[AndromedaJulie]

There is a lot of talk on here about neuropsych assessments.

I went to a neuropsychologist a few times, and she administered the IMPACT on the computer. I got the results 5 minutes later and we discussed them. Is that what everyone is talking about?

I wonder if there is something more because some people are waiting a few days for evaluations. Like a more in-depth type of assessment.

[RJam]

My neuropsych was much different than that. It started out as two appointments about 1 hour in length with me giving detailed history from education-medical-family relationships. Then i took a test that was a few hundred questions about my personality. Then I went back a few months later and the real test began. The first day was 9 hours long and the second day was three hours.

Then I waited about a month and had about an hour discussion on the results and what they meant and where we were going to go from there. It took about another 8 months for the actual report to be sent to me where it went into even more detail about my issues and what requirements I will need at school etc.

[Mark in Idaho]

Like RJam said, a normal full battery NeuroPsych Assessment (NPA) takes from a few hours to 8 to even 16 hours, depending on which subtests are done. The report should be available about a month later.

The ImPACT test is a very abbreviated NPA with very limited value, especially if there was not a baseline done before the head injury.

An NPA report will indicate the various brain functioning levels compared to the rest of the population. Visual and auditory immediate and short term memory, executive functioning, motor response time, verbal processing, and many more functions can be tested and scored.

An NPA can get very expensive, $4000 is not uncommon. And, insurance will usually want an strong reason for the referral for the NPA.

An NPA can be a two headed monster, one good, one not so good. It can put a diagnosis to our struggles making them real. But, at the same times, when we understand the reality of our injury and dysfunctions, we can often stop second guessing and doubting ourselves. No more "Am I going nuts ? Is this all just in my head ?"

Not all neuro psychologist are the same. Some have a bias against concussions causing long term symptoms and try to say we are just depressed or malingering (making things up). So, it helps to find a good, objective neuro psychologist. One directly affiliated with a brain injury rehabilitation hospital or clinic would likely be a good start.

[AndromedaJulie]

Thanks. This makes sense. We actually had that full assessment done for our older daughter a few years ago, now I realize.

I think for me, it probably isn't necessary (or affordable) at this point. I'm not sure I need more defining. Just more healing.

[RJam]

Its important to note I live in canada where the cost of the NPA is covered by the government so that may make a difference

[KnockedOutMom]

Originally Posted by RJam

Its important to note I live in canada where the cost of the NPA is covered by the government so that may make a difference

I too am in Canada and my NPA wasn't covered. Wonder if it is different depending on the province?