The experiences that people encounter often play a critical role in shaping who they are from an individual perspective. Some of the experience may be personal or may reflect on what people experience based on their view of others within their social environment. As a psychologist, one is expected to adopt a structured approach through which to help in understanding some of the experiences that people encounter while trying to understand how these experiences shape one's mental wellbeing. From that perspective, it would be essential to undertake a career in the area of being a neuropsychologist, which focuses more on trying to determine some of the critical factors that define overall functionality of the brain. In this report, the three tests selected are the Brief Neuropsychological Cognitive Examination (BNCE), Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRNB), and Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB), which are part of the neuropsychological category.
Element 1
The Brief Neuropsychological Cognitive Examination (BNCE) is described as a standardized test that allows for the assessment of primary cognitive functions in both adults and adolescents promptly (Tonkonogy, 1997). The test plays a critical role in the assessment of psychiatric disorders of neurological diseases, which allows for easy diagnosis of mental disorders. The test is highly recommended when assessing disorders that include mood disorders and substance use disorders and takes a maximum period of 30 minutes for each of the assessments (Roebuck-Spencer et al., ). The main advantage associated with this standardized test is that the reading level required is somewhat minimal.
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The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRNB) is considered as a comprehensive suite, as it incorporates as a wide array of neuropsychological tests, which help in the assessment of the condition, as well as, the functionality of the brain (Grant & Heaton, 2015). Some of the critical evaluation that can be undertaken using this test include etiology, and localization and lateralization when dealing with brain injury. The main difficulty associated with this test is that it has an administration time of up to 3 hours, which occurs when dealing with patients, who are considered as being brain-injured (Kimura et al., 2018). The lengthy nature of the test affects construct reliability and valid short-forms.
The Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) refers to a combination of 33 neuropsychological tests, which play a critical role in the assessment of a notable number of neuropsychological skills and functions when dealing with patients that are suffering from neurocognitive dysfunction (Bornschlegl, Speer, Danneil, Vogt, & Petermann, 2016). The main advantage of this test is that it has the capability of assessing multiple cognitive skills and functions. The primary purpose of this test is to help in determining the neuropsychological functioning of a patient suffering from neurocognitive dysfunction. The time is taken to apply this test may vary depending on the module but can take up to a maximum period of 4 hours (Hacker et al., 2017).
Element 2
When dealing with BNCE, the appropriateness can be seen from the fact that the test incorporates ten subtests, which are easy to administer regardless of the reading levels. That means that the test is appropriate for persons that may intend to assess their cognitive function in one short session. On the other hand, the appropriateness of this test arises from the fact that it helps in creating a cognitive profile, which allows for essential development of what would be considered as an appropriate approach to deal with any inefficiencies noted.
The appropriateness of the HRNB test reflects on the fact that it has the capability of projecting results from multiple sides of the cerebral hemisphere after which one can compare the functionality of each side of the hemisphere (Zimmerman, 2017). Ultimately, this means that it allows for easy identification of the part of the brain that is affecting a patient’s condition or functionality from the perspective of the brain. Consequently, this means that the HRNB is a test that a majority of patients may find as being viable in their abilities to engage in neurological tests as part of establishing their conditions or functionality.
The appropriateness of the NAB test can be seen from its ability to focus the test on a specific area of concern concerning cognitive skills and functions. As opposed to some of the other neuropsychological tests, the NAB has the capability of establishing an essential framework through which to assess specific areas of the brain individually. Additionally, the test has the capacity of actualizing the standard results for individual patients, which allows for more natural utilization of the findings for better neurological functionality (Durant, Berg, Banks, & Miller, 2018). The test creates an advanced framework through which to establish a clear front through which to improve on the testing process.
Element 3
Regarding the materials provided by test developers, one of the key aspects to note is each of the three tests, selected for this report, have an adequate number of materials to allow for easier achievement of the intended purpose of the tests. When dealing with the BNCE test, test developers provide patients with stimulus booklet, 20 response booklets, 20 administration and scoring forms, and manual (Mazerolle et al., 2016). These materials help towards ensuring that the patient can conduct the tests multiple times with the aim being towards building on the reliability of the results gathered. The information given by the developers is complete for the patients to aid in their assessments. On the other hand, developers of the HRNB test tend to ensure that patients are given a manual, ten recording booklets, and an unlimited-use HRNB CD, which contains all relevant information on how the test ought to be conducted, as well as, information on what to consider as part of the results.
