Information for Referrers

Why refer a patient/client for a neuropsychological assessment? 
Since comprehensive neuropsychological testing provides valuable information that can assist in both clinical and medico-legal matters, there are multiple benefits to referring a patient for neuropsychological evaluation. These have been listed on the "Services" page.

What type of patients/clients are suitable for neuropsychological assessment? 
Neuropsychological assessments are useful for people who have sustained a brain injury or for those who are suspected of having sustained a brain injury, or of having a neurological deficit. They are also useful for people that have concerns about their cognitive functioning. 

Suitable condtions include (but are not limited to): 

• Neurodegenerative conditions (eg. Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia and Parkinson's disease) 
• Traumatic Brain Injury (eg. following motor vehicle accidents, falls and assault) 
• Brain injury following hypoxia and chronic alcohol/substance abuse
• Neurological conditions (eg. stroke, neurotoxicity, epilepsy and tumours) 
• Autoimmune/inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system (eg. Multiple Sclerosis) 
• Psychiatric illnesses (eg. PTSD, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety) 
• Developmental disorders (such as Autism Spectrum Didorder (ASD) and learning disorders) 
• Intellectual disabilities  ​

How to make a referral to Dr Arguedas
To refer a patient/client to Dr Arguedas for neuropsychological services, call 0434 025 160 during business hours (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).
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The following details are required when making a clinical neuropsychology referral:

1. The patient/client’s name, date of birth and contact details
2. A clearly stated reason for referral (ie. referral question/s)
3. Background medical and psychological information of potential relevance to the patient’s presenting cognitive difficulties.
4. Copies of any neuroimaging reports (eg. Cerebral CT/MRI)
5. Details of any previous neuropsychological assessments (if applicable) - date of previous assessment and contact details of the person that conducted the assessment are required.

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​Information for Patients
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How can a Neuropsychological assessment help me?

• If you are worried about changes in your cognitive functioning, or that of a family member or friend, a Neuropsychological assessment can be useful to assess whether there is an underlying cause for the change, and/or whether there has been a decline in cognitive functioning (eg. memory). If there has been a decine, it can help in determining if this is consistent with normal aging or not (ie. whether there is any evidence of early stage dementia). It can provide information to guide diagnosis by your medical practitioner, early interventions and to assist with providing strategies to help with managing any difficulties identified on testing.  

• If you have suffered a stroke or sustained a traumatic brain injury (eg. in an accident), a neuropsychological assessment can assist with identifying difficulties in your cognitive functioning that can impact on your ability to return to driving, work, and/or study. An assessment can determine whether it is appropriate for you to return to these activities or not. If so, tailored strategies, based on your cognitive profile, can be provided to help you better manage your return to work/study. 

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Do I need a referral to make an appointment? 
A referral from your GP or other medical specialist (eg. neurologist, rehabilitation specialist) is recommended. This is because it is important to first discuss your circumstances with a medical professional who can then advise on whether a neuropsychological assessment would be appropriate for your particular case. Referrals from other Allied Health professionals (eg. Clinical Psychologists, Occupational therapists), Rehabilitation Providers and Schools are also accepted. However, if you do not have a referral but are considering whether you (or a family member) would benefit from a neuropsychological assessment, please contact Dr Arguedas to discuss whether a medical referral is necessary.

** If there are any pending legal matters, this must be disclosed to Dr Arguedas prior to the assessment appointment since the extent and costs of clinical assessments vs medicolegal assessments differ substantially,  and the cost of the assessment therefore needs to  be quoted accordingly. An assessment conducted for clinical purposes is insufficient to use for medico-legal matters and this is stipulated on the formal report of clinical assessments**

 Medico-legal clients should consult with their Solicitor to determine the suitability of undertaking a neuropsychological assessment. A letter of instruction will be required from your Solicitor prior to making an appointment.

What is involved in a Neuropsychological assessment?
A Neuropsychological assessment usually involves an interview to discuss your medical history and other relevant background information - it is also useful for Dr Arguedas to talk to a family member or close friend, to obtain their perspective on your difficulties/cognitive changes. Following this, you will be given a number of tasks. Most will be pen and paper tasks, but some may be given to you on a computer. The tasks used examine various aspects of thinking, such as memory, attention and problem solving. You will find some of the tasks easy, but others are designed to be more challenging. You will also be given some questionnaires to complete. The duration of the assessment varies, depending on the depth of assessment needed to address the reason for referral, but generally an assessment will take between 3-5 hours (depending on case complexity), including a short break.

If the assessment is being carried out for non-medicolegal purposes, an additional appointment will be arranged (approximately 2 weeks after the assessment) to provide you with feedback of the assessment results.

Can I bring someone with me into the assessment?
A family member, friend, or support worker can be present during the interview component of the assessment. However, to ensure validity of objective testing only the person undergoing assessment and Dr Arguedas are permitted to be present during the testing component of the assessment.

How can I prepare for a scheduled Neuropsychological appointment?
Since Neuropsychological assessments involve tests that examine various thinking skills they are mentally demanding, so it is important that you have a clear mind and are alert. It is therefore essential that you obtain a good night's sleep and have a solid breakfast prior to attending your assessment. It is also recommended that you avoid physically or mentally draining activities just prior to the testing session. As Neuropsychological assessments take a number of hours to complete, it is not recommended that you schedule any important activities following the assessment, as you are likely to feel very fatigued.
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Abstinence from alcohol consumption and/or illicit drug use is also necessary prior to the assessment, since these impact on test performance. Please contact Dr Arguedas if refraining from taking these substances may be an issue for you. It is, however, important that you continue to take medication as prescribed by your medical practitioner.

Please bring the following items to the session:

• Reading glasses (if applicable)
• Hearing aid (if applicable)
• A medical referral (if one has not already been sent by the referrer on your behalf)
• A list of all medications that you are currently taking
• Copy of any recent reports you may have from health professionals (eg. neurologists, psychiatrists, hospital discharge summary etc.)
• Copy of any brain scan reports (CT/MRI)
• Details of any previous Neuropsychological assessments you have completed (eg. who conducted the assessment, where and when)
• Copies of school reports (for children undergoing testing)
• Given the duration of testing, it is recommended that you bring a bottle of water along, and something to eat in the break.
• It is helpful if you are able to bring along a spouse or close family member for the interview part of the session.

Are Neuropsychological assessments covered by Medicare or Private Health Funds?
At the current time, Neuropsychology assessments are not covered by Medicare* However, some private health funds do offer rebates. If you have private health cover, you should inquire directly to your insurer as to whether a rebate for a Neuropsychological assessment is available under your personal health care plan. This should be done prior to your scheduled appointment. You will need to claim any available rebates directly from your health fund.

In cases where the injury relates to an insurance claim it is recommended that you contact the insurance company involved to determine whether the cost of the assessment is covered by the company. Written approval from the insurer is required to be provided to Dr Arguedas prior to your appointment.

The Department of Veteran Affairs also offers a substantial fee rebate to members. If you are a member of the Department of Veteran Affairs, please inform Dr Arguedas when booking your appointment.

How do I cancel an appointment?
If you need to cancel or re-schedule your appointment, please call 0434 025 160 as soon as possible. Please refer to the Services & Fees page for details regarding late cancellation/no-show fees.

Payment
Payment can be made by cash, credit card or direct deposit. Full payment is required at the time of assessment.