When to instruct
A history of head injury, stroke, epilepsy, dementia or other neurological illness can affect memory, impulse control, judgement and communication. These effects are often missed. A neuropsychological assessment can identify them and explain their relevance to the offence, to the defendant's participation, and to sentence.
What a neuropsychologist assesses
- Memory, attention and processing speed
- Executive function, including planning and impulse control
- Language and comprehension
- Effort and validity of test performance
- Change from estimated pre-injury functioning
Neurological conditions
Where the question is medical rather than cognitive, such as whether a seizure could explain an act or the likely course of a neurological disease, we arrange a consultant with the relevant specialist expertise.
What the report covers
- Injury and medical history
- Test results and their interpretation
- Opinion on cognitive impairment and its effects
- Recommendations, including adjustments for trial
Common questions
How long does a neuropsychological assessment take?
Testing usually takes most of a day, often split into sessions to manage fatigue.
Can brain injury support a fitness to plead argument?
It can. Neuropsychological evidence often supports the psychiatric evidence on whether the defendant can participate effectively.