Neurology

Specialty Programs in the Neuropsychology Division

The Division of Neuropsychology is directed by Sara J. Swanson and consists of four adult and four child neuropsychologists, and a research neuropsychologist.  The Division also includes clinical and research psychometrists, practicum students, and other dedicated support staff.

On the adult side we offer nine specialty clinics:

1. The Memory Disorders Clinic: This clinic focuses on the common neurological and psychiatric disorders affecting memory function.
2. Comprehensive Epilepsy Service: This clinic focuses on common seizure disorders and how neuropsychological assessment can be used to assist in selection of patients for surgical treatment of their epilepsy.
3. General Clinical Service: This clinic focuses on common developmental, neurological and psychiatric disorders that are associated with impairments in cognitive and emotional capacities.
4. Medicolegal Evaluation Service: The Neuropsychology Division also supplies neuropsychological evaluation in medicolegal cases involving civil, criminal, and disability issues for individuals claiming impairments in cognitive and emotional functions.
5. Neuro-Oncology Cognitive (NOC) Clinic: This clinic provides evaluation of brain tumor patients at the time of diagnosis but prior to treatment in order to establish a neurocognitive baseline. These patients are then followed throughout their treatments and for sometime afterwards to monitor for potential tumor and/or treatment related effects on cognition and emotional functioning and to assist in treatment planning. In addition to brain tumor patients, patients with other forms of cancer are seen in the clinic for evaluation and treatment planning. The clinic is staffed by a neuropsychologist who works closely with a group of neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and neurosurgeons. More information on this clinic can be found here.
6. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Clinic: This clinic provides evaluation, triage and treatment to adult patients during the first few weeks and months following injury. The aim is to assist patients with returning to work and school, and their pre-injury lifestyle. The Clinic is staffed by a physiatrist and a neuropsychologist.
7. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) Clinic: This clinic provides testing to aid in differential diagnosis of a subcortical process such as hydrocephalus versus a cortical dementia and to assess for cognitive change prior to and following spinal taps and lumbar drain procedures. This information is used to aid in determining which patients will benefit from shunting. For patients who proceed to shunting, testing is repeated prior to and following the neurosurgical intervention. This clinic employs a collaborative team including a neurologist, neuropsychologist, physical therapist for gait assessments, and neurosurgeon.
8. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Clinic: This clinic involves evaluation of patients who are considered candidates for DBS treatment for movement disorders. The aim of these evaluations is to identify any cognitive or psychiatric issues that may increase risk for poor outcome with DBS. The clinic also performs post-operative testing to establish neuropsychological outcome and assist with continued treatment planning as needed. Our neuropsychologists work as part of a multi-disciplinary team that consists of neurology, neurosurgery, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, and rehabilitation.
9. The Genetics Clinic within the division of neuropsychology, in collaboration with the Department of Genetics at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, takes a lifespan approach to the evaluation of cognitive functioning in children and adults with a wide variety of genetic conditions including but not limited to neurofibromatosis, velocardiofacial syndrome, and metabolic disorders.

On the pediatric side, we offer six specialty clinics:

1. The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program: This clinic provides an emphasis on epilepsy and children who may be candidates for resective surgery to treat intractable epilepsy.
2. The Preschool and Infant Neuropsychological Testing (P.I.N.T.) Clinic: This clinic provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for children under 6 years old
3. The Developmental Disorders Service: This clinic assesses children with general developmental disorders and other disabilities.
4. The General Neurological Assessment Clinic: This clinic's emphasis is on evaluating children referred by medical professionals due neurological disorders or other medical illness.
5. The Genetics Clinic within the division of neuropsychology, in collaboration with the Department of Genetics at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, takes a lifespan approach to the evaluation of cognitive functioning in children and adults with a wide variety of genetic conditions including but not limited to neurofibromatosis, velocardiofacial syndrome, and metabolic disorders.
6. The Autism Clinic provides evaluations for children under the age of 6 for whom the primary question is whether or not the child has an autism spectrum disorder. The assessment includes clinical interview, brief cognitive evaluation, and observation of the child in play with parents and peers. All participating providers and psychometrists participate in the observations and discussion of each patient for diagnostic clarity. The evaluation also provides detailed recommendations to help families navigate the autism treatment options.