Neuropsychology, Vol 40(5), Jul 2026, 460-462; doi:10.1037/neu0001092
Stiers (2026) asserts that knowledge of brain–behavior relationships is keenly important for clinical neuropsychologists to possess. We agree wholeheartedly with this emphasis. However, Stiers seems to diminish the importance of norm-referenced testing compared to well-informed clinical observation. We refute this assertion, and we offer examples in which the reliability and validity of expert opinion based upon direct observation are surpassed by norm-referenced testing. We argue that norm-referenced testing is the hallmark virtue of clinical neuropsychologists, and such testing offers the most reliable and valid data in a clinical assessment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)