Evidence Brief

What Does the Research Say?

Virtual assessment can be rigorous, reliable, and clinically appropriate.

Teleneuropsychology allows neuropsychological assessment to be conducted through secure videoconferencing, expanding access to specialized evaluation for patients who may otherwise face geographic, mobility, or scheduling barriers.

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Peer-reviewed research supports the use of video-based neuropsychological assessment for selected measures and appropriately selected patients when standardized procedures and clinical judgment are maintained.

The Evidence

What the research tells us

Multiple lines of peer-reviewed research have examined the validity, reliability, and practical considerations of teleneuropsychological assessment.

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Strong Agreement With In-Person Testing

A randomized crossover study comparing videoconference and face-to-face neuropsychological testing found highly similar results across administration methods for commonly used neuropsychological measures.

The study included 202 adults, including people with and without cognitive impairment, and found significant intraclass correlations between video-conference and in-person scores.

Cullum et al., Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 2014

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Systematic Review Supports TeleNP Validity

A systematic review incorporating 19 studies across multiple countries and diverse diagnostic populations found good overall support for teleneuropsychological assessment in older adults.

Cognitive screening
Language
Attention and working memory
Verbal memory

Marra et al., The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 2020

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Supported by Major Neuropsychology Organizations

Inter Organizational Practice Committee guidance concluded that the literature indicates TeleNP may provide reliable and valid assessments when appropriate clinical procedures are followed.

Guidance emphasizes appropriate test selection, informed consent, documentation of modified procedures, consideration of limitations, and clinical judgment.

Bilder et al., Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology / The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 2020

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The Evidence Base Continues to Expand

More recent reviews continue to examine the growing literature surrounding remote neuropsychological assessment.

Patient selection
Test selection
Informed consent
Confidentiality
Administration procedures

Remote Neuropsychological Assessment: Teleneuropsychology, 2024

Workers' Compensation

Expanding access to specialized evaluation.

Virtual neuropsychological evaluation can provide access to specialized clinical expertise without requiring the injured worker to travel significant distances or wait months for a local appointment.

When clinically appropriate, TeleNP can support evaluation of cognitive and psychological concerns associated with injury, neurological conditions, trauma, and functional questions.

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Areas commonly evaluated

TBI & Concussion Cognitive Impairment Memory Concerns Neurological Injury PTSD & Trauma Psychological Conditions Functional Questions Return-to-Work Questions

Clinical Appropriateness Matters

TeleNP is more than moving a test onto a screen.

Clinical rigor depends on thoughtful patient selection, appropriate measures, standardized procedures, and professional judgment.

Virtual assessment is not simply an in-person battery moved onto a computer. The evaluating psychologist must determine whether telehealth is appropriate for the individual patient and referral question.

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Patient selection Determine whether virtual assessment is appropriate for the individual.

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Appropriate test selection Select measures suitable for remote administration.

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Standardized procedures Follow established administration and testing procedures.

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Environmental & technology factors Consider setting, technology, privacy, and other relevant factors.

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Documentation & clinical judgment Document relevant limitations and integrate professional judgment.

Clinical judgment remains central to the evaluation regardless of whether it is conducted virtually or in person.

A Clinical Process

Access without sacrificing rigor

A virtual evaluation should be designed around the patient, referral question, and clinical requirements.

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Determine Appropriateness

The clinical team considers the referral question, patient characteristics, testing needs, and whether a virtual format is appropriate.

02

Conduct the Evaluation

Appropriate measures are administered through secure videoconferencing using standardized procedures.

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Deliver Clinical Insight

Findings are interpreted in context and translated into clinically meaningful recommendations.

The Minder Difference

Specialized care, without unnecessary barriers.

Minder Memory provides comprehensive virtual neuropsychological and psychological evaluations for children and adults across the United States.

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Speed & Accessibility

Access specialized clinical expertise without unnecessary geographic or scheduling barriers.

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Virtual Convenience

Evaluations can be completed remotely when clinically appropriate.

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Specialized Expertise

Connect patients with clinicians who specialize in neuropsychological and psychological evaluation.

Selected References

Research behind the discussion

Selected peer-reviewed sources supporting the use and ongoing evaluation of teleneuropsychology.

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Cullum CM, Hynan LS, Grosch M, Parikh M, Weiner MF. Teleneuropsychology: Evidence for Video Teleconference-Based Neuropsychological Assessment. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2014;20(10):1028–1033.

View publication →

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Marra DE, Hamlet KM, Bauer RM, Bowers D. Validity of Teleneuropsychology for Older Adults in Response to COVID-19: A Systematic and Critical Review. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. 2020;34(7–8):1411–1452.

View publication →

03

Bilder RM, Postal KS, Barisa M, et al. Inter Organizational Practice Committee Recommendations/Guidance for Teleneuropsychology in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. 2020.

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Remote Neuropsychological Assessment: Teleneuropsychology. 2024.

Evidence Supporting Virtual Neuropsychological Evaluation

Teleneuropsychology: Evidence for Video-Based Assessment