Hello!

So I went for a cognitive eval at Kessler Institute. I was told ot would take 3-4 hours. I arrived and was in the doctors office for a total of no more then an hour and a half the begining was background mental health issues in my family then she started with the testing. Simple things like conecting the dots and reading then repeatoing numbers and words right after she said it.

To be honest I am a little displeased with the whole evaluation. I found it to be short and simple. I feel it didn't show the problems I have every day that people close to me notice. And it was not nearly as long as the head of the neuropsych dept said it would be.

But anyway my results were that due to the fact that it has been more then 42 days after my initial impact and because I have trouble falling asleep that is is now depression. And now because of the depression I have a slow processing speed.

So even tho my symptoms now are the same they were when I first got injured thay are from depression not my head injury but back then they were from my head injury.

It is very confusing to me. She also said that I have NO problems multi tasking, with memory, or my attention. Mean while everyone around me every day will beg to differ.

Pleae share your thoughts on this!

Bogus, bogus, bogus. Their explanation of it being depression because it is after 42 days shows their lack of knowledge of prolonged concussion.

The short assessment may be due to two reasons. It may have been a preliminary eval prior to scheduling a full assessment. Or, the examiner may have come to an early 'diagnosis' that lead her to her diagnosis and shortening of the assessment. I bet it was the second. The examiner was likely a intern or residency fellow. They need to complete a specific number of assessments under the supervision of the NeuroPsych to finish the neuropsych training. I have had one of these and he was an idiot.

There are some biased evaluators and therapists who believe that PCS heals by 6 weeks. This is totally unsupported by scientific research.

I bet Kessler is a teaching facility. I just checked and found "We provide core training experiences for resident physicians, fellows and post-doctoral students who are working towards their respective specialty and subspecialty certifications. We also provide clinical education for hundreds of students pursuing advanced degrees in rehabilitation medicine; physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapy; nursing; psychology and neuropsychology; and other disciplines."

Many rehab facilities have a very low standard of cognitive rehab. By that I mean they don't accept the symptoms of PCS as valid dysfunctions or disabilities. They often consider patients who have obtained motor function rehab to an expected level while still having minor cognitive symptoms as 'cured' or completely rehabbed. I see these same patients monthly at my brain injury support group. Very few have any continuing cognitive support.

It is very likely that your symptoms are below their threshold of rehabilitation.

The question for you is simple. Are you looking for a diagnosis so you can receive treatment or therapy or a diagnosis to just confirm your condition so you can settle a law suit or other disability claim? Or something else?

In the mean time, welcome to the club of the misdiagnosed by a NeuroPsych Assessment.

My best to you.

Jaystar - I am having a similar situation where I have undergone 2 of these more indepth than yours but the 2nd - the doc came to a similar conclusion. How do you fight such a thing? I do know it is draining on your psyche. In my case i made some improvements from a prior test but still had slow processing speeds and immediately it is depression and sleep deprivation that are the causes or in so many words - the docs dont want to take the time becasue they are afraid they wont get reimbursed by the insurance companies.

I am sorry you are having this frustrated period in your life. It is so hard to explain to a doctor that you know yourself better than any physician/specialist.

The 2nd time I was readmitted to hospital the ambulance men/paramedics said I had an ear infection and there was no way my symptoms related to my BT from just 10 days before. I luckily found a consultant who gave me an emergency 2nd CT.

You seem to have found a bad egg.

As a patient it is your right to ask for a second screening. This may be done more personally through your GP. He may be able to refer you to someone he knows will be more compassionate.

We are here on this site, as I am learning, because our injuries are invisible people generally do not care. This is something we have to live with.

But do take control of your diagnosis if you feel it will help. If not then research yourself the help you need and ask your GP to assign you to the right people/organisations.

Thank You,

I am tryoing to get a "confirmation" of my diagnosis so I can undergo proper therapy to help with my memory. Processing speed, and other cognotive troubles. It is a school sport related injury so I also need it to be confirmed that it is due to the head injury that I am this way so I can receive coverage for it. It has been a long 1+ year battle and there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of tis tunnel right now.

Luckily my neurologist who first was stubborn to send me for a cognitive eval now wants me to go to a different place to get a full cognitive assessmewnt for TBI. I've decided to wait a week until the head of neuropsych at kessler gets back to me about if I can get seen there again or not.

I also do feel that I just wasn't "as bad" as I need to be to foit their program. Since they are a rehab facility they often take worse cases then mine I guess. We will see what happens

I read up about Kessler. They do not have much of a program to diagnose and treat milder injuries like mTBI/concussion. The therapies they use are oriented toward those who have been comatose and need rehab of their brain. This is very different than an mTBI/concussion.

What therapy are you wanting? Speech therapy is often used for memory issues but much of it is learning compensation strategies, not repairing the damaged memory functions.