It's a scary word. Neuropsychology. And a mouth full, too. Now when faced with the possibility that something might be wrong with the one we love, many find that fear is the first response. I feared to see a neuropsychologist because I knew it meant that an official label would be attached if he found what I knew he would. Let's break down what neuropsychology is. Basic Information on NeuropsychNeuropsychology is the study of the brain as it relates to human function such as emotion and behavior. The study can be applied to psychological processes and behavior abnormal to human development, and thus, make diagnosis' based on examinations (i.e. observation, brain scans, and experimental tasks to measure responses of the brain). Problems they treatIt's unfair to say 'problems' because they aren't inconvenient trivial issues. Numerous disorders, syndromes and diseases can lead a person to referral to a neuropsychologist that it is difficult to group them all together under a single label. Since the study is still expanding, there will likely be much expansion in the field and treating more and more difficulties. One thing is true about this field is that it's potential is yet to be peaked.
Why It HelpsOnce they analyze why a person has a certain behavior or why their mind does a certain thing related to a known problem, there are recommendations that can be made to assist that person to either overcome, or cope with the struggles their mind is experiencing. For example, they recommended a behavioral specialist to help with meltdowns if Hilo was to worsen with as he grew and experienced more frustrations. They can refer to other specialists, and give a set pattern of what should be done to improve the mind's response or behavior. My Experience With A NeuropsychologistI won't be using names in this experience since I did not ask previous permission to write this. However, I have nothing but amazing things to say about the neuropsychologist who I met with regarding my eldest son, Hilo, for his developmental delays typical of ASD. This was the person we were referred to by a medial doctor to receive an official diagnosis which I greatly resisted at the time but once I met with the neuropsychologist, my worries were eased. For once, I didn't feel pressured to label my son as autistic ( a feeling that I much feel guilty for, but after the delivery of Seamus and his traumatic birth story, my grief over the autism was still going on). First, we met and talked about the reason why we were there, what concerns there had been. Then I filled out these standardized tests about my son's behavior, traits, emotional maturation, and other fields of information. He observed some of Hilo's behavior at the time. Hilo was asked to stack blocks, figure out certain puzzles, and just interact with the psychologist. Back then, things were not very good. Hilo didn't meet eye contact, or understand most his questions and was non-verbal at the time. So, then the same standardized tests were sent to his therapists, doctors, and individuals at school who noted Hilo's behavior. Once all the information was collected and gathered, we met another time to go over his findings which was a diagnosis of ASD. He then compiled a list of his recommendations of things to help aid Hilo's development. We were already doing all his recommendations so I really only left feeling more accepting of my son's disability because of the way the brain was explained, why Hilo had certain behaviors, what it meant for him and how to make his brain better cope with his struggles. It helped me better grasp what he was going through. More From On Both Fronts
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorGabrielle Rae is a special needs, stay at home mommy of two boys. She enjoys reading and writing novels in her spare time. @onbothfrontsArchives
August 2018
Tell me. |