Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

The battery of Neuro-psycvhological tests should include some tests that can approximate prior abilities. The WAIS-II tests measure different IQ factors. The WMS (Wechsler Memory Scale) tests show current memory skills. If the WAIS-II IQ scores are high but the memory and processing scores are low, this shows an inconsistency that means the IQ prior to an organic brain injury was high. The research based theory is that high IQ can not be developed without high processing speed and great memory skills.

Commonly, the neuro-psych will say the the big disparity in scores means that the patient did not put out a best effort. Mine said this despite my scores being in the highest levels on the validity and effort/malingering tests. Low scores signify poor effort and malingering.

The low memory scores often correlate with a 10 to 15 percent or more drop in WAIS IQ scores. Many neuro-psychs will put causation as psychological due to elevated MMPI-II scales 1,2,3,7, and/or 8. These same scales can also be elevated due to brain injury without any depression or other psychological/psychiatric factors.

Lloyd L. Cripe has developed a system for accurately differentiating organic brain injury from other causations that may be indicated by the MMPI-II (Minnesote Multiphasic Personality Inventory, edition II)

Many of the therapies are designed to 'help you lower your stress levels thus causing a reduction in cognitive dysfunction.

Yesterday, my OT wanted to do some hocus pocus yoga therapies to lower my stress levels. THIS MAKES ME MAD. Oops, there is not a tongue in cheek icon. LOL

If my blood pressure was any lower, I would never be able to get out of my recliner. 116/76 is low enough. No, I am not very stressed.

As someone else said, what do you do when it appear that the patient has a greater intelligence that the therapist? I think this just gets them mad and determined to try to control us.

Do a google of neuro-plasticity. The therapies to maximize neuro-plasticity do not show up in the OT (occupational therapy) and ST (speech therapy) rehab programs. I wonder why. Could it be that they do not generate paychecks for the OT and ST personnel?

As I said to the program coordinator yesterday, I am not in rehab just to fill up the schedules of the therapists. So far, the therapy has been very elementary.

Years ago, an OT had to work overtime to find ways to challenge me. Yesterday, the OT said the same thing.

Could it be that those of us with high intelligence have such highly developed work-arounds and other accommodations that we can make up for the symptoms that other need therapy to help them with.

Even though I have no visual memory worth a lick, I have learned to convert visual images into verbal images. I can remember the verbal images. For example, If I am driving, I cannot remember where the cars are around me. But, if I come to an intersection, I can look to the left and say to my self; there are no cars coming from the left. Now when I look to the right, I have the word memory of the image to the left.

Since this only works in very limited situations, I only drive when these limited situations are all that I expect, i.e. back country roads where other cars are rare.

The OT and ST do not know these skills to teach me, so why do I need the the rehab costs?

If you neuro-psych report has you confused, ask for the scores and research what they mean.