Neuropsychological testing of adults: further considerations for neurologists

The recent report on neuropsychological testing of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has implications for neuropsychologists as well as neurologists. The subcommittee's report omits mention of standardized neuropsychological test batteries used by a majority of practicing neuropsychologists, and of the demonstrated validity of such measures for localization and lateralization of brain impairments, in apparent ignorance of the empirical research literature on which such neuropsychological examination is based. This paper elaborates the research-based context of neuropsychological assessment in an attempt to clarify possible false conclusions concerning neuropsychological assessment that could result from noncritical reading of the subcommittee report.