Assessment

There are a few steps to the assessment process (see below for details). Often the interview and testing can be conducted in one day, then feedback is scheduled for the next week or two.

Interview (~1 hour)

The first step is the interview. This generally lasts about 1 hour. We review procedures, gather background information, and discuss your concerns and hopes. It is often helpful to have someone close to you join, especially if there are memory concerns, as sometimes others can provide extra information about how life is going and any potential changes.

Assessment (~2 to 4 hours)

The longest portion of the process that directly involves you is the formal assessment. In this step, we use various activities designed to measure different aspects of thinking (e.g., memory, processing speed, etc.). For instance, you are asked to copy designs, construct with blocks, repeat phrases, and various other actions. Some people can be intimidated by this step when in fact it is only measuring your thinking skills or emotional well-being, not your worth as a human being. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses. Generally, each task is relatively brief, which allows you to take breaks as needed to stretch your legs, get a snack, etc. If needed, this time is sometimes spread over multiple sessions, should fatigue or pain, for example, be a concern.

Feedback (~1 hour)

Once testing is finished, the results processed using a reference group of people with similar background (e.g., age and education). A report is generated that includes history and current concerns, results, and recommendations. We review this report together in a feedback session. This allows for you to understand the results and ask any questions, as well as review recommendations and find best ways to implement helpful changes. If a diagnosis is appropriate, this is the time you would first hear about it and discuss any concerns, referrals, or plans going forward.