psychological or psycho-educational assessment. Depending on the referral question, it may include:
- General intellectual and reasoning abilities
- Attention, concentration and processing speed
- Learning and memory (verbal and visual)
- Language and communication
- Visual-spatial and visual-perceptual skills
- Executive functions: planning, organisation, flexibility, inhibition and working memory
- Fine motor and sensory-perceptual skills
- Academic skills such as reading, spelling, writing and maths
- Social cognition, including how a person reads and interprets social information
- Emotional, behavioural and adaptive functioning in daily life
The results are compared with what is expected for the person’s age and background, and are interpreted alongside history, observation and information from people who know them well. Scores alone never make a diagnosis.
You can read more about how a neuropsychological assessment uncovers hidden difficulties on our blog.
Our Neuropsychology Services
We offer a range of neuropsychological services across the lifespan. Select a service below to learn more.
Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment
A full assessment across cognitive domains for children, adolescents and adults, where the questions are broad or the picture is complex.
Focused neuropsychological assessment
A targeted assessment that answers a specific question, such as memory concerns, attention and processing speed, or executive functioning at work or study.
Neurodevelopmental neuropsychology
Assessment for children and adults with known or suspected neurodevelopmental differences (such as autism, ADHD, developmental language disorder, specific learning differences or intellectual disability) where a detailed cognitive profile is needed to guide support. This includes people with several overlapping differences, in line with the ESSENCE approach that informs all our work.
Acquired brain injury and medical conditions
Assessment after concussion or traumatic brain injury, stroke, infection or other neurological events, and for people living with conditions that can affect thinking and learning. Examples include epilepsy, functional neurological disorder (FND), hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, genetic conditions, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, prematurity and the effects of cancer treatment.
Memory, ageing and neurodegenerative conditions
Assessment for adults with changes in memory, attention, language or thinking, including suspected dementia (such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular, frontotemporal and Lewy body dementia), mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease. Assessment helps separate early dementia from normal ageing and from treatable causes such as low mood, medication effects or sleep problems. It also provides a baseline for monitoring change, and guidance for families and carers on support and planning. We work alongside the person’s own neurologist, psychiatrist or GP.
Cognitive rehabilitation and intervention
Individual programmes that help people rebuild skills and work around difficulties after brain injury or illness, or alongside a neurodevelopmental or neurological condition. This may include strategies for attention, memory and executive functioning, compensatory tools and routines, guidance for families and carers, and support for a graded return to school, study or work. Goals are set together with the person and reviewed over time.
Baseline and follow-up assessment
An initial assessment that establishes a starting point, with later reviews to track change over time, for example after injury, during recovery, around surgery or medication changes, or through key developmental stages.
School, study and workplace recommendations
Assessment that informs individual support plans, classroom strategies, and applications for accommodations and concessions at school, in tertiary study or in the workplace.
Psycho-legal and medico-legal neuropsychology
Independent neuropsychological assessment and reporting for legal matters, such as personal injury and Road Accident Fund claims, working alongside our forensic and psycho-legal services. Every medico-legal assessment includes established checks on the validity of test performance.
Consultation and feedback
A dedicated feedback session to explain results in plain language, and consultation with schools, therapists, doctors and rehabilitation teams so that recommendations are put into practice.
When might a neuropsychological assessment help?
A neuropsychological assessment can be helpful when there are questions about thinking, learning or behaviour that have not been answered by previous assessments, or when a medical or neurological factor may be involved. Common presentations and referral questions include:
| Presentation | Typical referral question |
|---|---|
| A child or adult with several overlapping neurodevelopmental differences | What is this person’s detailed cognitive profile, and how do their differences interact? |
| Learning difficulties that persist despite good teaching and support | What is getting in the way of learning, and what support and concessions are needed? |
| A big gap between ability and day-to-day performance at school or work | Why is this capable person struggling, and what would close the gap? |
| Concussion, head injury or another neurological event | Has thinking changed since the injury, and what does recovery and return to school or work need? |
| Epilepsy, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, a genetic condition or prematurity | How is this condition affecting cognition and learning, and how should support be planned? |
| Known or suspected prenatal alcohol exposure | Is there a neurodevelopmental profile consistent with FASD, and what does this person need? |
| Changes in memory, attention or thinking in an adult | Is there a cognitive change, and how does it relate to mood, stress, burnout, sleep or a neurological cause? |
| Memory or thinking changes in an older adult | Is this normal ageing, mild cognitive impairment, an early dementia, or something treatable? |
| Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or another progressive neurological condition | How is the condition affecting thinking, and what support and planning are needed now and later? |
| Functional neurological disorder (FND) | How are attention, memory and thinking affected, and what support will help with daily life and recovery? |
| Before and after surgery, medication changes or medical treatment | What is the baseline, and has functioning changed since? |
| Exam concessions or workplace accommodations | What does the cognitive profile show, and which accommodations are justified? |
| A legal matter involving injury or capacity | What are the cognitive effects, and how do they affect daily, educational and occupational functioning? |
If you are unsure whether neuropsychology is the right starting point, you do not need to decide alone. Our intake process helps match each referral to the most appropriate assessment.
