The Significance of Neuropsychology and its Role in Post-Acute Rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida

Neuropsychology is a specialized variant of psychology that focuses on the evaluation and rehabilitation of individuals who have abnormal brain-behavior relationships. The need for neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation can result from a variety of causes, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Mild brain injuries (MBI)
• Concussions
• Work-related injuries that involve head injuries
• Neurological injuries such as those caused by strokes

A neuropsychological issue may manifest itself in one or more of the following behaviors, or others, that was or were theretofore uncharacteristic of the individual:

• Inflexibility
• Diminution of social skills
• Reduced ability to exercise good judgment and reason
• Lack of situational or personal insight
• Frustration

The neuropsychological deficit caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a mild brain (MBI) injury, a concussion, a neurological event or some other kind of head trauma, has diverse behavioral effects. The effect depends, in part, on the area of the brain affected. For example, trauma to the frontal lobes usually results in personality changes. These can include irritability, poor judgment, aggression and impulsivity. In contrast, trauma to the brain stem can result in disorientation, frustration and anger.

What are Neuropsychologists?

Neuropsychologists are trained and experienced in areas including psychology, brain development, neurological disorders and their causes (etiologies), neurodiagnostic techniques, normal and abnormal test results and the effects of medical disorders. Clinical neuropsychologists address neurobehavioral problems of the nervous system. These can include dementia, vascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries and other problems. [1]

[1] American Psychological Association, http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/neuro.aspx

Goals of Neuropsychological Testing

There are several goals to neuropsychological testing. Some of them include:

• Assessment of the individual’s memory and attention (including “divided attention” (which is the ability to pay attention and accurately execute more than one action at once);
• Assessment of the functional educational grade level of the individual and its consistency with what it was prior to the trauma;
• Determine whether the individual needs special accommodation in living, work or education;
• Determine whether the individual, after discharge, can live independently or needs a supported independent living environment;
• Determine whether an individual who sustained a RBI, MBI, concussion or other trauma that required a neuropsychological assessment can successfully return to work. That may include an evaluation of whether he or she is capable of returning to his or her prior occupation or profession or if he or she can be retrained in another;
• Determine whether the individual can manage his or her finances;
• Determine whether the individual is capable of driving [2]

[2] A Guide to Neuropsychological Testing, http://www.brainline.ord/content/2011/10/1-guide-to-neuropsychological-testing.html

How is Neuropsychological Assessment Conducted?

Neuropsychological assessment can be conducted in 2 main ways depending upon its purpose. One way is “normative” which relates to the individual’s performance measured against a larger population. The other is “individual” which means that it is done periodically to determine whether there is a decline in assessment scores that are not attributable to expected factors, such as aging. Both ways rely on the ability to perform tasks, so they both also use standardized testing to assess the ability to perform higher level cognitive tasks. A neuropsychologist and a neurologist are often both involved in the assessment, but the main goal of the testing is to assess cognitive abilities. A purely neurological examination isn’t usually focused on cognition.

When an individual becomes a Client of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida, he or she undergoes an independent functional evaluation administered by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that may consist of:

• Board Certified Neurologist
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst
• Board Certified Physiatrist
• Neuropsychologist
• Psychologist
• Board Certified Psychiatrist
• Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Nurses
• Certified Rehab Counselor

From the results of the independent functional evaluation, the professionals of NeuLife Rehab formulate a Client Goal Plan. The Client Goal Plan guides the clinically relevant services delivered by NeuLife Rehab. The Client Goal Planit guides the cognitive, psychiatric, neurologic, psychological and neuropsychological therapy of the Client. The goal of NeuLife Rehab’s innovative post-acute rehabilitation is the attainment for our Clients of independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and mental abilities permit.

NeuLife Rehab consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceeds the expectations of all persons served. Our philosophy of that healing, wellness, and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in an uplifting, therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each Client so he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife Rehab believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as goals to increase function and independence.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” —  the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.
2725 Robie Avenue
Mount Dora, Florida 32757

Once the neuropsychological assessment has been reviewed and explained by the neuropsychologist to the client and the family, it must be implemented. The implementation may include appropriate therapies for the client including residential programs, such as that which NeuLife offers, or other types of inpatient or outpatient care.

Neuropsychological assessments can be costly, but they are a key part of the overall assessment of a person who has sustained a traumatic brain injury. They can be vital in setting the course of the remainder of the individual’s life. The information that emanates from a neuropsychological assessment is vital for the client, the family, physicians and all other caregivers. [3]

The professionals at NeuLife are trained and equipped to understand, design and to execute innovative therapies and strategies for clients who have sustained traumatic brain injuries and neurologic deficits.

NeuLife does it best.

[3] Diagnosing Brain Injury, http://biausa.org/brain-injury-diagnosis.htm