Lincolnshire Neuropsychology Service
We provide neuropsychological assessment, support, and advice to people with acquired brain injury and other neurological problems. We work collaboratively with patients, families, carers and other professionals.
We work across Lincolnshire and also provide input to inpatients on the Ashby Rehabilitation Ward at Lincoln County Hospital and to the Lincolnshire Community Stroke Service.
What is Neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is about how our brains impact on thinking skills, abilities, and behaviour. Changes in how we think, feel, and function, are common following brain injury and illness, and can affect all parts of life including relationships, work and education.
Neuropsychological assessments focus on people’s experiences and functioning. The aim is to understand thinking skills (sometimes called cognition), emotions and behaviours associated with neurological changes, illness, or brain injury. Outcomes can include a shared understanding of any difficulties, contribution to diagnosis, and information to guide any treatment, rehabilitation, and support.
What do we do?
We will work with you to help understand and manage the difficulties caused by neurological illness or brain injury.
When we first meet, we will talk to you about what has happened and any difficulties you are having. Together, we will then decide what might be most helpful to you. This might include:
- Further appointments to make sense of the difficulties you are having
- Completing tasks, puzzles and questionnaires to better understand thinking skills. These are known as neuropsychological assessment measures.
- Brief interventions to help you adapt, find new ways of coping, and improve the impact of problems
- Recommendations or referrals to other services to help you further
- Talking to other professionals involved in your care
Frequently asked questions
Who do the Neuropsychology Service work with?
We work with people who are over 16 years old who have experienced a brain injury and/ or neurological condition. These conditions might include:
- Acquired brain injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Brain infections including encephalitis or other brain infections
- Brain tumours
- Epilepsy
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke or vascular disease
The service does not provide assessment or treatment for people whose main difficulties are related to functional neurological disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders, and/ or mental health conditions.
What might I expect after referral to the Neuropsychology Service?
Referral - referrals are received from health professionals or other organisations involved in your care.
Triage - referrals are discussed at a fortnightly triage meeting and placed on a waiting list. We will contact you when an appointment becomes available.
Initial appointment - a clinician will arrange to see you to discuss your referral information, concerns and make a plan of how best to support you. This may include a combination of:
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Neuropsychological assessment - we may ask you to complete a range of tasks and questionnaires to assess your thinking skills, emotions and behaviours. This will help us better understand your symptoms and how your brain is functioning.
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Feedback and further input - we will discuss the results of your assessment with you and write a report. Further support may include strategies, repeated assessments, discussions with those important to you (e.g., family or employers), and onward referrals.
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Rehabilitation and management strategies - we may recommend ways of adapting to, or coping with difficulties, with the aim of reducing the impact on your daily life.
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Referrals and/or signposting to other services - we may discuss other services that can help support you, for example, mental health teams, medical and therapy services, and third-sector organisations such as Headway.
Discharge - we will discuss the end of our input with you. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide routine reviews but we welcome new referrals if you need further assessment or input in the future.
Who will I see?
Our team is made up of:
- Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Assistant Psychologists
- A Rehabilitation Assistant
- Administrative staff
Clinical Psychologists have completed doctoral training in psychology to help people with physical and mental health problems. Clinical Neuropsychologists are clinical psychologist who have completed further training and qualifications in neuropsychology. We have regular clinical supervision and are committed to continued professional development. We are research active and maintain close links with various universities and clinical psychology training programmes. We provide placements for Trainee Clinical Psychologists.
What are neuropsychological assessment measures?
You may be asked to complete a range of tasks, puzzles and questionnaires in a further appointment/s. This type of assessment aims to identify specific challenges you are experiencing and personal strengths to help you overcome and manage difficulties.
Assessments can cover:
- Attention and concentration
- Memory
- Visuospatial skills
- Language
- Processing information and other abilities needed to solve problems, and complete tasks.
- Mood and emotions
- Behaviour changes
What do I need to bring to my first appointment?
A list of your medications, reading glasses and/or hearing aids (if you need them).
It may be helpful to attend with someone who knows you well for support and to provide any additional background information that will help us to understand your experiences.
How long are appointments?
Initial appointments usually last one to two hours but these can vary. If further longer appointments are agreed with you, these might last longer to allow time to complete a neuropsychological assessment.
Where and how will I be seen?
We can offer appointments in various formats (depending on clinical judgement) such as by video call, telephone, face-to-face or a combination of these options.
Appointments can take place in various locations, such as your home, NHS centres and GP surgeries. We will involve you in the decision about where appointments will take place.
If you prefer to attend by video appointment, you will need a:
- stable internet connection
- quiet area free from distractions
- suitable digital device
When we arrange your video appointment, we will ask you for an email address.
You will receive an email with a link for the appointment. A reminder email containing the link to join the appointment will also be sent shortly before your appointment time. At the time of your appointment, you will need to click on the link in the email to join the appointment. The platform we use is called Microsoft Teams.
If you have any technical problems or difficulties accessing your appointment, please contact us by telephone or email.
