[mbrook]

I finally got my Dr. to send me for a neurophyc test almost a year and half after my accident. The Dr. giving the test said that I fell through the cracks of the system.

I will get a copy of the official report in a week but I met with the neurophyc Dr. today.

Because I am "above average" in intellegence I still test in the 91% of my peer group after a brain injury. The areas I scored low in were still slightly above averaged or average.

I was told that along with some rehab therapy I mainly need counseling to axcept that I am intellegent I'm just slower. Because I test so high in my peer group I am more aware of the changes my injury has caused and there for very fustrated by them.

I also am depressed- you think!! It has taken this long to get a test that I should have taken a month after my accident, but my dr.s dropped the ball. I lost my job and house.

Once I except that this is who I am and what I am capable of now I wont be depressed. I don't want to except I just want to be fixed.

Is this test reliable? After taking it I slept for 2 days! And you take it in a quiet room with only one person talking. How does this measure or show the meltdown that happens when over stemmulated?

[Mark in Idaho]

I agree. The sterile environment does limit the symptoms a bit but does not devalue the tests. My first NP was in a visually over stimulating room with a leaf blower working outside. the NP doc was clueless about the noise and visual stimuli even though I complained.

My second NP was in a sterile room. I complained that is created an unnatural environment.

Fortunately, both NP Assessments, even though they were 6 years apart, had almost identical results. This included an interpretation that I was faking the test even though the validity score was 98%.

If you were given the MMPI-II, it is often misinterpreted as indicating depression when a better,more thorough review of the elevated scales indicates organic brain injury.

The high IQ is a problem as it allows the subject to be VERY aware of their dysfunctions. It also challenges the NP doc as there is a common belief that PCS will show up with a lower IQ.

Instead of being frustrated with your new you, try using your high intelligence to find new ways of doing things. Work-arounds can create a high functioning life. I have some work-arounds that help me drive.

Your driving struggles make me thing the NP doc has underestimated/misinterpreted your test results.

The two days of sleep after the NP is not uncommon. Too bad the doc does not take that into consideration. The tests are reliable. Too bad we can't say that about the NP doc.

It will be interesting to know some of the scores that were interpreted.

My best to you.

[mbrook]

Thanks for the info.

I feel like my issues are not being addressed. My neurologist told me I needed glasses when I told him I was having trouble seeing and couldn't read or spell simple words.

I admit I've been depressed but the anxiety and panic attacks are from the brain injury.

The over stimmulation and being unable to sleep are my brain. Paying attention is impossible. Zoloft has not helped these issues.

I can't drive because I can't get my eyes to focus all the time and the level of consentration combined with the stimmulation pushes me over the edge.

This is not all depression!