How Neuropsychology Fits Within Our Multidisciplinary Team
At the Neurodiversity Centre, neuropsychology adds depth to our multidisciplinary work rather than replacing it. Diagnosis of autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions rests on developmental history, structured diagnostic interviews, observation and specialist clinical judgement. A neuropsychological assessment is not a standalone diagnostic test for these conditions. What it adds is a detailed understanding of how a person’s brain works, which helps explain their experience and shapes practical support.
Our neuropsychologists work closely with:
- Clinical, counselling and educational psychologists, who lead neurodevelopmental assessments (including DISCO-based autism assessment), psycho-educational assessment and therapy
- Psychometrists, who support standardised testing
- Developmental paediatricians, paediatric neurologists and specialist psychiatrists, who provide medical assessment, investigations and medication where needed
- Occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, who support sensory, motor, language and communication needs
- Schools, employers and rehabilitation teams, who help put recommendations into everyday practice
In practice, this means:
- Neuropsychology may be part of a broader assessment. When a neurodevelopmental assessment raises questions about cognition, memory or a medical factor, a neuropsychologist can join the team.
- Neuropsychology may come first. After a head injury or with a known neurological condition, the neuropsychological assessment may lead, with other team members brought in as needed.
- Findings are integrated, not siloed. Where several professionals are involved, results are brought together into one clear formulation and one coherent set of recommendations.
- Support continues after the report. Families and individuals can access our therapy, psychoeducation, school and workplace support, and post-diagnostic services.
How Does the Process Work?
- Referral. Complete the self-referral form on our website. Professionals can also refer directly.
- Intake. You will be assigned a keyworker, and an initial intake will clarify the main questions and whether neuropsychological assessment is the right fit.
- Gathering information. We will ask for relevant reports, such as school reports, previous assessments, medical records, and any imaging, EEG or hospital discharge summaries.
- Assessment sessions. Testing usually takes place over more than one session, with breaks and adjustments to suit the person’s needs, energy and sensory preferences.
- Integration. Results are interpreted alongside history, observation and information from family, teachers or others, and discussed with the wider team where relevant.
- Feedback. A dedicated feedback session explains the findings in plain language and leaves time for questions.
- Report and next steps. You will receive a detailed report with personalised recommendations and, where helpful, a plan for review or follow-up.
We know assessment can feel daunting. We aim to make it predictable and comfortable, with information in advance about what to expect, so that people feel understood rather than tested.
For Referring Professionals
We welcome referrals from paediatricians, paediatric and adult neurologists, psychiatrists, GPs, psychologists, therapists, schools and legal professionals. A helpful referral includes the main question you would like answered, relevant medical and developmental history, and copies of previous assessments or investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a neuropsychological and a psycho-educational assessment?
A psycho-educational (scholastic and learning profile) assessment focuses mainly on learning, intellectual ability and academic skills. A neuropsychological assessment explores a wider range of abilities in more depth, such as memory, attention, executive functioning and processing, and considers how medical or neurological factors may be involved.
What is the difference between a neuropsychologist, a neurologist and a neuropsychiatrist?
A neuropsychologist is a psychologist who specialises in how the brain relates to thinking, learning and behaviour, and assesses this through detailed testing. A neurologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions of the brain and nervous system. A neuropsychiatrist is a psychiatrist who works with mental health difficulties linked to brain conditions, and can prescribe medication. These professionals often work together.
Can a neuropsychological assessment diagnose autism or ADHD?
Not on its own. Autism and ADHD are diagnosed through a broader clinical process that includes developmental history, structured interviews, observation and specialist judgement. A neuropsychological assessment can add valuable detail about how a person thinks and learns, particularly when the picture is complex.
Can a neuropsychological assessment diagnose dementia?
It plays a central part. The assessment shows whether thinking has changed, which abilities are affected and how, and whether the pattern fits a particular type of dementia or another cause. A diagnosis is usually made together with your doctor, such as a neurologist, psychiatrist or GP, alongside medical tests and brain imaging.
How long does it take?
This depends on the referral question and the person’s needs. Most assessments involve an intake, more than one testing session and a feedback session. We will give you a clear outline at the start.
Can the assessment be done online?
Partly. Our Clinical Neuropsychologists see people in person at Rondebosch, Durbanville, Durban North and Salt Rock. Some parts of an assessment can be done online, which helps families who live further away. Many tasks work best face to face, particularly with young children, so your neuropsychologist will advise which format best suits the person and the questions being asked.
How should I or my child prepare?
A good night’s sleep, a meal beforehand and any glasses, hearing aids or usual medication are helpful. There is nothing to study for. If you have questions about medication on the day, please ask us in advance.
Do I need a referral from a doctor?
No. You can self-refer through our website. If you have a referral letter or previous reports, please share them, as they help us plan the assessment.
