Cognitive testing!

[RogerCMerriman]

Today was cognitive testing good lord no more questions! 8hrs with in a room with a Nero-psychologist. I’m totally bushed see photo! It’s a interesting first step.

[sospan]

Glad all my cognitive testing is behind me.

When I did mine the results were always distorted because they used to bring out my competitive side, which you can't maintain in normal life.

Surprisingly these tests also take a toll physically as well as mentally.

Hope the results go the way you want

[RogerCMerriman in reply to sospan]

I am pleased that I did well on the things that I used to, stuff like spacial reasoning where I didn't slow as the questions got harder, etc.

I'm used to some of this since i've had similar years ago for Dyslexic testing.

[monmon1974 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Be patient, these tests are necessary to differentiate physical disability such as distorted hearing due to bone or nerve abnormality and the other possibilities which make you unhappy for your hearing and any other symptoms

[RogerCMerriman in reply to monmon1974]

These are cognitive tests very much IQ based I’ve had similar in the past, didn’t touch anything physical at all ie balance or even understanding people ie jokes and what not that I don’t get anymore.

Which is more the stuff that I think will happen tomorrow?

[sue-66]

How often do they test?

[RogerCMerriman in reply to sue-66]

This is the first time, for myself at just about 4 years mark. I fell though the gaps and what not.

[moo196]

8hours ???

Sounds more like torture than testing!!

Why so long ?

[RogerCMerriman in reply to moo196]

It did feel like torture at times, I effectively ran out of brain within the first hour! so limped though the next 7hrs.

No idea why it's so long I assume its probably staff usage? the rehab program is the same times as well.

[suemoff]

I'm currently waiting for some. Though have been waiting getting on for 3 years, but have been put back and back because tgey said the fatigue would skew the results. Well it looks like the fatigue is here to stay, so hopefully soon.

[StrawberryCream]

Gosh that was a tough expectation to do all the cognitive testing in straight 8 hours! Mine was done over 3 sessions at least a week apart! Think my scores would be deteriorating if I had to do it all in one day! Not surprised you look totally shattered Roger and probably with no cognitive function left in you!!!

[RogerCMerriman in reply to StrawberryCream]

There wasn't a huge amount left, to be honest! had a good zombie walk which I hadn't seen in months!

[Hidden]

Mine were in 3-5 hr sessions and one of the consultants got irritated with me for hitting the wall and not concentrating on what he was saying! What are they hoping to achieve?

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Hidden]

The Psych was nice, she could see i was flagging though she kept the questions going! but did ask if we could continue, or one more etc.

[Hidden]

Is there an outcome from the testing or just benchmarking?

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Hidden]

I don't think they will test again, hope not! I believe they will use the results to tailor the rehab? but to be honest I'm not sure I don't remember what she told me really.

[Hidden in reply to RogerCMerriman]

That sounds a productive outcome. Worth the wall! Fingers crossed.

[moo196]

That's longer than a day at work! I don't think I'd sign up for more of the same and would hope that my "results" wouldn't be used for anything much ( apart from seeing the effects of a long day of testing) Far too long in my humble opinion.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to moo196]

I don't think they will do it again, I didn't know it would be so long, I knew there was going to be some sort of testing and from 9:30-4 but didn't realise it would be so full on!

[spider555]

I've never heard of that

[Pip70]

Good morning I am just starting on the road of pip and ESA and curious about the cognitive testing? Is it a routine part of claiming benefits for brain injury? What does it involve? Hope you got a good sleep and now feel a bit better...

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Pip70]

Its far to mild to qualify for PIP/ESA I’d assume admittedly I’ve never asked, but I think it’s unlikely.

About the only benefits that would be handy would be the taxi cards.

[tigeranne14]

Hi Roger so glad to hear you have access to rehab. I have had my neuro Psych evaluation done but we have no rehab here on the NHS. I am trying, on days when I can use computer, to suss out rehab that is available in our local area. One of the boys in our local group needs it most. So I am fundraising to pay for rehab when we can source it. My evaluation was done over 8 weeks so now that you day 8 continuous hours, I realize they got my best 8 hours. Realising this makes me think your day would give a better picture of what you can sustain and so tailor the rehab to you. Best of luck.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to tigeranne14]

I got the rehab based on the Neuro Psych recommendations, which I got started on by help from one of the local Headway facilitators who mentions this

"It is part of the Care Act 2014 that you are entitled to access the correct services and if they are not in your local area they can be sourced from outside."

It is a postcode lottery for myself I'm lucky in that I'm within access to the Wolfson.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfs...

Do you have a local headway who could help? or possibly national?

[tigeranne14 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Thanks, Roger I will show this to Headway group as I know we have nothing in our NHS area but there are services in one of our neighbouring NHS boards

[BeckyT77]

Hi. my son was 13 when he did his. Took six hours. He was so tired afterwards. Hope it helps you now its completed.

[barny1]

That seems a bit excessive! I remember having to do cognitive testing for a claim which was done in it's entirety on the day. It left me feeling shattered and terribly inadequate, I wanted longer breaks between tests, a few minutes wasn't enough. I got the feeling that the tester really didn't appreciate how very fatiguing it was for me, but anyway I had a claim and they had to put me through the mill.

Years later, upon seeing a neuropsychologist I was subjected to the same testing although this time it was spread over several weeks which was far less horrible and fatigue didn't factor as much.

I will concede however, that what you went through perhaps shows your weaknesses better and clearly fatigue is a major part of brain injury and affects our performance in our everyday lives and therefore you could argue should be a part of cognitive testing, however mentally defeating it appears.

[Ro_76]

That was definitely a long time to have tests in one go.. I had mine over several weeks (8 or more maybe) and mine was done very soon following my discharge from hospital. I struggled to answer some and felt stupid at the time. But now it's been just over 2 years I understand why I struggled at that time. My results were based on my injury on left temporal lobe. I was very fortunate to have this help so fast. I know that many are not so fortunate so I feel very grateful for it. I hope everyone else gets the chance to have this as it has been very useful to have (even though it was draining at the time!) Have a nice weekend all xx

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Ro_76]

I should of had this at the time, but since i'm high functioning and I was convinced nothing was wrong! so convinced them that everything was fine and dandy!

Hence going back some 4 years after.

[Tortie14]

Gosh that's a marathon. I had a couple of hours testing with the neuropsych - which was quite demanding enough but very helpful, because at that point I was facing the "nothing wrong with you - all in your mind" reaction from many people (including medical professionals) that so many of us, particularly those with less severe impairments, face. I hope that your rehab proves effective and helps you find better ways to deal with the problems you now have.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Tortie14]

Yes i'm still fairly wiped out a week later! not helped by two social events this week.

I have had today off, and bar making tea haven't done a thing!