Alright, so. Life. 2007, I was on top of the world. I had just graduated at 16, and I was cocky. I made a mistake, which I won't go into, in September of '07. I started self injuring by banging my head on a hard surface. I don't know quite when I started, or quite when I stopped. Best guess, sometime around the start of college a year later.

I don't know when the brain fuzz set in. Greater difficulties with impulse control became noticed by me in the first semester. A change got noticed by my parents never. I forgot words most notably in third semester. "I need a utensil," I said, much to everyone's amusement, including my own. I noticed spelling difficulties, like, maybe I would have spelled that diificulties way back when.

I've done almost a decade's worth of recovering. My executive functioning can still be pretty bad at times. Should I seek diagnosis? Would it be worth it? How would I even go about seeking diagnosis?

JunAhrkSonaak,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

We've had others who hurt themselves with self-injury. I'm sorry to hear you have the same problem.

What kind of diagnosis would you be referring to ?
What would you hope to do with any diagnosis ?

Brain injury is basically a treat the symptom condition. The only diagnosis that may help you would be a neuro psychological assessment. That would quantify your mental abilities, the myriad of different memory functions, executive functions, motor function, processing speed, etc. With that information, one can develop coping skills and learn work-arounds to limitations.

Your spelling difficulty can be cognitive or motor function. I often do the same eeror, error. I depend on spell check software and have even used grammar checking software.

btw, A pencil is a utensil. LOL. Been there, done that. A speech therapist may be able to help you learn word skills. I have learned I need to slow my communication. The more I push, the more the mords get wixed up.

In fact, it can be helpful to learn some jokes about the struggle:

My tongue got wrapped around my eye teeth and I couldn't see what I was saying.
I just washed my tongue and can't do a thing with it.
I'm drain bamaged.
I get my mords wixed up.

I could go on....if my failing memory limits that.

When people ask about my worst struggle, my response is "I forget."

The chemicals released with lighthearted comments can often help the brain reset.

Impulse control is tougher. One needs to learn to recognize a triggering situation developing and avoid letting it develop. It might mean you have to stop and walk away.

I carry a slip of paper in my wallet that explains my struggle with over-responding to people shouting at me and barking order and asks for help.

Please feel free to tell us about any of your struggles. We have heard them all.

My best to you.

Thanks.

A proper diagnosis of PCS or TBI. What would I do with it? I'd seek help for motivation, or more likely, learning skills to get around it. I also want it to be on paper so my dad will stop using language that I hate, and doctors will have a reason to respect my words on the subject.

I use the mords wixed up. I love

They could diagnose you as having symptoms that are common to PCS or mtbi but not much more. There is no valid criteria for a direct diagnosis of PCS unless it follows the diagnosis of a concussion at or shortly after the impact.

But, the NPA would be enlightening to many, especially your family.

What symptoms do you report to doctors that they doubt ?

How are doctors not respecting your words on the subject ?

btw, It is not uncommon for doctors to deny prolonged PCS symptoms.

Well, they seem to disbelieve anything that's undiagnosed, and they'll listen and have the appearance of implicitly agreeing with my dad's assessment of "severe ADHD". This leads them to doubt my muddled tongue story, because I'm pretty sure that was aphasia, and aphasia and ADHD don't normally go together.

Natch. They certainly can't trust their patients!

It sounds like you need a NeuroPsych Assessment. Have you ever been seen by a Neuro Psychologist ? A properly administered Neuro Psych Assessment battery will include a system to identify if you are making an honest effort.

An fMRI administered by a mtbi/PCS clinic might identify mtbi/PCS vs ADHD.

Is there a Neuro Rehab hospital of clinic nearby ? They usually have a Neuro Psych and other specialties, speech pathologist, OT, etc. Where do you live ? Maybe we can recommend a clinic in your area ?

Doctors often get very annoyed when the patient does the diagnosis. Avoid using diagnostic terms. Aphasia is a diagnostic term. Word finding or getting words mixed up, memory struggles in different situations, ability or inability to perform multi-step tasks, focus, etc

What are all of your current symptoms ?

What symptoms are they claiming are ADHD and not PCS

Was the muddled tongue a one time event ?

What are the issues you father seems to be concerned with?
Did you finish college ?
Are you struggling to get and hold a job ?
Have you tried any meds and do they want you to try a med ?

By your responses, I can see why they think ADHD. You can change that perspective by learning to focus on the task at hand and respond to just that task.

You may need to learn to take notes and make lists. You may need to use a list to break a task down into its various components.

But first, you need a diagnosis of your level of function. The NPA, a speech pathologists assessment, an occupational therapists assessment, and such can be worthwhile.

Do not pursue a cause of these struggles. That does not matter as much as identifying your struggles.

My best to you.