I'll add too, that I don't remember what testing I'll be undergoing, however the hospital has assured me that it is covered by OHIP. My injury occurred in 1972, a long time ago, in a different province, far, far away. Kidding aside, I'll post here, what exactly, I find out.

Hi Jamie,

Everyone agrees I have PCS. I'm seeing my primary care doctor, neurologist, optometrist and neuro psychologist. I'm waiting to see an optometrist and I'm about to see a new neurologist... so lots of MD's involved! The psychiatrist you're seeing is probably the big difference here. My neuro psych testing is being recommended to show where my deficits are and what we can work on and what issues I will have if I attempt to return to work and any accommodations needed.

I think the other reason she wants to do them is because I seem to be in denial/disagreement with the fact that there are things wrong and in order to improve I need to know what's wrong. does that make sense?

Anyhow, good luck with your testing and please let us know what you find out! I've done some reading on Ontario Shores and it looks like an awesome place to go.

Take care,
CC

I was also referred by an MD but, even so, in Manitoba, neuropsych assessment is not an insured service. I decided against it because I was starting to get a very good handle on my own cogitive deficits....most relating to vision and visiual memory, luckily enough! My long term disability insurer with my work finally asked me to go for one and they paid. It was reassuring in that my 'IQ' was still relatively intact, and I had major deficits in visually related tests. It was horribly difficult to do the test...i did it one hour at a time over a three week period. It wiped me out!

The test does not usually get to the heart of some major deficits, such as those related to executive functions, planning, motivation, apathy, detachment, multi-tasking abilities.

Good luck!

Mokey said, "The test does not usually get to the heart of some major deficits, such as those related to executive functions, planning, motivation, apathy, detachment, multi-tasking abilities."

This depends on the battery of tests used in the NPA. The MMPI-II should point to some of the psychological issues, motivation, apathy, etc. Multi-tasking is part of the trail making test and some tests that create a conflict to thought processes but they are often visually oriented. Your NP may have chosen to not have you do some tests because they were not relevant to his directive from the insurance co or he already was aware of you difficulty in that area. He may have also pre-determined that multi-tasking was not going to be a strong skill for you.

My two NPA used mostly different tests to measure the same functions. The Halsted Reitan Battery used to be the gold standard but more recently, NP's have used other batteries of tests or designed their own battery of tests.

So, it is hard to predict what the NPA will be like. Attorney Gordon Johnson discusses the differences in NPA batteries at www.tbilaw.com and wwwsubtlebraininjury.com

Best to just relax and take the tests and let your symptoms/limitations show themselves.

My best to you as you decide this issue.

There are tests that measure executive function. I am surprised your NPA report did not comment on executive functioning.

Mine was recent and IMO the largest part of the testing was measuring my psychological health. Drove me crazy. 1300 written questions (fill in the dot, true or false) measuring if I think street drugs are ok, measuring if I'm a liar, measuring if I think it's ok to steal to get ahead... I was stumped as to why any of this mattered. It sure was exhausting.

It's just my opinion but I'm glad I didn't pay for the entire day, because I felt the tests given were somewhat stupid and a waste of time.

The parts I did like were the oral tests measuring my spatial skills, my memory, my vocabulary... Actual real life skills as opposed to whether I'm a depressed drug seeking liar and thief.

The oral test was less than half the day. The report isn't ready yet so I'm not sure yet if it was worth it. Will keep you posted on my thoughts there.

I'm sure they all use different measures and tests depending on who is paying them and what the desired finding is about. (in my case WCB is paying them so it's no surprise the majority of the testing was to see if I'm a liar, but it was still stupid and exhausting)

Also of note, the NP day (including travel and a winter storm) took so much out of me, my setback is still ongoing 10 days later. It was the worst setback I've had to date, setting me back at least a couple months all the way to the full head, swollen feeling, ears tight and ringing, completely dazed, fresh injury feeling.

Thank you all for your input on the neuropsych assessments... I'm still undecided at this point, but am leaning towards not spending the money on doing them. $2-$4k out of pocket is a huge amount of money that I just can't see the value in my own personal situation.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my rehab psych (different than neuro psych) and will discuss it with her. She knows the ins and outs and will have an opinion on this and I'll see if that changes my mind.

While we *could* afford it if needed, I can think of many things I'd rather spend that money on. I just can't see how doing a series of tests to point out my difficulties has value to me. I already know what things are harder (impossible) than they used to be, I don't need them documented.

Thanks!
Starr

I certainly don't want to pay $2000+ out of pocket to be set back 2-3 months either! Sounds very counter productive. Thanks for the warning on that MsRrio and I hope you're feeling better soon. 1300 written questions at this point is ridiculous! I had the same types of questions when an insurance company sent me to see their doctor....tried to trick me into saying I would use street drugs if it would make me feel better. Wouldn't drop the subject....annoying...

I hope everyone is having a good day.


CC

Hello everyone. I've been referred/scheduled for a Neuropsychological assessment at Ontario Shores. I have confirmed that the testing is covered by OHIP.
Cheers,
Jamie

I hope you get some answers Jamie! I guess the trick is having a psychiatrist on board not just a psychologist. I can't get in to see a psychiatrist unless I'm suicidal or need medications and neither apply so I'm stuck paying for everything myself. Let us know how it goes and what kind of recommendations and help you get from it.

Take care,
CC

Correct. I told my family doctor what I suspected about PCS. She didn't really know much, but after she did some investigating she referred me to a community psychiatrist for a screening. I told him why I was there and he showed me the description of PCS and the symptoms in his big book a psychiatry. YES, its there, and he recommended the testing. You may want to take a similar approach with your doc.

I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on how it goes, I still haven't received a date, but it may be in September. I've been waiting since June.

Jamie