What do neuropsychologists study

Neuropsychologists are pioneers in psychology. When a person suffers brain damage in a car accident, he or she might undergo a neuropsychological examination. A neuropsychologist would then determine whether that person has the cognitive ability to return to work. She can also suggest ways for the accident victim to maximize his or her cognitive strengths and compensate for weaknesses.

Clinical neuropsychology is the sub-specialty of clinical psychology that specializes in the assessment and treatment of patients with brain injury or disease. Some of their therapies may include cognitive rehabilitation, behavior management, psychotherapy or teaching coping strategies. Neuropsychologists are different from other clinical psychologists in their deeper knowledge of the brain, especially their understanding of neurological disease and the anatomy of the central nervous system.

Testing is one of the main tasks of neuropsychologists, and their tests fall into three main categories:. In these doctoral programs, students study brain function, brain anatomy, and neurological injury and disease. Students are also trained to administer and interpret tests that detect brain dysfunction and abnormalities.

If these courses seem intriguing to you, you may want to pursue a degree in neuropsychology. Neuropsychologists are licensed psychologists who specialize in brain disorders and injuries. Neuropsychologists specialize in a subfield of psychology dedicated to nervous system disorders. Like psychologists, neuropsychologists need a doctorate and a license to practice with patients. Neuropsych Now.

A resource designed for neuropsychology clinicians and students, Neuropsych Now publishes articles on the field and provides current information in an accessible format. Visitors can access resource guides and assessment tools and listen to podcasts on the site. Neuropsych Now also provides a list of mobile apps for practitioners. The American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. ABCN, a specialty board of the American Board of Professional Psychology, administers the examination for specialists in clinical neuropsychology.

Mental Health America. A nonprofit organization established in , Mental Health American addresses the needs of people living with mental illness.

The organization provides information on prevention services, interventions, and integrated care. MHA also publishes research in the field and runs programs designed to prevent mental illness. Clinical Neuropsychology. An open-access scholarly journal, Clinical Neuropsychology publishes research on the diagnosis, pathology, and treatment of neuropsychological disorders.

The journal also publishes studies on neuroscience and neurology. Neuropsychologists can read the journal to stay current in the field or submit pieces for publication. Learn everything you need to know about attending plumbing school, and find a program near you on our list of the best programs. If you want to become an HVAC tech, attend a program that teaches what you need and get you hired. Depending on the program, a rad tech degree usually takes two years.

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Career In-Depth. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming. Step 1. Future neuropsychologists must earn a bachelor's degree as the first step in their educational training. Most aspiring neuropsychologists major in psychology or a closely related field. During an undergraduate degree, psych majors learn about neuroanatomy, brain-behavior disorders, and psychological research.

Students may also take specialized courses in neuropsychology or neuroscience. Pursuing an internship or gaining relevant work experience can help undergraduates strengthen their skills. After earning a bachelor's degree, students can apply to graduate programs in neuropsychology.

Step 2. Neuropsychologists must hold a related doctorate to apply for licensure. Some neuropsychologists earn a master's degree before applying to doctoral programs.

This step can help graduate students specialize their training and gain admission to a competitive doctoral program.

Earning a master's in psychology generally takes two years, while a doctorate in neuropsychology can take an additional years to complete. During a doctoral program, students complete advanced coursework in neuropsychology, an internship, and a research-based dissertation. Step 3. In every state, psychologists who treat patients must hold a license to practice. Some universities might also hire these professionals to conduct research and teach.

Neuropsychologists can also work in clinical settings. This typically involves assessing and diagnosing patients. Clinical neuropsychologists might work in a number of different healthcare settings that can include hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices.

Some neuropsychologists might also choose to open private practices, and treat patients in their offices or work as consultants. What is a Neuropsychologist? What does a Neuropsychologist do? Symptoms that may call for a neuropsychologist include: memory difficulties mood disturbances learning difficulties nervous system dysfunction Examples of conditions neuropsychologists evaluate and treat are: Stroke - a stroke can affect behaviour, thinking, memory, and other brain functions.

An evaluation helps determine the degree of stroke impairment. Healthcare facilities and universities are the natural habitat for neuropsychologists in the wild.

The profession is tied to academia through its strong involvement in research. And on the clinical side, neuropsychologists are sought-after staff in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics that specialized in various neurological issues.

You can also sub-specialize as a neuropsychologist, taking on treatment of pediatric or geriatric patients as your focus, or leaning in on certain kinds of neuropsychological damage or disorders, such as traumatic brain injury.

Many neuropsychologists have some involvement in both research and treatment, since much is learned from actual cases. Initially, neuropsychologists worked mostly in hospital settings, starting in VAs, where those in the military during WWII had sustained head injuries in combat.

Some hospitals employ neuropsychologists to work with inpatients. Other hospitals and clinics employ neuropsychologists to work on an outpatient basis to, for example, follow up with and monitor inpatients who have sustained concussions. With the popularity and availability of school neuropsychology certification, neuropsychologists who specialize in evaluating and treating children with learning difficulties can also increasingly be found in school settings.

Neuropsychology careers are definitely lucrative. Neuropsychologist salaries are not tracked separately by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from other psychologists. You can see how neuropsychologists might stand out from the crowd a bit if you look at the data specific to different industries of psychology practice. The American Psychological Association APA has a Neuropsychology Division that provides information regarding the field in general, as well as opportunities to network with other professionals interested in general neuropsychology or practice with special populations e.

The APA Neuropsychology Division also has several on-line list serves, specific to the areas of interest that are helpful for networking and other professionals. Other organizations include:. Getting paid well is a matter of perspective. From most perspectives, all psychologists get paid pretty well. You can expect neuropsych salaries to end up closer to that end of the spectrum than to the middle. The Board is focused on clinical applications of neuropsychology, but it offers a verification and endorsement of your knowledge and skills in the field that will be a mark of distinction regardless of your practice area.

Board certification is the ultimate stamp of approval on your qualifications as a neuropsychologist. Board certification is that last big step to tell you that you have made it as a professional neuropsychologist.