PSYC6507

Cognitive and Neuropsychological Assessment

Faculty of Science and Information Technology School of Psychology

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2013

Callaghan Campus	Semester 2

Previously offered in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

Introduces students to important aspects of clinical neuropsychology including the assessment of neuropsychological disorders in child, adult and geriatric populations. Neuropsychological assessment covers many areas of expertise and skill including understanding referral questions and neuropsychological disorders, acquiring relevant information about the client's history, choosing appropriate psychological tests, administering tests in the clinical setting, interpreting test results and writing a report summarizing assessment results with conclusions and recommendations. As part of this course students will be required to demonstrate competent administration and scoring of a cognitive test such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults.

Objectives

On successful completion of the course students will:
1. be able to competently administer a cognitive test such as the Wechlser Intelligence Scale for Adults.
2. have gained elementary experience in designing, conducting and reporting assessments of some typical neuropsychological disorders encountered in childhood such as Specific Learning Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
3. have gained elementary experience in designing, conducting and reporting assessments of some typical neuropsychological disorders encountered in adulthood such as Traumatic Brain Injury and cerebrovascular accident, and late adulthood such as progressive dementia
4. be able to recognize cases which require referral for specialist assessment

Content

Topics to be covered include:
1. Overview of functional neuroanatomy and cognitive models of sensory processes, perception, attention, executive function, verbal/language functions, memory and learning, motor function (praxis/construction) in the child and adult
2. Psychological assessment instruments appropriate for various functional systems; intelligence and attainment assessment instruments
3. Different approaches to neuropsychological assessment in child, adult and geriatric populations (clinical and psychometric approaches)
4. Referral questions (reasons for assessment) and acquisition of relevant history
5. Neuropsychological disorders including:
a) childhood developmental disorders such as Specific Learning Disability, Language disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder;
b) acquired disorders in childhood and adulthood such as Traumatic Brain Injury, cerebrovascular accident, tumours and degenerative disorders.
6. Selection and administration of cognitive and achievement tests to answer the referral question; issues for assessment in clinical settings such distractibility, fatigue, physical disabilities
7. Interpretation of assessment results and report writing
8. Remediation, rehabilitation and management in child, adult and geriatric populations

Replacing Course(s)

None

Transition

Not applicable

Industrial Experience

Assumed Knowledge

Knowledge acquired in a course accredited by the Australian Psychological Society as an appropriate 4 year undergraduate sequence of psychology.

Modes of Delivery

Internal Mode

Teaching Methods

Case Study
Lecture
Practical
Workshop

Assessment Items

Essays / Written Assignments	Written assignments.
Other: (please specify)	Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in administering and scoring a cognitive test such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

Contact Hours

Seminar: for 3 hour(s) per Week for Full Term

Compulsory Components

Requisite by Enrolment	This course is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Clinical Psychology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology, and or PhD in Clinical Psychology programs.

Timetables