What is a neuropsychologist and what is a neuropsychologist’s role in a brain injury patient’s recovery?

A neuropsychologist is a clinical psychologist that specializes in brain behavior relationships.  They will perform tests on the person to test their intellectual ability and personality.  They will research a person’s academic and work record to see what kind of student and employee they were before the accident.  They will also interview family members and friends to determine what their personality was like before the accident.

The neuropsychologist will then look at the person’s performance at work and/or school since the accident to determine if there has been a change.  Sometimes a Mild Brain Injury will aggravate a preexisting behavior problem.  This is important for them to discover as it may be important if there is a party liable to the initial injury.

It is the role of the neuropsychologist to determine the extent of the damage.  The neuropsychologist will need to consult with a medical doctor in deciding the final diagnosis of the patient.