Neuropsychology deals with brain disorders and how they affect a person’s thinking and behavior. Neuropsychologists evaluate behavior, emotional health, and cognitive functions (i.e., thinking abilities) to arrive at the correct diagnosis and make corresponding recommendations.
In the case of children, evaluations typically help in assessing conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities.
In the case of adults, neuropsychologists examine individuals who are experiencing problems with memory, language, and other mental abilities. For mature adults with memory loss, an evaluation is essential to differentiate conditions such as dementia, depression, and normal age-related memory changes.
Dr. Martinez evaluates patients who have suspected or known neurological problems. He particularly enjoys working with mature adults (and their families) who are suspected of having early signs of dementia. Since the most common dementias (namely Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies) present primarily with cognitive and behavioral changes, neuropsychologists are uniquely qualified to provide early diagnosis. Neuropsychological testing allows direct assessment of the person’s memory, language, and other mental skills to determine if changes are simply related to the normal aging process, or if they are abnormal and consistent with dementia.
Other patients have known neurological problems, such as head injuries, strokes, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s Disease. In these cases, the goal is to characterize the degree of cognitive impairment caused by these conditions. This may be useful in assessing the patient’s decision-making capacity, or their ability work, drive a car, or manage their own medications.
Dr. Martinez receives referrals from attorneys, insurance companies, third-party brokers, and others to examine individuals who have suffered head injuries, strokes, or other events that may lead to cognitive impairment. Some of these individuals have suffered concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (mild TBIs) and show no neurological abnormalities (e.g., brain scans are normal). Regarding medico-legal consultations, Dr. Martinez provides detailed review of medical records, depositions, court testimony, and other materials. He has experience providing expert testimony in depositions and in court.
Dr. Martinez specializes in evaluating children with possible learning disabilities (LD) including dyslexia and ADHD. His philosophy is that the first step in helping a struggling child is to provide an accurate assessment of the problem. There are many reasons why children struggle in school, and not all of them lead to a diagnosis of LD. However, for those children who have an LD, early diagnosis is vitally important so that they may receive the specialized educational services, accommodations, therapies, and other supports that will lead to academic success.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to learn more about our services, please feel free to reach out to us.
