Neuropsychology Service

Location: Clinical Psychology Department, Level 5, Allied Health Building.

The Neuropsychology Service provides in-patient and out-patient psychometric assessment of brain injury and brain impairment. The test laboratory contains a range of standardised psychometric tests of higher cognitive functioning, administered by the clinical neuropsychologist.

Referrals are accepted from wards and from out-patient clinics, and also from general practitioners, private specialists and other health professionals. Consultation is provided to professionals throughout metropolitan and rural South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western NSW.

The in-patient and out-patient waiting-lists are both prioritised on the basis of clinical urgency, so referring professionals are encouraged to ring the clinical neuropsychologist to discuss referrals.

Common reasons for assessment include:

• Closed head injury
• Dementia and other degenerative neurological disorders.
• Hypoxia including cardiac arrest and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Diabetes, renal failure, liver failure.
• Alcohol-related brain damage.
• HIV infection.
• Stroke.

Assessment results are used in rehabilitation planning, for guardianship applications, to assist in patient care, and to help patients and their families and friends gain an understanding of patients' strengths and weaknesses.

Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre

Location: Medical Rehabilitation, Ward 1B, Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre

The Neuropsychology service is similar to the Neuropsychology service based at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in the work undertaken and common reasons for referral. However, it differs in that it provides neuropsychology assessment and intervention to in-patients only. Referrals are therefore accepted from participating rehabilitation ward staff only.

The service is available to inpatients on the following wards: Medical Rehabilitation Unit, Short-term Rehabilitation Unit, Crisis Care Unit, Spinal Injuries Unit and the Orthopaedic, Amputee and Burns Rehabilitation Unit.