Q about Neuropsychs

[susiestar]

Hi everyone! I put this here but maybe it should go in general? Mods, please move this if it should be there, thanks.

In typing responses I noticed we use neuropsychologist as a reference a lot of times. Would it be ok to add an abbreviation for that, such as np or npdoc? It just seems to make sense.

I am open to any abbreviation, just thought it might be nice to add it to the list of abbreviations since we use it a LOT.

Opinions?

 

[Hound dog]

Probably a very good idea.

 

[klmno]

Maybe in the list where it explains what the abbreviation means, it might be a good idea to clarify that some states, such as mine, do not acknowledge or license neuropsychs- the person just needs to see if the psychiatric they get has specialized training in neuropsychologist. (The test results will clarify that it was true neuropsychologist tests given and evaluation'd.)

 

[susiestar]

I did a search on google for clinical neuropsychology and came up with a division of the American Psychological Association (APA). They describe neuropsychology as the study of brain-behavior relationships, and the clinical application of that knowledge to human problems (http://www.div40.org/).This is about the best description of it. I emailed the Membership Chair and asked if there was any way we could access a list of members and where they practiced. It was late this evening, so there is no reply yet. (I did NOT give the name of the site, or the addy. I simply said we are a group of parents who give each other support as we raise our special needs children.. I explained that many members spent years searching for the right diagnosis and treatment plan, but it was only after the npdoc testing that they found the answers.

I agree that a new abbreviation will need to be added to the FAQ page, but that should be doable for the mods or Cheryl.

If we can manage to get a list that we can pass around via email or PM I know many of us might be less daunted by the task of finding a npdoc. Or maybe we can get a website that we can share to keep up with changes in the list.

I hope this is not intrusive to anyone. The idea came up because I replied with similar info to 2 or 3 newbies in the last 2 days. It seems easier to have the abbreviation and also to somehow try to find a list of these docs.

Otherwise trying to find a npdoc is short of like hunting for snow snakes.

 

[smallworld]

Susie, this is my personal opinion -- not one that I've discussed with the other mods. I find the two abbreviations you've chosen confusing. I automatically think of NP as nurse practioner. I think npdoc does not accurately capture the profession because psychiatrist = psychiatrist (medical doctor) and npdoc in my mind would automatically follow as neuropsychiatrist (also medical doctor), not neuropsychologist (non-medical doctor). Even if the abbreviation is in the FAQ, it has to be an automatic association that will be obvious to anyone reading our board. JMHO.

 

[AnnieO]

Hmm, this is a wonderful idea! I'll rack my brain for possible abbreviations.

One that came to mind? npsy? too confusing?

 

[susiestar]

I am totally open to any abbreviation. I mentioned those two because they were the only ones I could think of. I suggested "npdoc" because we use therapist to refer to psychologists.

Mostly I wanted to see if others had suggestions/ideas on this. I also wondered if anyone knew of ways to FIND neuropsychologists. I found the one link posted by the APA and sent them an email, though I have not gotten a reply yet.

Anyone have ideas? thoughts? opinions?? suggestions?

 

[flutterby]

Most newbies don't know what a neuropsychologist is to begin with and I think an abbreviation would be even more confusing - we abbreviate it as it is which causes confusion between neuropyschologist and neuropsychiatrist.