A Guide to Neuropsychological Testing

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Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.

Is Neuropsychology used for treatment for brain "issues" other than TBI's?  Can it be beneficial for a person who has Neurofibroma tumors in the brain?

I happened upon this site while looking for information on my husband's upcoming testing.  I'm not encouraged. HOWEVER, I find it immensely interesting to read some of your similar experiences (my husband's fall from 25 feet happened 10 years ago and regained good (not same as before) function/cognition, but in the past year or so there is a very definite decline in his emotional control, cognitive abilities, ability to focus, etc.  Before even reading all of your comments I was wondering how they could possibly evaluate the changes in his abilities since the testers do not know who he used to be or how he thought/processed/functioned.  It does feel so very, very lonely!

I have been reading here too today and it is very concerning that you are right. These people did not know us from Adam and to make a judgement based on a test or their opinion once is discouraging.

I see similarities between your husband's "case" and that of my boyfriend. He also had a tbi more than 10 years ago. He "recovered" (I highly doubt that he was anywhere near where he was before the accident but I didn't know him then) and he went back to work within one year.

Following that, his then wife said he had "changed" and was now angrier and they divorced. Poor guy didn't see that coming, but my research has shown that many realtionships break up post tbi. He went on with his life, not knowing really what had happened to him or that he was "different". Until he met me.

We have had a good, loving relationship but he has anger and mood swing issues that I would classify as moderate to severe. He started to decline and then became unable to work due to stress and increasing inability to manage tasks. Now he is trying to get his WSIB case re-opened as he CLEARLY is suffering from long term effects of his tbi (his GP says he has post-concussion syndrome) but WSIB basically says NO and now he's stuck having to prove that he can't function or cope like he used to. Even HE doesn't know how he got by in the last ten years!

There have been tests and doctors and.....it just goes round and round! This man had an industrial garage door come unhinged at work and fall on his head and he is permanently damaged and he has to PROVE that he has functioning issues?! That's crazy. I am helping him as best I can. And we are going to fight WSIB!

Good luck to everyone who is recovering from this debilitating type of injury!

Sounds like me. So far I’ve taken 3 neuropsychological testing and the last one said I was faking and should have returned to work 8 weeks after the concussion. I’m not faking at all!! My question is how they came up with me faking g??? Makes me so mad! Now I’m not working cause I can’t,.. not getting paid, and having to prove im not able to work yet.

Hi, I recently underwent a neuropsych test. I was told it was going to be 4-6 hours but the test was stopped after 1.5 hrs for reasons undisclosed. I have not yet seen the results of the test but am worried there are major issues because the test was stopped. Would anyone know why a test would be stopped so early?

What did you find out in your results?

I have been in three car accidents..8/2013, 12/1/2015 and 12/28/2015 .  I was told I have pcs/mtbi and will be seeing a neurologist on 12/9/17.  This is work Comp and I'm wondering how will doctor really be able to assess me?

My daughter was in car accident, suffered a TBI and went to testing in Portland Oregon. She never received any test scores and had to contact her attorney for a letter that was extremely uninformed and couldn't seem to answer the initial question at all. Why she had short term memory troubles and headaches since her accident. For the enormous price paid for the test, very disappointed with the company and how they treated my daughter

I was walking at a controlled intersection & was hit by a city bus going 20-30km per hour, thrown 10 feet, landed on my head on the road. I don't think I passed out but my confusion was documented by paramedics. I had these tests done by the insurance agency doctor. All the doctors & specialists I see are Neuro but insurance psychological testing, if it's by insurance company, they say psychological or psychiatric problems not mTBI PTSD & traffic anxiety. Results; can't work or function 25 months and trying to fight insurance for treatments. Disgrace! How can neuropsychologist destroy a persons health? How does a person heal with no guidance? I've never had brain problems before and now the basics are too much. Isolation, confusion, rage, vision, thinking, balance, noise, lights issues but no help $ for treatment. First time homeless in my life but it's quiet living in car compared to apartment I had for years but lost due to trying to find own treatments to try & get back to work. What options does a person with a mTBI have with no healthcare professionals with experience have but I'm denied mTBI PTSD diagnosis by insurance. Thanks so much. Any advice or help appreciated.

