Participation of a clinical neuropsychologist plays a vital role in the care of epilepsy patients. Neuropsychological tests are used to identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses, to aid in diagnosis, to establish a baseline prior to an intervention (e.g., surgery), to plan future treatment, and to make inferences about functioning in the real world.

Typical neuropsychological evaluations assess:

· Intellectual functioning

· Executive function skills (e.g., problem solving, abstraction, mental flexibility)

· Attention and concentration

· Learning and Memory

· Language

· Visuospatial skills (e.g., perception)

· Motor skills

· Mood and Personality

By analyzing a patient’s test scores, the neuropsychologist can make predictions and recommendations regarding potential need for rehabilitation after surgery, including appropriate referrals for speech therapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive remediation.

A neuropsychologist also works with specialists in radiology and nursing to administer the Wada test, which is used to identify the side of the brain that controls speech and to assess how memory is shared between the two sides of the brain. This information greatly enhances the safety of surgery when the source of epileptic seizures is close to structures in the brain that control functional abilities.