About 10 percent of people in the United States more than 65 years old suffer from a form of dementia. This debilitating disease drastically affects its victims, disconnecting them from reality and interfering with their ability to lead a daily life. For many families this can be a heartbreaking time as they see a loved one enter a decline in their mental capacity. As with all health challenges, it is important to understand symptoms, warning signs and markers to help those in need. A neuropsychologist can help.
THE EARLY SIGNS OF DEMENTIA
Dementia can take many forms, but it usually first appears as simple memory loss. It can begin with forgetting words or simple facts but can escalate to include problem-solving and other mental abilities. Over time these memory lapses can become significant enough to interfere with everyday life. Resiberg’s System classifies dementia into seven different stages from no impairment to a very severe decline. Symptoms may also include irritability, personality changes, restlessness, a lack of restraint and depression or paranoia.
WHEN IT IS TIME TO SEEK HELP
If you or someone you love feels they may have early signs of dementia then you will want to meet with a neuropsychologist. There is no bad time to get tested for potential dementia, as this disease can become dangerous quickly. A person suffering could become lost or disoriented while performing an everyday activity. They could accidentally put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation, not only risking their own life but bringing concern and worry to family members.
HOW A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST CAN HELP
A neuropsychologist can evaluate people with dementia and other nervous system disorders. Our service is covered under Medicare and can help determine the severity of dementia while also exploring potential therapies and treatment that can reduce systems. In some cases, some symptoms can be reversed. A neuropsychologist will evaluate physical symptoms like movement, senses, balance and reflexes, as well as mental symptoms like memory, ability to speak and understand language, attention span and problem-solving abilities. These tests are non-invasive and intended to properly diagnose which mental abilities someone has lost the skills that they still have.
ASSESS POSSIBLE DEMENTIA WITH REFLECT NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
(Medicare Accepted)
Reflect Neuropsychology is a leading neuropsychology firm in Southern California. We specialize in counseling, therapy and neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents and adults. As a highly specialized practice, we can focus on evidence-based, personally-tailored treatment and evaluation. To learn more about our services and schedule an appointment, visit us online or call us at (818) 324-3800.
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