Defining a Neuro/psych & a Neurologist

Parents on this board are often advised to seek a neuropsycholigist for their child. Below is a good deniftion of a neurologist and a neuropsychologist and the distinction made between the two.

Neuropsychology . . .

What is Neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a highly specialized discipline within the field of psychology. The science of neuropsychology focuses on cognition, i.e., the ability of the mind and brain to think, reason, remember, learn, comprehend, etc. Clinical neuropsychology is practiced by a licensed psychologist specializing in neuropsychology. This specialty field has developed a variety of clinically standardized tests and procedures to evaluate the cognitive and functional effects of brain injury, brain damage, and organic brain disease. A clinical neuropsychologist:

• may enter private practice and offer various forms of psychotherapy and cognitive rehabilitation to individuals, families, or groups.
  
• can administer standardized psychological and neuropsychological tests to patients in office and hospital settings, and interpret and report on their results. 
• may furnish legally-recognized clinical and diagnostic opinions and conduct diagnostic interviews regarding the presence, scope, and treatment of cognitive/neuropsychological disorders, behavioral disorders, and mental illness.
  

What's the difference between Neuropsychology and Neurology?
Neurology is a field encompassing the science and study of the human brain and nervous system and its diseases. Clinical neurology is a specialty field of medicine; a clinical neurologist is an M.D. who is board certified in neurology. The function and practice of a clinical neurologist differs substantially from that of a neuropsychologist. Since there is great confusion between the two, it is important to carefully note the differences:

The neurologist M.D. deals with the structural and physiological consequences of brain injury and organic brain disease, while the neuropsychologist Ph.D. investigates the cognitive and behavioral impact of such conditions. For example, an individual suffers serious brain damage in a car accident. The neurologist will run tests and make determinations as to the physical impact of injuries: Can the patient ambulate, move limbs and muscles, and maintain hand/eye coordination?; Is an EEG needed? How severe is soft tissue damage?; Is surgery in order?; etc. The neuropsychologist, on the other hand, will examine and test the patient's powers of cognition: Can the patient think and reason clearly?; Is long and short-term memory impaired?; Have reading, learning, and comprehension been compromised?; etc.

It should further be noted that in disability determinations and related procedures, the neurologist is not "more important or qualified" in medical or legal terms than the neuropsychologist. The neurologist M.D. is qualified and licensed to make a clinical assessment regarding a patient's physical disability status as a result of brain damage; the neuropsychologist Ph.D. is qualified and licensed to make a clinical assessment of the patient's cognitive disability status. Both have important, but different, functions in examining and treating individuals suffering from head injuries and brain damage.

What cognitive areas are assessed in a neuropsychological evaluation?
Standardized neuropsychological tests used to assess cognitive functioning can detect and quantify impairments in:

• short and long-term memory functioning in all sensory modalities
• verbal and non-verbal problem-solving and reasoning abilities
  
• attention span and orientation to time, place, and space
  
• language recognition and speech competence
  
• visual-motor coordination and sensory abilities
  
• the ability to plan, abstract, and synthesize information