Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology is a specialized field of psychology that evaluates and assesses patient’s brain-behavior relationships. Simply put, Dr. Sikora looks into how your illness or injury may be impacting your cognitive functioning, behaviors, and emotions.
Neuropsychological evaluations also can establish a baseline of your cognitive functioning for future comparison to assess interval improvement or decline.
Dr. Sikora dedicates her time to providing advanced clinical services including patient-centered neuropsychological evaluations for individuals with known or suspected conditions affecting cognitive abilities. Neuropsychological evaluations can assist your treating providers in understanding your illness or injury and how it is impacting your day-to-day functioning, including occupational functioning, academic functioning, driving, and independent living.
Dr. Sikora sees young adults to geriatric patients.
Dr. Sikora sees a number of different neurological and psychiatric conditions, including:
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Vascular Dementia
- Stroke
- Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
- Brain Tumors
- Frontotemporal Dementia
- Language Disorders
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Seizures/Epilepsy
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Concussion
- Substance-Induced Memory Impairment
- Chronic Pain
What should I expect during my neuropsychological evaluation appointment?
- The evaluation process consists of a diagnostic interview with Dr. Sikora, which can take up to 1 hour, and testing. Patients are encouraged to bring a family memory or friend who can provide additional information about your current problems.
- Following the interview, patients work with a psychometrist technician who is competently trained to administer and score neuropsychological assessments. Assessments consist of paper/pencil, question/answer testing and/or computer testing. Testing is non-invasive.
- The evaluation assesses a number of different cognitive areas, including
- Intelligence, attention, language, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, executive functioning, memory, sensorimotor functioning, and mood and anxiety.
- Depending on your presenting symptoms, testing can range between 2-3 hours or 3-4 hours. Breaks are provided throughout your appointment.
- Following your assessment appointment, Dr. Sikora interprets your results and writes a report.
- You are also scheduled for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Sikora approximately 3 weeks following your testing appointment to review the results, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations from your evaluation.
- For most evaluations, your interview and testing process are completed the same day. There are certain circumstances that your interview and testing appointments may be done on 2 different days.
How will this help my doctors?
- A neuropsychological evaluation can tell your doctors more information about your cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
- It can help your doctors better understand the possible cause of your cognitive problems, which helps with establishing your plan of care.
- A neuropsychological evaluation can help with understanding if your cognitive functioning may improve with the implementation of cognitive rehabilitation.
- It can establish a baseline of your cognitive functioning to keep track of cognitive changes in case you undergo a reevaluation.
How do I prepare for my evaluation?
- Simply try to have a good night’s sleep prior to your appointment date and eat a nutritious breakfast.
- Bring a list of your current medications and supplements.
- You do not need to stop taking any of your prescribed medications for your evaluation.
- Bring your insurance cards and a picture ID.
- Bring reading glasses and/or hearing aids to your testing appointment, if you use them.
- Bring snacks with you in case you get hungry during your appointment.
- Bring a light jacket if you tend to get cold.
- Your family member may participate during the interview with you, but your family member will not be able to sit in during testing.
What insurances do you accept for a neuropsychological evalaution?
- Aetna
- Aetna Medicare
- AHCCCS
- Allwell
- Ambetter
- APIPA
- APIPA Medicare
- AZ Priority Care
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Care 1st
- Cigna
- Cigna Medicare
- Humana
- Humana Medicare Advantage
- Mercy Care
- Mercy Care Advantage
- Medicare
- One Care
- Optum
- TriWest
- UHC
- UHC Medicare
CONTACT US