Dementia & memory assessment · Gold Coast
Is this normal ageing, or something that needs attention?
A careful neuropsychological assessment of memory and thinking for adults in Southport and across the Gold Coast, and by telehealth where that is suitable.
If you or someone you care for has noticed changes in memory or thinking, an assessment can help make sense of them.
A neuropsychological assessment measures thinking skills carefully and in detail, and sets the results against what is expected for a person's age and background. That picture helps answer a practical question: are these changes within the normal range, or do they point to a condition that needs attention? We provide dementia and memory assessment for adults in Southport and across the Gold Coast, and by telehealth where that is suitable.
What it clarifies
What an assessment can clarify
A careful look at memory, attention, language and reasoning, to answer a clear question and guide what comes next.
- Whether memory or thinking changes are within normal limits for age, or beyond them
- Whether a pattern fits mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or a dementia, and which thinking skills are affected
- The cognitive profile across memory, attention, language, visuospatial skills and executive function (the brain's planning and self-management system), which helps the treating doctor consider the cause
- Reversible or treatable contributors that can look like dementia, such as depression, sleep, medication effects or physical illness, so these are not missed
- Practical implications for everyday function, decision-making and driving
- A baseline to compare against in future, which is often the most useful result of all
A neuropsychological assessment is one important part of the diagnostic picture. A diagnosis is made by your doctor, drawing together the assessment, medical history, examination and investigations.
For GPs & families
When to consider an assessment
Current Australian guidance recommends that a diagnosis of dementia is not settled until depression, physical illness and medication effects have been considered. Detailed cognitive assessment is well suited to that careful, stepwise approach.
- Memory or thinking changes are affecting daily life, work or relationships
- It is unclear whether changes reflect ageing, mood, or a neurological condition
- A person with a known condition (for example Parkinson's disease, stroke or multiple sclerosis) needs their thinking profiled
- There are questions about capacity, driving, or the supports a person needs
- A clear baseline would help, including before changes become marked
What is involved
A calm, unhurried process
A typical assessment includes a clinical interview, a testing session, and time for scoring, interpretation and a written report. Plan for a morning or an afternoon for the testing, sometimes split across two visits. Where possible we like to speak with a family member or someone who knows the person well, with consent, because they often notice changes that are hard to describe yourself.
Being rested helps. Bring glasses and hearing aids if used, a list of medications, and any previous reports or scans.
Request an appointment“A clear baseline today is often the most useful result of all.”
What you receive
A report you can act on
A written report in plain language that answers the referral question, describes the cognitive profile, and sets out practical recommendations. With consent, we share it with the referring doctor. Where findings are urgent, we phone them through.
Cost & funding
Clear on cost before we begin
Fees for this assessment are quoted at intake, and we confirm the fee with you before we begin. Neuropsychological assessment is not rebated under Medicare's Better Access program. Assessments are commonly funded privately, or through the NDIS, DVA, WorkCover Queensland or insurers. We confirm the funding pathway before booking. See our Fees and Policies page.
Take the next step
If you have a referral or a question, request an appointment or call 0452 452 262. GPs and specialists can refer through our referrer page. You do not need a referral for a private appointment.
Request an appointmentSources: Dementia Australia, Assessment and diagnosis of dementia (information for health professionals). Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Aged care clinical guide (Silver Book), Part A – Dementia. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Dementia: assessment, management and support (NICE guideline NG97), 2018. Sachdev PS, et al., diagnostic criteria for neurocognitive disorders (DSM-5) and the NIA-AA framework.