The neuropsychology services available at the University of Miami Health System include a comprehensive assessment of cognitive and emotional functioning using standardized tests. 

Your evaluation includes an assessment of intellectual abilities, language, attention, memory, judgment and reasoning, visuospatial/constructive skills, executive functions, and motor abilities, as well as mood and personality. Inpatient evaluations can also be arranged. Screening, intermediate, and extensive testing is available, depending on your needs.

Our evaluations can be useful in diagnosis, establishing a baseline level of cognitive functioning, patient care management, and treatment planning. The results provide objective information relating to an individual’s potential for rehabilitation, return to work or ability to function independently.

Referrals for clinical neuropsychological evaluation may be arranged by physicians, other health care professionals, the prospective patient or family members. Our network of services includes neurology, psychiatry, social work services, cognitive rehabilitation, and occupational therapy.

Common reasons that patients see us:

• Memory and attention problems
• Dementia
• Depression
• Challenges with basic intellectual functioning (IQ)
• Pre and post-surgical evaluations for epilepsy surgical intervention
• Surgical evaluations for deep brain stimulation
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Cognitive effects of toxic exposure, substance abuse or medications
• Effects on the brain from neuromuscular and demyelinating disease
• Recovery of cognitive function after head injury or stroke
• Seizure disorders evaluations
• Unexplained cognitive change
• Disability & competency evaluations

Tests

Evaluation
During an exam, your neurologist will ask you many questions about your headaches, including when they occur, where they cause pain in your head, and what makes them feel better.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Your doctor may order an MRI to rule out some causes of headache, such as issues with the central nervous system.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
Computed tomography is a type of X-ray that takes many images of your brain and helps your doctor look for any problems.

Treatments

Headache Education
Your neurologist may ask you to keep a headache journal, including foods you have eaten, caffeine level, hours of sleep, or other information that may reveal what triggers your headaches.

Lifestyle Changes
You may need to drink more water, get at least eight hours of sleep, avoid caffeine, or avoid other ingredients in food such as nitrates or MSG.

Stress Management
If your headaches are the result of stress, you may benefit from counseling and the use of techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises.

Over-The-Counter Medicines
Many prescription headache medicines are not approved for children. Ibuprofen and other over-the-counter medicines may help relieve headaches.

Prescription Medicines
Different medicines can help prevent headaches or relieve headaches when they occur. Your headache treatment plan may include both types of medicine.

Why Choose UHealth?

Specialized services. Our team has more than 70 renowned research and clinical faculty in most of the neurological sub-specialties. Together with UHealth’s expert neurosurgeons, U.S. News and World Report ranked us in the top 50 among teams in the country, and our department ranked in the top 16 in NIH funding.

Top-rated neurology team. Did you know that 30 percent of people who are sent to specialized centers for difficult seizures find out they were misdiagnosed?  An inaccurate epilepsy diagnosis could mean years of costly and unnecessary medications. The expert physicians at our state-of-the-art International Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (ICEC) provide you with a comprehensive medical evaluation, so you get the right diagnosis and the right treatment the first time you are evaluated.

High case volume. Our neurologists are experienced and knowledgeable. The number of patients our department has cared for is impressive; as an example, there are about 2,500 patients with movement disorders, 2000 patients with multiple sclerosis, 1000 patients with cognitive impairment, 1500 with stroke and about 300 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Experts in pediatric neurology. The pediatric neurology specialists at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in affiliation with Holtz Children's Hospital and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, are committed to the diagnosis and treatment of childhood-onset neurologic disorders, including chronic headaches.