Neurology

Behavioral Neurology – Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen at my first appointment?
Many patients and their families will first meet with a trainee (medical student, resident or fellow) who performs the interview and examination. The trainee then discusses your history and examination with one of the staff physicians of the Division of Behavioral Neurology, who then meets with you and your family to review the pertinent symptoms and examination findings.

The trainee and staff then discuss their diagnostic impressions, recommendations for further testing, and possible therapies. A scheduler will then meet with you and your family and schedule the tests and consultations and return appointment.

Depending on the complexity of your symptoms, this initial appointment will last from one to three hours.

What should I bring to my first appointment?
You and your family should work with your local doctors to obtain copies of your medical records and any CT or MRI scans of the brain you have undergone. It is important to obtain the scans themselves, not simply the paper reports. Please carry these records and scans with you to your first appointment, since records and scans can be delayed or lost if they are mailed (which can prolong the time necessary to complete your evaluation).

What tests will I have?
Since there are several dozen disorders than can affect thinking, memory, and behavior, additional tests and consultations with other clinicians are often necessary to investigate these various disorders. Most patients undergo blood tests, neuropsychometric testing, and a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain.

Neuropsychometric testing, which usually requires three to four hours to complete, involves paper and pencil tests that measure intellectual functioning, memory functioning, attention/concentration, language abilities, visuospatial abilities, reasoning and problem solving.

Some patients are advised to undergo other studies such as urine tests, electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), spinal tap for studies on cerebrospinal fluid, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, etc. Some are also advised to meet with a psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist, internist, neurosurgeon, etc.

How long will I be at Mayo to complete my evaluation?
The duration varies depending on the complexity of symptoms and the availability of tests and consultations, but most individuals complete their evaluations in three to seven days.

How will my problem be treated after I leave Mayo?
We will work with your local physicians to provide recommendations on treatment. We will also meet back with many patients on a periodic basis to provide ongoing care.