vinni and others,

Many health care professionals will mix the two labels, PCS/concussion and mTBI. It is better to look at the progression of symptoms. No LOC, coma, no motor or psyche amnesia (minor amnesia for the event is common to concussion), no brain bleeds, etc. by most would be labeled PCS or mTBI.

The coma and amnesia with motor or psyche (thought/memory recall) becomes labeled a TBI. Some pros will try to diagnose different levels of concussion. I think this is a very hap-hazard effort with current diagnostic techniques in use.

vinni, Your neuro-psych sounds a lot like mine. Mine says, processing speed 10%, short and immediate visual and auditory memory in the bottom 5 to 12 %. My intellect is intact but hampered by the others. Besides my memory struggles, I am continually struggling with word finding, a symptom not tested well in the neuro-psych. The evaluator did comment about some of my strange word responses.

I did not get any estimations of pre-morbid abilities except an offhand comment about high intelligence evident due to high post morbid levels (90 to +99%). Most high intelligence suggests high pre-morbid memory function. It is difficult to develop a high intelligence without also having high memory functions.

This conflict between high intelligence with low post-morbid memory is considered a strong reason for the high level of functional/cognitive/memory complaints from the high intelligence PCS community. In my case, I had a very photographic memory. I could easily memorize/remember visual pictures, along with word and number pictures.

I don't get caught in a definition puzzle. I just label myself as brain injured. Very few ever understand any more specific definition. If somebody asks about my brain injury, I just say that I have had too many concussions resulting in a loss of visual and auditory short term memory functions.

The doctors definitely do not care about definitions. They just make-up their own opinions/diagnoses.


My best to you all.