Canada Not Free healthcare if you can't access & forced to try & fund a trip to USA or ... To have guidance.

Try drivers license was yanked after a MVA which I passed out very briefly. I have had 3 neuropsych tests in which I was told I failed. Had driver testing on machines and passed with flying colors. Report from driver evaluator said great but must rely on neuropsych results. I have depression, PTSD, anxiety and chronic back pain. I have been told no one will sign off for me to take testing for DL for fear of their license. They want me to take another Nuero testing. Very down and frustrated 😂

My name is Amanda and I am a TBI survivor. I am scheduled for an evaluation soon. I was a nurse prior to an accident a little over a year ago and a mother to 3 boys 2 that are autistic. I specialized in taking care of Alzheimer patients prior as well. I now know way too much regarding neurological problems. These comments scare me to no end. I'm already getting the same response from all my doctors (mind-blown) some things are not in a book and I feel like a puzzle they're all trying to put together but there's so many missing pieces. The only true ones that understand brain injuries are the ones that unfortunately have them.

what are the tests like? Is it difficult?

I was rear-ended at a stop light,  15 days hospital, had 2 test already and going for a third one to appease the insurance co. These test are so mentally stressful afterwards takes weeks to recover, one says "faked part" other says "worked very hard", this is a opinion from a doctor who never knew me and didn't see me early on, and is comparing me to other people he doesn't know. That's is ridiculous to rely on this test for anyone's care and treatment. It's insulting to me that the doctor that charges big bucks for this test doesn't even give you the test and then gives opinion on someone's life changing situation after meeting them for 15 minutes. This is a medical scam to all those who have suffered brain trauma. The exception for football players and boxers who volunteered to get their heads bashed in for big money, I didn't ask to get hit, and they get all the medical attention and money. Something needs to change, 

I read your comment and so relate. I was judged by one of these I saw once and it has changed my life. I was wondering how you are doing? I cried all day long. I was not depressed before but going through this head injury after a car crash with no seatbelt and lucky to survive to all my symptoms are psychological?

I suffered TBA in 2010 and had my 3rd N/Psch test 3 days ago and are awaiting the results. From the Corp field to now being unable to work it has taken it's toll on me and those close to me. My support people monitor me expecting me to trip up but I won't! The world doesn't understand Brain injury until they personally experience it, because we appear normal. Just trying to read this article and follow the big words and descriptions sent my brain into a spin, then replying on my smartphone is an achievement for me...I rest my case and my brain...cheers. We must continue to push or boundaries.

I am writing this comment as a reply to last some people below.

These tests are not a sham. There is plenty of evidence that they provide scientifical information about how your behavior is related to your brain.

The problem is not in the tests, but in who applies and interprets them. Any clinical/school psychologist can apply, let's say, some memory tests. But only those that have proper training (PhD in clnical psych with neuro track, neuro intenrship, neuro residencny) can interpret scores in a professional an accurate way.

I'm sorry to say, but a student that keeps leaving the room is a stupid one and should not even be in the field of neuropsychology. I was a student once, everyone was, but I've never tested a patient without knowing instructions and without knowing what to do next. At first it's overwhelming because there are many things you have to keep in mind. But for the love of God, write checklist and have it with you with your patient. I don't understand why would you accept to be tested by such individual. Students are also supervised by board certified neuropsychologists. I am a clinical neuropsychologist and if any of my students would do that, I would kick them off my service. They don't belong in this field. Not everyone is competent enogh, please be careful when you chose your neuropsychologist for testing

This is extremely well said. I wish there were more people like you. I am a future Neuropsychologist (PsyD). Everything you said about training is very true. I started my practicums in Neurology, and will continue with Neurosurgery and hope to match for a Neuropsychology Internship and then residency. It makes such a difference to be in Neurology versus Psychiatry or Psychology when training to be a Neuropsychologist. The foundation needed to truly understand the application clinically of neuroanatomy see through EEG, MRI and CT and their relationships to patient's clinical presentations of their chief complains is necessary.

I am a neuropsychologist (PhD). I am so glad that you are training in Neurology and Neurosurgery, as these areas are critical for understanding the presentations and underlying causes of brain injury and neurologic illness. I will say that I have found a good understanding of psychology and psychiatry equally important in understanding patient concerns, informing diagnoses, and guiding treatment recommendations. I hope you are incorporating these areas into your training as well. Good luck!

I had a massive brain hemorrhage in 2013 leading to complete left homonymous hemianopsia (blindness to the left side in each eye) and left inattention, along with some other things. I have taken two neurophyscological exams, one referral from my neurologist and one given by the Division of Blind Services. The experiences were very different.

The person my neurologist referred me to had her assistant administer the test. Once I told her that I knew I had left inattention, she told the assistant to remind me to look to the left! Guess we weren't going to notice any inattention then. The test took a couple of hours. I had to take a break in the middle due to my problems with visual overload. They completely ignored this. The result of the test was that I cannot work due to depression (which is true), but said that I had few cognitive problems. This after a double craniotomy and damage to both my occipital and parietal lobes.

The second test went much better. It took most of a day. The doctor gave it himself and he was a specialist in both blindness and brain injury. The tests were more extensive and more detailed. The diagnosis was much more complete and accurate (reflected my own experiences).

I think a tremendous amount of the experience and results of this testing is based on the doctor who gives it. This renders it pretty much useless since there is no way to adjust the results for this.

So many thoughts after reading this and all the comments. As a neuropsychology fellow there are some things that just infuriate me, some that sadden me, and some that just can't be helped. I'll break into two parts:

1. On the part of a person going through a neuropsychological evaluation, there is so little understanding of what such an evaluation really measures. So many of the comments here sadden me, not because they disagree with the results they received, but because no one mentions the recommendations that came from the evaluation. Look, many people disagree with diagnosis. That's fine, get a second opinion. For some, they don't understand the results and after thorough feedback they gain better insight into how their brain and psyche is functioning and the diagnosis is a relief. For others, they will not be satisfied unless they get the diagnosis they want. If you have made up your mind about the diagnosis before going to be tested, why go? If you know more than your doctors, then by all means, treat yourself. I have seen people visit some of the best neurologists and neuropsychologists in the country and reject all of their diagnosis(es) because it isn't the one they wanted, for whatever reason. Shouldn't it be good news to hear that your brain, organically, is in great shape, but psychological factors are influencing how you experience your daily life? Those things are far more easily treated than having to undergo invasive neurosurgical or medication based approaches. The psychological is just as real, just as based in neuroscience, and just as meaningful as organic injury. At the end of the day, it's not the doctors job to tell you what you want to hear, it's their job to diagnose properly to provide the correct treatment.

2. All that said, some of these examples reek of evaluations that infuriate me. Yes, there are good and bad providers out there, just like in any job. It is tragic to read cases where it looks like people have seen poorly trained, inexperienced, inept, unempathic, or otherwise unsatisfactory clinicians. The numbers on a test don't matter unless they are interpreted correctly, using the proper data, and integrated into the whole of the person. Beyond that, a good neuropsychology evaluation will provide not just an explanation of the results, but recommendations for treatment to improve quality of life, regardless of findings or diagnosis. Not one comment mentioned recommendations. Now, maybe they forgot, or maybe the clinician didn't do a good job explaining them - that's a major problem.

3. Computerized screenings, MMPI... These are not neuropsychological tests. They can be helpful to create a more full profile, but they are not assessing neuroanatomical correlates of cognitive function. A good neuropsychologist will make the evaluation meaningful, incorporate the persons experience, understand demographics and background history, evaluate current lifestyle and stressors, and THEN look at the data. It drives me mad that so many people seem to have received less-than-adequate evaluations.

If you take one thing away from this rambling post, let it be this.

  • If you need a neuropsychological evaluation, come prepared with the information that is relevant to you. I can spend 20 hours with a patient and never happen to ask about the one critical thing that matters to this one person, so tell the evaluator what that important thing is for you!
  • Bring a family member or a close friend that knows you well and has seen the changes in you, and consent to letting the evaluator ask them about what's going on because, let's face it, if you're having memory problems you just might forget in the heat of the moment.
  • Find a board certified clinical neuropsychologist. An average psychologist is NOT qualified to perform a neuropsychological assessment. And clarify that you want a neuropsychological assessment, because it is not the same thing as a psychological evaluation.

Excellent guidance. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you!

I have 2 test 2 years apart after a brain injury. Testing took 12 hours each time and I have no complaints. I think it was fair and done correctly. I was given the names of all test and my score. I had it done with by an independent neuropsychologist and her staff. I sought my own help after a brain injury.

My husband was not diagnosed with  a TBI until 3+ years after his accident. He left the hospital looking & sounding ok ... but was not.  He is not the same man I married- he is a "new normal" that does not fit in anymore. CAT/MRI's showed nada...until the neuropsychological testing.  He is very intelligent, still is just not as much as he used to be. He has cognitive & executive functioning deficits, behavior issues, reading, writing....etc. We struggle in our marriage, he struggles in everyday life and has been seeing a neuropsychologist going on 5 years now. Sometimes I think she helps, sometimes I think he is fooling her (he's good at deception).   His experience was middle of the road on the person doing the test (it IS very subjective) but it did show he had deficits and helped get him on disability. Take it at your worse time of day is one suggestion I have.

I just received my results from my neuropsychological exam.  It turns out, that I am above average on most things with only 2 anomalies of which I was assured are of no major concern.  I have been exposed to the overpressure of over 200 explosions within a two year period.  I had the tests because I have serious memory issues.  When reading I now have to reread everything multiple times so I can understand what I have read.  I have trouble staying on task and the list goes on and on.  This has not always been the case.  I did not feel that the test covered the areas of concern that I had.  Oh well, I guess I am fine.  

Something is missing in these tests.  I have to assume that they work for many people, or they would not be used.  I just think that they do not cover every aspect of memory issues.  I had no problem remembering word pairs because, I created a small story to remember each word pair. I had explained that to the psychologist who had given me my results and he said that that showed a higher memory function.  I explained that I had been dong this trick for a while because I read it somewhere and seemed to help.  He repeated his original sentiment.  The bottom line is that the test did not address the issues that I am having.  I never had to read paragraphs 4-5 times to understand them.  I never used to lose track of what I was saying in mid sentence.  I never used to forget things within 5 minutes of being told.  It is possible that I do not have an issue, I guess.   

I see that many people have been called liars.  Is it possible that they made this series of tests so simple that nobody should do poorly, even with a TBI?  How else could they be so confident that anybody was lying?  I have to assume, based off the test that I took, that anybody scoring below average needs treatment (Lying or not).

I had neuropsych evaluation a year after a head-on car accident because of MTBI. It gave a lot of information and explained the specific cognitive areas that were impaired. The doctor who tested me stated I was disabled and unable to return to work. I will be tested again in a few months to compare results.
The results explain why some things I can’t do, but it didn’t come close to showing how limited by cognitive abilities are in every day life, my personality is totally different I have horrible anxiety and everything overwhelms and frustrates me to the point my emotions are out of control I’m either enraged or in tears when this happens, I can’t focus on more than one thing at a time, I can’t communicate clearly I can’t tolerate noise and confusion I don’t leave my house or drive or and how I am a completely different person and it’s been 18 months and rehab, i can’t return to teaching special education, my life’s work, my career is over and I’m 52 years old.
It was the other driver’s fault 100% cited for breaking 4 laws at the scene of accident.
His insurance company is refusing to pay enough to cover even my medical bills. I had prexisting depression and ADD, so they say I’ve always been like this.
Why the hell would I choose to live like this? Work has been my passion, 25 years of teaching, I supported my family financially and a car accident shatters my brain, my life, my family’s life, I can’t teach anymore, I can’t drive, I have lost almost all my friends because I am so “in my head” and have friends anymore from at all 2 teenagers going to college

I can identify with what you went through. I have 7.5 years of formal education. I have felt the loss. It has been a little over a year since someone rear ended me, while I was stopped at a red light. I am very sure, that he was on his phone, and was distracted when he hit me going over 40 MPH. I have forgiven him. I feel that I am just now seeing the light at the end of this journey. I am not a doctor, and I am not saying that this will help you. I can only tell you what helped me. I went through the gamut of emotions of feeling shocked, ashamed, guilty, angry, hopeless, helpless, and alone. All explanations come up short when trying to convey your message to people that have no idea what you are going through. Every day was a process. The time I spent trying to help, or improve my situation did not go to waste. I pushed myself every day to do tasks, until I became symptomatic. Then, I would start again the next day. It seemed like I had to retrain my brain to do things for the first time since the accident. There were days when my therapist would say, "Do something fun this weekend." I nodded my head, but inside I was saying, 'Really...fun? Initially on the confidence/competence loop, I was shattered. It is true, what all of you are saying. My heart goes out to all of you because, I have been there. You look ok from the outside, but inside you come up against road blocks at every turn, that slow you down, or stop you dead in your tracks. I have researched every possible avenue to help me back to who, and what I was. I have attempted to remain positive, and seek out all possible therapys that would potentially help me. The three things that made a big difference in my life were Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, O3FA, and my faith. I did HBOT for 40 sessions: 1 hour/day for 40 days excluding weekends. I had a problem filtering out noise initially, and could not focus with all the loud noise coming from the hallway, when I was visiting the SLP. After the 2nd HBOT session, I noticed that when I was on the phone with the insurance company, the loud noise that my husband was making with the dishes, did not bother me as much. I actually felt, that I had control over my reaction to it. I could choose to, or not let it bother me. That, to me was a milestone. On the 8th HBOT, I had the confidence to drive alone. Those are just 2 of the things, that I will mention, but there are many more ways that HBOT helped me. The second therapy was a reading Dr. Lewis's book on TBI
"When brains collide," and his recommendation concerning high dose Omega 3 fatty acids regimen. I encourage you to ask and involve your Doctor about this regimen. The third and best was my enduring faith and fervent prayer. I read Joseph Prince's book; Eat your way to life and health. It is a book about taking communion daily. That single action will heal your mind, emotions, body, soul, and spirit. The book is filled with testimonials that will inspire and help you through the healing process. As I said before, this is what helped me in my journey. I pray that it might help someone else.

Okay.  I wasn't going to say anything here but it is beyond me to resist.  I have had no good Neuropsychology Testing experiences.  None.  I have had 2 a year apart and 2 IME's.  One IME lasted less than an hour and the second IME less than 5 I believe.  At any rate, the first one I was so hopped up on pain meds due to numerous orthopedic injuries and had a Student giving me the testing.  She had to keep leaving the room as she was lost as to what to do.  She had many inaccuracies and outright lies in her report.  We filed a rebuttal to this.  So maddening.  The second IME I ended up with a youngster who had not been doing it very long at all.  A few years and get this....NOW worked with the student who was now certified that I had gotten before.  He read her report and made judgments off that one and was completely unaware of me falling asleep due to cognitive fatigue during testing.  In IME I accidentally made a mistake knew I got it wrong, corrected it, and told him so.....he had to go back many times because he kept losing his papers, wasn't organized and couldn't remember my answers.  Many lies on his report as well.  Here I am looking for REAL answers to my deficits, my memory loss, my mental status changes and all I get is almost a duplicate and a direct redirection to that first report with the student....like they just relied on that information for their answers.  Everyone that knows me, my PCP, my family, my kids, my friends....they all see the difference in before and after.

I am not seeing the efficacy of this testing.  I was told also that I must be exaggerating or faking.  This is a punch in the gut when you are sincerely trying to get your life back.  I would love to have an independent study without them reviewing all the other stuff and see if it is more objectionable.  My spelling, grammar, processing is slower, confusion, lost when I drive. just lots of things that didn't exist before the wreck......it's maddening.  The tests would wipe me out for days to get recouped.  Cognitive fatigue enhanced greatly as I would put my all into each attempt.   How do we get help in a system set up not to actually do the work needed to get you the help you need???

I am a Veteran that has Cognitive Inpairment. I've actually had Head Trauma. I have PTSD. The Doctor said I was Faking the tests and that I shouldn't get any care. The Man doesn't even know me. Everyone that does know me is outraged.

I will be taking neuropsychological testing in a couple days and I'm very curious about the entire thing so I was hoping someone could answer a few of these questions:

Is it common to take an IQ test at some point in relation to neuropsych testing?

How far back does the drug test go? (I like to take valerian root, but at max. dose, where as my doctor has asked me to take a lower dose).

How big of an impact will these tests make on my life?

Will I get to see images of my brain?

I used to be a practicing general and vascular surgeon before I suffered a major stroke - at age 45.  I went through intensive inpatient and outpatient therapy and have regained most of my physical abilities.  However, I am struggling with the cognitive aspects of my recovery and have difficulty telling my evaluators what exactly I need to be able to do in order to function at a high level again (my goal is and always be to return to my work).  Herein lies the problem with these evaluations: they are very subjective and the person evaluating the patient has no frame of reference who the person was before the injury.  I have thus been very disillusioned by the entire process.

I just read all of these comments and they make me so sad.  I am a neuropsychology examiner and would feel terrible if my patients had this experience.  

I'm scheduled next month to get this test done.  Almost 28 years ago I incurred head trauma.  I was in a coma for 1 month.  I had to relearn everything from 7 years old and up..  I'm 42 years old now and symptoms of forgetfulness, depression,, etc, seem to be getting bad again.. I'm looking forward to this test to give us some answers... I have a husband and we ace 2 children together..

I am scheduled for a tbi evaluation by the VA in a few weeks. I incurred my head injury in 1993 and my life has been one train wreck after another since. I display and experience nearly every noted/listed long term/chronic symptom of the aftereffects of moderate tbi. It has taken more than 20 years to get some recognition that I am not faking all of this. Those stating that there is a conspiracy to mitigate and minimize the long term affects of tbi by the DOD and VA are right on the money. Professional athletes and old football players are being recognized and compensated pretty well for there injuries......when is the military and VA going to stop pretending it isn't happening?

I have come to believe that there is a well-organized conspiracy to deny diagnoses of brain injury now that so many veterans are coming home suffering and so many states are whining about not having funding to support or treat those with TBI - or enough providers trained to recognize and treat it.

My family is suffering incredible cruelty in many ways because I have advocated for my daughter to get the proper diagnosis and help - or at least not treat her like a criminal and involuntarily addict her to benzos - then take her off cold turkey, just because she is suffering from multiple accidents. In other words if the state of NC won't help us, then at least leave us alone.  They have taken my grandson from ME because I believe the TBI diagnosis given by a reputable neuropsychiatrist, and I requested the support the state claims we are entitled to but our area does not "have the funding for."  Isn't TBI punishment enough without taking my grandson from me and my son from my daughter?

All this material by the BIA and the VA on TBI and how they're helping so many and educating so many is all crap if the states claim they don't have funding for treatment.  I can prove that the doc the state agents took my daughter to for what was supposed to be a neuropsychological eval but turned out to be a computer screening -- misrepresented the interpretation of her test results.

And a veterans website says VA is doing the same.  If the states need more funding, and HRSA claims everyone ought to be screened who's had an accident that could affect the brain, then why doesn't HRSA give the states enough money to treat TBI?  If they don't then the states are not going to allow people to be screened, much less diagnosed.  It's all a farce coming down from the feds and the VA. The reality is people are being denied proper evaluation and treatment. They are being drugged with benzos - taken off cold turkey and truamatized more my the medical community that should be helping them.

there is a subset of clinical neuropsychologists who (unfortunately IMO) believe that all cognitive symptoms should resolve within 3 months of a mild TBI.  IF you have symptoms that persist past that point in time, you must be 'faking'.  Chances are you were evaluated with a professional who subscribes to this apriori mindset.

Please do not give up on the field of neuropsychology because of that.  In the future you may wish to ask the clinician what their beliefs are about mTBI prior to the assessment.  Or google them- most of us have been published in one location or another.

To the Scientist - see a clinical psychologist, your symptoms are consistent with PTSD.

I'm really concerned as all of the others have been. I will be tested soon. Since my TBI I have headaches, vision problems, lack of patience, no focus, and I've heard a personality change. Of course with all of this goes frustration and depression. My scans appear to be find, yet the problems exist. I work around inmates so the thought of going back to work terrifies me. I have had lapses in memory that I don't know where I am. If this is all done and they say I'm fine, I don't know what I will do. I'm not faking and I'm really scared about how bad this may get. No dementia or Alzheimer's present on scans. What do you do from this point!

I had 2 concussions, one in 2007 and another in 2012. I used to be the most literate and articulate business woman. then following the 2012 I have tbi (diagnosed 4 months after the concussion), mild spasticity, vestibular disorder, constant daily vertigo, unable to walk more than 100mt, little balance, I slur, I have blackouts... even have widespread hyperintensities all through my brain mri...and have had 2 neuropsych evals. Both had me ill in bed for weeks afterwards. I did my best and I guess I was too good? They both said I dont have tbi even though it was diagnosed. I don't think that any thought goes into the mental fatigue of their tests or any consideration of pre-injury IQ and abilities. Am disgusted by the process tbh, my children are shocked at the reports.. the neuropshyc evaluater had made up all sorts of things in the report - and made tonnes of mistakes in history taking. All that effort, weeks to recover both times, only to be treated like a faker? Not impressed!

I think it's very interesting that every single comment in this thread states that neuropsychological testing has NOT been helpful to the patient, yet when I search the literature about what do to assess loss of function after a head trauma this is presumed to be the gold standard of diagnostic testing. How can there be such a discrepancy between what professionals tell us and what patients experience? Obviously no test is 100% accurate, but maybe this type of testing is favored by practitioners for their convenience and reimbursement dollars and not it's value to a patient.

To the Scientist. Sounds like PTSD.

I suffered gun shot wounds to chest that have taken almost two years to recover from, yet I still struggle with vivid pictures of the fight for my life that took place at the time. I am forced to go through the complete sequence of events several times a day and night, without being able to turn the sequence off. Whatever can this kind of testing prove? it;s clearly a physiological issue and is not going to be resolved by having someone tell me where I fit within some set of gaussian distributions cross-correlated to different skill sets of differing occupations. I am a Ph.D scientist with > 20 years experience in physics and having someone who is not able to offer either medical or scientific reasoning ask me how I feel about this, without the capacity to understand neuroscience is a waste of time.

I have been through two, and now need to go again to please the insurance company.

My TBI was over a decade ago, and I did well for a while. Problems (noise sensitivity, transposing numbers...) have re-emerged.

The first Dr. was very good and went over the results with me. The second Dr. got upset when I asked if the high doses of three medications (4,000mg/day gabapentin, 300mg/day tegretol, and 200mg/day lexapro) I was taking could affect the results. She didn't know the common side effects, so in her review said I needed to 'pick himself up by the bootstraps". She was obviously upset when I asked if she knew the side effects. so she stated I have borderline personality disorder; no other Dr. agrees with her.

Pity the patient can't evaluate the administrator of the exam!

Now I am having problems again, and dread being judged by someone who's aim is to to prevent insurance claims. My problems are real, I am motivated to return to work, but find the healthcare system severely lacking for TBI injuries.

Same thing happened to me, and I'm not lying. I can't run my own company since the car accident and I'm losing money but can't do anything about it. I don't know how to get better by myself.
According to the Dr.'s my grandson passes these tests in the normal range,when administered in a dark room, undisturbed, however he still has a total personality change, extreme headaches when subjected to lights, confusion etc, and appears to be unable to function in relationships etc. Can this be? he received a very high impact kick to the head over a year ago.
My husband was hit by a car while riding a bike. He went through this battery of tests and they said he was faking. He is dyslexic AND has right/left dyslexia. Part of the test involves left/right questions. The person giving the test yelled at "don't you know your right from your left?" He never answered that, just kept trying. The results infuriated me.

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