When compared to the other tests, it must be noted that the HRNB tends to reflect on a slightly digitalized approach, which allows for efficiency in achieving expected results. Patients can make use of the specific material that is given to them to help build on their capacities to meet general outcomes. The NAB test includes 33 tests, NAB Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation Manual, NAB Psychometric and Technical Manual, NAB Demographically Corrected Norms Manual, NAB U.S. Census-Matched Norms Manual, 50 Score Summary/Profile Forms, two sets of manipulatives, NAB-SP–CD-ROM, and video training program–DVD. Each of these materials is important for the patients in ensuring that he or she can conduct the tests effectively to achieve positive results.
Element 4
Regarding the appropriate knowledge, skills, and training, the main aspect to note when dealing with the three tests selected for this report is that they are easy for patients to comprehend, which means that it would be much easier for them to make use of the tests appropriately. Regarding information on the test-user qualifications, each of the tests requires a qualification of Level C, which means that an individual with a Master’s Degree in Psychology or any other related field of study would be able to undertake these tests effectively. The tests do not require the test-user to have additional training, which would serve as a key advantage in ensuring that the tests build on efficiency.
On the area of training, the test developers have provided the test-users with manuals that they would use as part of the assessment processes, which means that it becomes much easier for the users to achieve what would be considered as an appropriate outcome. The provision of the manuals in each of these tests serves as a guarantee for positive outcomes while recognizing that it becomes much easier to build on overall capacities to deliver positive results while limiting generalized consequences. Regarding the skills required, it must be noted that the three tests do not present any technical challenges that may serve as a critical challenge in maximizing on expected outcomes. Thus, this means that test-users do not require to have any technical skills for them to conduct the assessments.
Conclusion
Based on the evaluation of the three tests, as has been presented, the test that would be most appropriate for my course project is the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) test. I have selected this test because the developers have provided a wide array of materials that are important towards determining the efficiency of the test. Additionally, the developers of this test have also established the scores are being standardized meaning that any individual would be able to administer the test effectively. I have also considered the skill level and qualifications expected for test-users focusing on this test, which serves as a critical determinant of its efficiency as a neuropsychological test.
References
Bornschlegl, M., Speer, P., Danneil, W., Vogt, T., & Petermann, F. (2016). Internal validity of Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB): Agreement of classification between screening domains and their respective main modules by patients after stroke and healthy individuals. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NEUROPSYCHOLOG Y, 27 (3), 133-146.
Durant, J., Berg, J. L., Banks, S. J., & Miller, J. B. (2018). Comparing the test of practical judgment with the neuropsychological assessment battery judgment subtest in a neurodegenerative disease clinic population. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult , 25 (6), 489-496.
Grant, I., & Heaton, R. K. (2015). Ralph M. Reitan: A founding father of neuropsychology. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology , 30 (8), 760-761.
Hacker, D., Jones, C. A., Clowes, Z., Belli, A., Su, Z., Sitaraman, M., ... & O'neil, N. (2017). The development and psychometric evaluation of a supplementary index score of the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery screening module that is sensitive to traumatic brain injury. Archives of clinical neuropsychology , 32 (2), 215-227.
Kimura, D., Ohtoshi, T., Bizen, H., Imai, A., Notoya, M., & Yamada, K. (2018). A Study on Visual Search during the Trail Making Test: Analysis Using an Eye Tracker. Neuroscience and Medicine , 9 (03), 116.
Mazerolle, M., Régner, I., Barber, S. J., Paccalin, M., Miazola, A. C., Huguet, P., & Rigalleau, F. (2016). Negative aging stereotypes impair performance on brief cognitive tests used to screen for predementia. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences , 72 (6), 932-936.
Roebuck-Spencer, T. M., Glen, T., Puente, A. E., Denney, R. L., Ruff, R. M., Hostetter, G., & Bianchini, K. J. (2017). Cognitive screening tests versus comprehensive neuropsychological test batteries: A national academy of Neuropsychology education paper. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology , 32 (4), 491-498.
Tonkonogy, J. (1997). Brief neuropsychological, cognitive examination:(BNCE) . WPS.
Zimmerman, M. E. (2017). Neuropsychological Deficit Scale. Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology , 1-1.
