Referral to Neuropsych
 

I'm 9 months out of my TBI. Just got a referral from my PC to the neuropsych. My neurologist cut me loose back in October. I'm doing much better than I was-still having a few issues with vertigo, sleeplessness (more trouble falling asleep than staying asleep), short term memory, and word finding.

Can anyone sort of let me know what to expect or what I might find out. Not holding anyone to anything they say-I know everyone is different, but any help is appreciated!

Tami

I have had 2 full NeuroPsych Assessments and 2 abbreviated NPA's.

There is nothing to worry about. You will do best if you go to the appointment without any preparation. You want the results to be accurate so trying to be your best can work against you. The NPA will test your reaction speed, memory functions, other cognitive function, distractability, emotional state, etc.

The specific tests will depend on the tester. The Halstead-Reitan Battery has been the standard for mTBI for a long time but many are using newer batteries in an effort to shorten the total time needed to complete the Assessment.

Do not think of this as a pass/fail issue. If you were getting a lump biopsied, you would want the pathologist to be able to identify the tissue cells. You want the same with the NPA. btw, My wife had a biopsy that could not be identified.

When you get your NPA report, it will likely be a confidence builder. Finally, you will have confirmation of the struggles you have. It can also go a long way at helping your family and friends to understand.

So, relax and look forward to the NPA. Be glad that you can get it done. Many can not get the approval or funding to get an NPA done.

And, if it causes you to not get a good night's sleep before hand, don't worry, it will make the result even more indicative of your condition.

My best to you.

I've had 2, one in-patient and one out patient. They are typically about 2-4 hours, they typically start with a general interview about how you have been feeling, and if you are married or have a partner they will likely want to interview them also. This is typically followed by a battery of tests, which will depend somewhat on your condition but can include trail marking, digit span, Wisconson card sort, and other tests designed to test memory, executive functions, or whatever you have had difficulty with. Then there will be a session to go over the test results and if any additional therapy or treatment is appropriate.

The first one I took showed how much work I had to do. The second one showed how far I had come :)

thanks folks! I knew there would be some testing but not sure what or anything....guess like you said-going in blind is best. I do want accurate results. I don't want to over/understate what's happening in my world.

Better!

Tami:cool: