Has Anyone Seen A Neuropsychologist ?

I was wondering if anyone has brought their family member or yourself to a neuropsychologist for deficits after the brain surgery and the tumor?  I see so many deficits with my mother and she doesn't see any.  Her neuro-oncologist says she's fine, but I know my mother, he just met in her January.  I know that she is not herself and I know what is difficult for her now.  Does anyone know what areas they test on?  and do they rec. services?  Thank you for all of your help.  You all have gotten my family and I through some rough times with your insight and answers.

Yes we have seen one and his insight was very valuable. They conduct a battery of testing that helps to determine the levels of cognitive impairment. This is the information they will use to determine what type of therapy she needs. It can be grueling. My brother has gotten through about 90 minutes of testing - normally 3 hours But this was enough for the doc to get a baseline evaluation, so when we last saw him, he knew that Edward had improved. This is also the doc that pointed us to the Airicept ( off label).

This guy is part of our TEAM and an invaluable resource..

Go for it.

Hi there.  My husband has been treated at Duke since July 07.  In January they suggested he see a neuropsychologist.  He said no.  They also recommended he see a speech therapist and a physical therapist. No and No.  :-)   The only thing he did that they suggested was take a driving test!  He had not driven since his diagnosis because I didn't think it was a good idea.  So when he mentioned the no driving at his January appointment in the Brain Tumor Clinic, they offered up the driving test.  He had not had a seizure in many months.  Anyhow, the driving test was not a road test or a driving simulator but rather a cognitive test administered by the neuropsycholgist!!     He passed.  The neuropscych said cognitively he is fine to drive, however, he is still at high risk for a seizure. 

So, to get back to your question, I think seeing a neuropsychologist is an excellent idea for brain tumor patients.  They can identify the deficits and recommend corrective things that can be done to help.

Now if they could recommend how to handle a stubborn husband!

Best to you!

Barb

Post resection my mom had 3wks in-pt rehab.  She had to re-learn how to tell time, sequencing events/sentences, comprehension/reading, dialing a phone etc.  Math is still difficult but at least she can count out her dollar bills now!  The neuropsych was valuable in her case - it coordinated her whole army of therapists(PT, OT, speech).  She now is highly functional but still cannot work as an accountant or drive. You probably have nothing to lose with an eval.  :)

Nikki

I think seeing one would be great.  Dad didn't have many cognitive issues once the manic phase passed but he continually sees a psychologist who used to work at a facility that specialized in rehabilitation from tumor / brain damage and a psychiatrist who we feel our invaluable.  They were going to send dad for testing but once he started depakote his judgement improved and he was no longer irrational or a threat to others so they said it wasn't necessary.   I feel the more help and people involved in your care the better.

An evaluation now provides a good marker for the future.  I had one a year ago after radiation, but still in Temodar.  [I am a 60 year man with college degree and owner of a tech business with Anaplastic Astrosytoma DX 07/06, no surgery, radiation with concurrent Temodar then six months of 5/23 Temodar ending last April]. 

The test lasts about a hour and consists of reading, word repeating, and board game type work.  It compares patient scores with those of similar ages and abilities.  It measures intelligence based on word use and word knowledge, memory  based on word repetition and visual work at the game board, organization based on word repetition,  and general cognition.  I remember being very disappointed in my ability to repeat back a list of 8 or so words, getting only 3 or 4 after several repetitions, but my personal physician, knowing my poor organizational ability(ADD), thinks that I would have scored similarly before the radiation.  So it important, I think, to have someone who knows the patient review the report with them.  There are too many variables that the test giver might not consider, such as time since last meal, sleep issues, and other distractions.  

But the test is a starting point for comparison.

Larry