I need opinions because my lack of doctor support. Before my last concussion I was in college, working full time, and on the waiting list for a degree program to become an Occupational therapy assistant. I had finished all of my basic classes during the 2 year wait list period so I just have the main OTA classes left. I was supposed to start the program this fall but I deferred it a year due to the PCS. I spoke to the neuropsychologist and he said that based on my results he had major doubts that I would be able to learn and retain the information.

Now I have until early next month to commit for the program starting next year. I am currently in the application process for SSDI. And I know that as of right now I would not be able to do or handle school. This decision is really hard because I will not be allowed to defer again. So I feel like I am choosing to be disabled or choosing to go to school and have a career. One of my biggest problems in memory. I am 15 months almost 16 months post injury. What are the chances for memory improvement now and has anyone experienced any major improvement when over a year post injury.

First point, You should be allowed to defer for another year. This deferment would be considered a "Reasonable accommodation for your disability."

Go ahead and follow through with the SSDI process. SSDI will require that you be assessed in 3 to 5 years to see if you have improved. You can always become non-disabled. Until then, you will have some breathing room to work on the academic skills you will need for the OTA program.

You can also consider getting degreed in Social Work so you can become a case manager for people with TBI. It can be just as productive as the more hands on OTA. There are things a Social Worker can do that fill in the voids left between OT, PT, RecT, etc.

You experience with mTBI will be a great asset to your career.

If you get approved for SSDI, you can still work and make up to $1000 per month. This could be a way to take a slower path to the career you want.

My best to you.

Mark thanks for your input but you did not really answer my question. I am aware of my options if I could do social work than I could do the occupational therapy(which is what I wanted to do for the last 10 years). I really just want to know about improvement for people over a year post injury and how significant it is. Thanks for any input.

The statistics say the longer symptoms persist, the greater the likelihood they will be permanent. There is not an adequate methodical following of persistent PCS. Most patients fade away in frustration. The NFL has the best research and even that is very poor.

Some point to the idea that much of the improvement in the second year is not due to spontaneous recovery but rather a result of the subject learning coping mechanisms and work-arounds to make up for lost abilities.

Keep in mind that the brain takes 20 or more years to mature in its functions. Even if there was a magic neurogenesis pill, the brain would still need to relearn things that took 20 years to learn the first time. Some areas of the brain only develop in their specific function during specific times during the human growth/aging cycle.

It appears to are looking for the probability of getting better physiologically, hoping to make some educated decisions. When I was going through college, I ended up deciding things from a pragmatic point of view, basically, one day or year at a time.

I wish I had better information for you.

Did the NP tell you what the results were that led him to his prognosis? There are many ways to skin a cat. Developing the work-around skills needed for your limitations can restore you to a greater level of functioning that many believe possible. I function far better than my NP Assessment says I should.

Feel free to PM or email me if there are NP Assessment results you want to discuss in private. I've had 3 NPA's and have research the meaning of most of the tests so I could better understand what my brain is and isn't doing correctly. The academic explanation does not always correlate to the experience of the subject.

Mark,

Thank you again for the response. I have to say the my test results stated exactly what my problems were. With all of the headaches, anxiety, complete inability to handle stress and depression aside it is like I am searching for something for something in my head and there is nothing in there. My memories are just blank. I can however remember things from before the accident really well.

I just found out today my SSDI was approved on the first pass through so hopefully the more stress I get rid of the better I will be.

Hi Kelley84,

My TBI happened in August of 2009 and I was set to resume classes in September. That went on hold until the Spring term of 2010. I thought I could handle it after taking the first term off.

In the spring I paid my tutition (over $3000 out my own pocket) and started classes again. I struggled for eight weeks to keep up with the work, but it became impossible.

What came easy before, kept me stressed and frustrated. I would study for hours and I just couldn't retain the info.

I felt as if I had just thrown three grand away into the wind and felt like a total failure. In hindsight, I put too much pressure and expectations on myself too soon.

I wasn't ready and I'm still not. My neuros have also told me that it's likely that I will always have problems retaining any "stress" related info. They've signed off on permanent disability.

Just my opinion from my experience, take the maximum amount of time you can for recovery before returning to school...If your still having major issues after that, you may have to re-evaluate your goals...I know it sucks but wasting so much time and money only to end up back where you started is just so dis-heartening.

I wish you well.

Kelley,

Congrats on the SSDI. It took me three tries to get approved. That was three years almost to the day.

Do you have any specifics about your memory. It would be listed usually as WMS or Wechsler Memory Scale, Percent level of visual and auditory short and immediate memory? I'm at 5% to 12% in memory.

I have lots of memory tricks.

How did you do on WAIS-II ( Intelligence) if that test was done?
WAIS-II Processing speed?

Did you do the MMPI-II tests? If so, what scales were elevated?

If the NP did not give you your scores, you should get a copy of them. It is your right. I had to fight to get them.

Understanding the scores can help you understand what your capabilities are and what things you need to work on at a slower pace.

The main test I did was the RBANS which produced the following scores:

Immediate Memory 7% Visuospatial/construction 10% Language 04% Attention 43% Delayed Memory 21 % Total Scale 08%. It also stated that the RBANS total scale index of 79 was not consistant with my WTAR estimated IQ of 122. I am not sure what this really means.

Kelley,

Congrats on the SSDI. It took me three tries to get approved. That was three years almost to the day.

Do you have any specifics about your memory. It would be listed usually as WMS or Wechsler Memory Scale, Percent level of visual and auditory short and immediate memory? I'm at 5% to 12% in memory.

I have lots of memory tricks.

How did you do on WAIS-II ( Intelligence) if that test was done?
WAIS-II Processing speed?

Did you do the MMPI-II tests? If so, what scales were elevated?

If the NP did not give you your scores, you should get a copy of them. It is your right. I had to fight to get them.

Understanding the scores can help you understand what your capabilities are and what things you need to work on at a slower pace.

Drats, I just brain farted and hit <control> something and deleted 10 to 15 lines of typing.

Here goes again. If I can remember. Just a short bit. The frustration of accidentally deleting so much text fries my brain.

It would help if over the next few days, you would try to notice and jot down the tasks where your memory limits have cause problems. I will likely have a specific work-around suggestion for you. I have many for the many different situations where my memory fails me.

My best to you.

I have to ask....at what point did you guys decide to even apply to SSDI. My nuero told me a year to 18 months before I'm healed...... Did you wait that long to start the process?