What does the clinic say neuropsychology is?
The clinic describes neuropsychology as a branch of psychology. Its neuropsychology page defines it as the study of how brain structures and functions relate to human behaviours, emotions and cognition.
The page calls the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of certain disorders one of the most prominent applications. It names ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dementias such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, strokes, and trauma and stress-related disorders.
For example, when someone has attentional difficulties, memory impairment or trouble with decisions, a neuropsychological assessment can help determine the origin and extent of cognitive difficulties. It can also establish the impaired functions and guide the development of brain training programmes to aid rehabilitation and improvement.
How does the clinic tell a psychologist from a neuropsychologist?
The neuropsychology page’s FAQ compares the two roles. A neuropsychologist evaluates links between brain function and behaviour. The neuropsychologist frequently uses detailed cognitive testing to investigate memory, attention or thinking difficulties. A psychologist more broadly addresses emotional and mental health concerns through therapy.
The clinic’s psychologist page describes psychologists as mental health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat mental health disorders. Its services include assessment through psychological tests, interviews and observation, and psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioural, interpersonal and psychodynamic therapy.
The child psychology page defines a child and adolescent psychologist as a trained clinical psychologist who works with young people from birth to 18.
The two descriptions include assessment. Ask the clinic at booking which professional suits your question, and whether a referral between the two roles is possible.
When does the clinic suggest a neuropsychologist?
The FAQ says seeing a neuropsychologist makes sense when memory, attention, concentration or decision-making problems appear without an obvious cause, or follow a head injury, illness or ageing-related change. It adds a neuropsychologist can help clarify conditions like ADHD by testing cognitive function directly.
What does cognitive profiling measure?
The clinic’s cognitive profiling page describes a comprehensive assessment of cognitive functioning. It covers memory, problem-solving, attention, visual processing, linguistic skills, creativity and emotional intelligence.
The process has three steps. You complete cognitive tasks with a neuropsychologist. The clinic analyses the data into a detailed report on strengths and areas to improve. You then discuss the results with the neuropsychologist to develop a personalised action plan.
The page’s FAQ says cognitive profiling is not the same as an IQ test. It maps strengths and weaknesses across memory, attention, language and emotional intelligence rather than producing one overall number.
Why do language and culture matter in cognitive testing?
A 2024 post on the clinic’s site, written by a neuropsychologist at the clinic, raises a point specific to the UAE. The country’s language and cultural diversity means clinicians must check the validity of a measure when a person’s first language is not English. An assessment should measure what it intends to measure, the post says, rather than highlight difficulties caused by a language barrier.
The post adds a second point. The most frequently used psychometric measures follow mainly Western standardisation, and standardisation for Middle Eastern and Asian populations has yet to happen.
Ask which tests the clinician will use and how the clinician handles your first language.
Who offers neuropsychology at the clinic?
The neuropsychology page says its neuropsychologists all hold licences from the Dubai Health Authority and their respective countries. It lists Dr Rama Kanj, an educational psychologist, and Marianne Diab, a neuropsychologist.
Marianne Diab’s profile describes a Senior Neuropsychologist with over 18 years of experience supporting children and young people in Dubai. She specialises in assessing neurodevelopmental differences such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, giftedness and learning difficulties. Her profile lists a DHA licence and Young Valens on Al Wasl Road as the location.
Book a neuropsychology consultation
The Valens Clinic offers neuropsychology and cognitive profiling. Find the service on the neuropsychology page.