What is it about ?
A brain injury or a decrease in certain brain activities leads to so-called “neuropsychological” disorders. The difficulties are practical, emotional and psychological.
The most common causes of neuropsychological disorders are:
- a cerebral hemorrhage or one cerebral infarction (cerebrovascular accident or stroke) ;
- a head trauma, for example after a traffic accident;
- a degenerative condition of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease Where Parkinson’s disease ;
- a tumor in the brain ;
- a alcohol-related condition ;
- a psychiatric condition.
How to recognize them?
There are general symptoms and specific symptoms.
General symptoms are, for example, fatigue, decreased attention and concentration. They can occur regardless of the cause of the neuropsychological disorder.
The specific symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected and the cause of the neuropsychological disorder.
- Speech disorders (aphasia): difficulties in processing, formulating and understanding spoken and written language.
- Reading, Numeracy and Writing Disorders: Often difficult to assess, as impairments in eyesight, motor skills and education level may also play a role.
- Difficulty recognizing and interpreting sensory perceptions (agnosia), even if these organs are functioning normally. For example, the recognition of images and sounds or the perception of emotions are more difficult.
- Difficulties in spatial perception, such as judging direction and distance.
- Difficulty performing conscious and voluntary movements. Using objects can thus be difficult, for example eating with a knife and fork. The execution of certain movements can also be disrupted, such as opening a door or grabbing an object.
- Memory problems: These can vary from partial to complete memory loss. They can occur suddenly or gradually get worse.
- Attention Disorders: It can be difficult to focus your attention and focus on several things at the same time.
- Difficulties in noticing a specific stimulus: sight, hearing or the perception of sensations is disturbed in a well-defined part of the field of perception. For example, a person may not see an object in a certain part of the field of vision, may no longer hear certain sounds on one side, or no longer feel certain sensations, such as heat or cold, on a specific area of the skin.
- Disorders of executive functions: these are disorders in the conversion of sensory perceptions (sight, hearing, touch, smell, balance) into activities. Some examples: difficulties in reading, writing, speak, to recognize objects, to fix his attention on something, to perform movements (especially with the hands), etc. The problems encountered depend on the location of the problem in the brain. Thus, loss of behavioral control and changes in emotions or personality mainly occur in conditions affecting the front part of the brain. As to difficulty speaking or understanding language, they are mainly associated with damage in the right half of the brain.
How is the diagnosis made?
A neuropsychological examination is performed: the person must perform a number of tests or exercises. Additional technical examinations are possibly scheduled, such as a brain scan.
The objective of these examinations is to make a correct diagnosis and to establish a rehabilitation program. On the other hand, it is also often necessary to assess the possibilities: can the person have a job, study, drive a car, is he legally able to manage money and / or property, can he live alone, can she take responsibility for the education of children, …?