Halstead-Reitan Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological TestNeuropsychological Test

BatteryBattery

• • Contains 10 subtests that examine aContains 10 subtests that examine avariety of brain functionsvariety of brain functions

• • Abstract reasoningAbstract reasoning• • Kinesthetic and Sensimotor AbilityKinesthetic and Sensimotor Ability• • AttentionAttention• • Auditory PerceptionAuditory Perception• • Sensory-Perceptual abilitySensory-Perceptual ability• • OthersOthers

Some TasksSome Tasks

• Have person close their eyes with their hands held Have person close their eyes with their hands held out.out.

• Have them say which hand is touched when touched.Have them say which hand is touched when touched.• Which ear receives a barely audible finger snap.Which ear receives a barely audible finger snap.• Identify a number or shapes traced on a finger or Identify a number or shapes traced on a finger or

hand.hand.• Key tappingKey tapping• Measuring grip strength by squeezing a Measuring grip strength by squeezing a

dynamometerdynamometer• OthersOthers

IssueIssue

• Normal person can perform the tasks Normal person can perform the tasks well.well.

• Persons with neurological damage Persons with neurological damage have difficulty with certain tasks.have difficulty with certain tasks.

• Based on anatomy and physiology, Based on anatomy and physiology, youyou

can deduce where the brain damage can deduce where the brain damage has occurred.has occurred.

Additional Tests added to the Additional Tests added to the H-RH-R

• Memory Tests such as the WAIS-IIIMemory Tests such as the WAIS-III

• MMPIMMPI

• OthersOthers

Luria-Nebraska Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Test Neuropsychological Test BatteryBattery• Is a second common test batteryIs a second common test battery

• Consists of 269 discrete itemsConsists of 269 discrete items

• Has high reliabilityHas high reliability

• Also has some problemsAlso has some problems

• High rates of false positives in older High rates of false positives in older patients.patients.

Some ScalesSome Scales

• MotorMotor

• RhythmRhythm

• Receptive SpeechReceptive Speech

• ReadingReading

• WritingWriting

• MemoryMemory

• OthersOthers

ConclusionConclusion

• There are many types of tests that There are many types of tests that examine brain functioningexamine brain functioning

• Some tests are very sensitive and can Some tests are very sensitive and can be highly accurate in assessing damage.be highly accurate in assessing damage.

• Can be used to help target brain Can be used to help target brain damage before other techniques are damage before other techniques are used.used.

• Are not cheap to administer.Are not cheap to administer.

ARE TO BE GIVEN AND INTERPRETED ARE TO BE GIVEN AND INTERPRETED BYBY

TRAINED PROFESSIONALSTRAINED PROFESSIONALS..

• Training to give these tests is time Training to give these tests is time intensiveintensive

• Interpretation requires very specific Interpretation requires very specific knowledge and skillsknowledge and skills

• Tests take lots of practice to be given and Tests take lots of practice to be given and interpreted correctlyinterpreted correctly

• CT Scans and MRIs are interpreted by CT Scans and MRIs are interpreted by RadiologistsRadiologists

• Neuropsychological test batteries are Neuropsychological test batteries are interpreted by trained psychologists interpreted by trained psychologists (usually neuropsychologists)(usually neuropsychologists)