QUESTION 1
Compare and contrast the neuropsychological assessment with ONE imaging modality e.g. EEG, CT, MRI PET etc. as methods of investigating the brain, discussing both challenges and relevance to the South African context.
Your answer should draw on ONE clinical disorder as an example (e.g.
aphasia, apraxia, degenerative disorders, dysexecutive syndrome, foetal alcohol syndrome).
Therefore, your answer should:
1) Provide a critical comparison of the neuropsychological assessment and your chosen imaging modality, as methods of investigating the brain. (15 marks)
2) Discuss the challenges and relevance of both methods to the South African context. (5 marks)
3) Use your chosen clinical disorder to demonstrate the above arguments made. (10 marks)
Mini essay formatting requirements:
• Length: 800 words (2 pages), excluding references.
QUESTION 2
Define aphasia, then compare and contrast two kinds of aphasia, making use of historical references when necessary.
• Paragraph length: 400 words (1 page), excluding references.
QUESTION 3
Describe the clinical presentation that is commonly observed following damage to the right frontal
region of the brain.
• Paragraph length: 400 words (1 page), excluding references.
SECTION B:
Case Study Essay Question
Mr GH is a 40-year-old banking clerk who was in a severe motor vehicle accident one year ago. He was admitted to a small rural clinic three hours after the accident and was still unconscious on arrival at the clinic. No imaging or neuro-specialist was available to assess him due to the limited resources at the clinic. Once stabilised, he was transferred to a larger hospital in Johannesburg one-week after the accident. Radiological assessment revealed no skull fractures, but a fracture in the upper jaw and his left leg, and his CT scan was “unremarkable” according to the report. Neurological examination revealed no clear signs of head injury, but his doctor made note of “mild disinhibition”. Mr GH has a matric certificate and a diploma in administration. He has worked in a local bank for the last 15-years and was due for a promotion. He and his family describe him as a “social drinker”, consuming on average a bottle of wine a day, with the occasional beer or two, and more social drinking during family or religious celebrations.
Four months after the accident, his family started making comments to their local GP that Mr GH was acting a “a little strange” with a marked “personality change.” They said he would often make crude and inappropriate comments and was more outspoken and insensitive than usual. He was also demoted at work and placed in a more administrative role that had less client interaction. Two-years after the motor vehicle accident, Mr GH is referred to you as a neuropsychologist to assess whether these “personality changes” in Mr GH are due to possible brain injury from his accident or due to alcohol related brain damage.
Your task, as the neuropsychologist, is to:
(a) Describe your assessment plan, including history taking and neuropsychological assessments. (20 marks)
(b) In light of your assessment plan, discuss both hypotheses (i.e. alcohol related brain damage or brain injury as a result of the motor vehicle accident) for the apparent “personality change”, and identify, in your opinion, which one is most likely to account for the clinical presentation described. (10 marks)
(c) Based on the above, outline what elements you would incorporate in your treatment plan, remembering the strengthens and limitations of neuropsychological rehabilitation, particularly in the South African context. (10 marks)
Essay formatting requirements:
• Essay length: 1200 words (3 pages), excluding references.
• You can use subheadings for each of the sub-questions above.
