Preanka Padayachy Clinical Neuropsychologist
I conduct cognitive assessments for patients who have experienced any trauma to the brain, including traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative disorders (dementia, Alzheimer’s disease etc.), cerebrovascular diseases (strokes, aneurysms etc.), and other diseases that affect the central nervous system. If there is no diagnosis, but a patient may be experiencing memory difficulties, concentration/attention difficulties, changes in speech and communication, or changes in executive functioning, I can assist.
Typically, I work closely with Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Psychiatrists and Psychologists to determine a patients current cognitive function and/or dysfunction following disease or injury and to systematically track the progress of rehabilitation. Additionally, I assist with pre-and post-neurosurgery/neurological intervention assessments. Work capacity and medico-legal assessments following an accident, injury or illness also form part of my work.
How can we help?
As neuropsychologists, we administer various assessments to determine the impact that brain trauma (such as strokes, dementia, tumors, etc.) has had on cognition (memory, attention, processing speed, language, etc.) and behavior (personality changes, mood swings, emotions, etc.). From here, we can explain why these changes have occurred and suggest ways to alleviate the challenges that come with them.
- Moreover, our assessment can form part of a differential diagnosis by establishing current cognitive function following brain trauma and keeping track of rehabilitation progress. It can also identify a person’s cognitive ability pre- and post-neurosurgery or pre- and post-neurological intervention, assist in the diagnosis of specific dementias, provide disease progression and level of independence information, and help determine the capacity to work following an accident, injury, or illness (e.g., in a medico-legal context).
How is the assessment structured?
The neuropsychological assessment process is divided into three sessions: