In 1991 Dr Kevin Walsh, the founding President of ASSBI, presented an invited address entitled “Some gnomes worth knowing” in which he discussed examples of common errors and difficulties in neuropsychological test interpretation in the form of “gnomes” or aphorisms from prominent clinicians. His paper was aimed at demonstrating “the need for improvement in the education of all psychologists who are likely to be faced with essentially neuropsychological problems”. The current paper will examine the extent to which such improvement has occurred over the past eight years and will consider directions for the future. The major areas of concern outlined by Dr Walsh will be reviewed in terms of current clinical practice. Additional areas of controversy and concern which have emerged more recently, such as the assessment of mild head injury, the assessment of malingering and the impact of neurochemical changes in certain psychiatric conditions, will also be considered. The importance of considering the client in a more holistic manner, which takes into account a range of issues that may impact upon test scores, is emphasised. It is hoped that this presentation will assist in formulating more clearly the challenges facing all those involved in research, assessment and treatment of brain disorders as we approach a new millennium.