Assessment of Dementia and Cognitive Decline

At Peak Forensic Psych Services, we specialize in comprehensive cognitive and psychological evaluations for individuals experiencing memory difficulties, cognitive decline, and dementia-related concerns. Our expert assessments can help differentiate among normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and provide information indicating specific dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s dementia, vascular dementia, and other neurocognitive disorders.

Identifying Memory & Cognitive Challenges

Memory issues and cognitive decline can significantly impact an individual independence, decision-making, and overall well-being. 

Our evaluations assess.

  • Short-term and long-term memory functioning
  • Problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • Executive functioning including attention, focus, working memory and processing speed
  •  Language and communication abilities
  • Emotional and behavioral changes that may be related to cognitive
    changes

    We work with older adults, family members, caregivers, and medical professionals to assess an individual’s condition to provide accurate, research-based assessments that help guide important decisions about care, treatment, and long-term planning.

Evaluates memory function with precision.

Determines memory reliability for testimony or diagnoses.

Provides objective, validated memory assessments.

Identifies early signs of memory impairment.

How a Dementia Evaluation Helps:

Early Detection: Identifies cognitive decline at its earliest stages, allowing for timely interventions to slow progression.
● Differentiating Conditions: Helps determine whether symptoms are due to dementia, depression, anxiety, medication side effects, or other factors.
● Planning for Future Care: Provides crucial insights for family members and caregivers to develop and prepare care plans, financial planning, and legal arrangements.
● Legal & Financial Decision-Making: Helps assess individuals’ capacity to make decisions for independent living, financial management, and appropriately manage medical issues.
● Disability & Benefits Support: Can provide the necessary documentation for Social Security Disability (SSDI), Veterans’ benefits, and other assistance programs.

Who Should Get a Memory & Dementia Evaluation?

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following, a cognitive evaluation may be necessary:

Frequent forgetfulness or difficulty retaining new information
Getting lost in familiar places or struggling with directions
Difficulty managing finances, appointments, or daily tasks
Difficulty managing finances, appointments, or daily tasks
Increased confusion, disorientation, or difficulty making decisions
Changes in mood, personality, or social withdrawal

Why Choose Peak Forensic Psych Services?

● Expert, Unbiased Assessments – Our team of experienced psychologists provide comprehensive, process-based evaluations that tailor each evaluation to an individual’s specific cognitive concerns.
● Evidence-Based Testing Methods – We use widely accepted, valid and reliable, gold-standard psychological and neuropsychological tests to measure cognitive functions including memory, reasoning, attention, and
language abilities.
● Virtual & In-Person Evaluations – Flexible assessment options to accommodate various needs and locations.
● Court-Recognized Reports – Our evaluations can be used for legal competency cases, disability claims, and medical planning.

Get Answers & Plan for the Future

Understanding memory challenges and dementia is the first step toward getting the right support, treatment, and care. Whether you are seeking early diagnosis, disability benefits, or legal competency assessments, our evaluations provide critical insights that help individuals and families navigate these difficult decisions.

Free Consultations

8 Strategies to Address Psychological Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Recognizing the Psychological Impact of Personal Injury

When most people think of personal injury cases, physical injuries first come to mind. Many times, these cases are based solely on these injuries. However, psychological injuries can be just as debilitating and deserve equal attention in the realm of personal injury law. At PEAK Forensic Psych Services, we specialize in comprehensive forensic psychological evaluations that help assess, document, and substantiate the psychological impact of injurious and traumatic incidents. Our expert evaluations provide objective, evidence-based assessments that are critical for understanding the holistic impact suffered by an individual and support legal proceedings and claims by ensuring that psychological injuries and trauma are recognized and compensated appropriately.

8 Strategies to Address Psychological Injuries in Legal Cases

1. Understand the Scope of Psychological Injuries

Psychological injuries encompass a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorders and other conditions. Recognizing the full spectrum of trauma-related disorders and the impact of psychological and emotional distress arising from an injury is essential in advocating for proper legal recognition. Our psychologists utilize highly reliable and valid, standardized psychological measures that help conceptualize and validate
conditions often seen in personal injury cases.

2. Obtain a Professional Psychological Evaluation

A formal diagnosis from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist is crucial in substantiating a legal claim for psychological injury. Our forensic evaluations utilize DSM-5 criteria and include ICD-10 diagnostic codes, ensuring a scientifically grounded and legally defensible assessment of the client’s mental health.

3. Document the Impact on Daily Life

Psychological trauma can significantly impair daily functioning, affecting work, relationships, and overall well-being. Thorough documentation through psychological evaluations, review of relevant records, personal journals, witness statements, and collateral interviews help demonstrate the severity of the psychological injury.

4. Ensure Psychological Injuries Are Included in Medical Reports

Medical documentation plays a critical role in personal injury claims. Psychological symptoms should be reported alongside physical injuries to create a clear connection between the traumatic event and its emotional impact, as well as identify whether or not a psychological injury was directly cause by a specific event. Our expert reports ensure that all psychological injuries are formally documented and included in medical and legal records.

5. Utilize Expert Testimony

Court proceedings often require expert witness testimony to explain the nature and impact of psychological injuries. Our team of experienced psychologists has over 40 years of courtroom testimony experience, providing clear, credible, and compelling testimony that strengthens legal arguments.

6. Seek Compensation for Therapy and Treatment

Many psychological injuries require long-term therapy, psychiatric care, and medication management. Our evaluations can help to calculate current and future psychological treatment costs, ensuring that compensation includes ongoing mental health care expenses.

7. Demonstrate Long-Term Psychological Consequences

Unlike some physical injuries, psychological trauma and injury can have permanent effects on an individual’s life. Our assessments and expert opinions helpillustrate the chronic nature of psychological injuries, supporting claims for long-term compensation.

8. Emphasize Legal Precedents for Psychological Injuries

Legal precedents play a significant role in the recognition of emotional and psychological damage in personal injury cases. Our psychologists may reference previous legal cases, psychological research, and established diagnostic criteria to support claims and advocate for appropriate compensation.

FAQs About Psychological Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Psychological trauma may not manifest immediately—it can take weeks, months, or even years to fully develop. Seeking a psychological evaluation as soon as symptoms appear can be essential; however, psychological evaluations conducted at a later time often provide diagnostic clarity after an individual’s early challenges have begun to settle.

Yes. Courts recognize that psychological trauma can exist independently of physical injuries. A formal forensic evaluation can establish the causal link between the traumatic event and its psychological impact.

Seeking treatment strengthens your case, it demonstrates the validity and severity of your psychological injury. Courts and insurance companies are more likely to recognize claims that include documented therapy, psychological, neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluations.

At PEAK Forensic Psych Services, we specialize in psychological evaluations for personal injury, criminal, civil, and family law cases. Our experienced PSYPACT credentialed psychologists can provide expert virtual assessments across all PSYPACT participating states. With over 40 years of experience conducting
clinical and forensic evaluations, treatment and providing courtroom testimony, we ensure that justifiable psychological injuries receive the recognition and
compensation they deserve.