Cognitive evaluation

Hi Rich, Please don't be nervous and just do the best you can. I really don't remember too much from three years ago so I copied some of the categories from the actual report below. The testing was done over a period of a few days because of the fatigue I was experiencing. It was given in segments and each segment had to be completed within a certain timeframe. The testing reminded me of tests given in grammar school with rest periods in between each segment. The test itself was not stressful at all. What I found difficult was the realization that there was much I no longer remembered or could do. I was just diagnosed with LD last month after many years of being ill and was told that with treatment I can expect improvement. So try to concentrate on where you will eventually be and not where you are now in terms of your cognitive ability. The testing was a very humbling experience for me but I'm now optimistic and hope you are too. Good luck! Valerie

Verbal and Performance Abilities: The Verbal score is a measure of acquired knowledge, verbal reasoning, and comprehension of verbal information.

Working Memory Abilities: The Working Memory Index (WMI) provides information regarding an individual's ability to attend to verbally presented information, to process information in memory, and then to formulate a response

Processing Speed Abilities: The Processing Speed Index (PSI) provides a measure of an individual's ability to process simple or routine visual information quickly and efficiently and to quickly perform tasks based on that information.

Some of the categories consisted of Reading, Math, Written Language, Attention/Concentration, Memory, Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Reasoning and Executive Skills, Effort.

Yes, if you are in the NY area or can get there, Dr. Leo Shea is the best at recognizing issues specific to Lyme patients. I had my done in Philadelphia - by two different doctors and in retrospect I wish I had gone to Shea who was recommended to me. I think it would have made me feel the testing was more relevant and productive. The first doctor I saw was not very nice, the second very nice. The test is not bad but I do remember being very aware that my abilities were definitely lower than what they were before I got sick. Reading the report made me upset too - it was a very dark time with all the physical and mental changes that I had gone through.

Now, after treatment, I know that I would do so much better. I don't worry as much about the cognitive issues because a lot of it has cleared up. Treatment has defintely helped.

bcaring

minerals said...
As a psychologist I was painfully aware of my cognitive decline due to lyme and its buddies. However I never wanted to have a psychological evaluation because I didn't want to be more discouraged than I was, so I don't really know how bad I got. But I can tell you that there were times I got lost in my own town, would go into rooms for reasons I forgot, was lost for words and had to refer my clients to other therapists because of my illness physically and mentally.

Now 2 years after treatment began I have been working again as of a few months ago and other than a slight short term memory deficit, I believe I am for the most part back to my old self mentally (not physically). So there is certainly hope and light at the end. Hope this helps..........Blessings

I was certain I remembered someone mentioning a while back they were a psychologist as well. Couldn't agree more with every last word in your first paragraph.

I'm glad I'm not a clinician at this point in my career as I know without doubt there would be many days I'd be lousy. I still maintain my license, but thankfully work as a program manager now in a psych hospital which frankly is far less demanding than doing therapy and constantly creating and updating treatment plans.

I sure aprreciate the info.  I'm probably letting my anxiety get to me.  An ID specialist for the ins. co. reviewed my short term disability but really wanted to defer to someone else (he did agree that I have LD).  So I think they will appoint a pdoc due to the psychiatric and cognitive issues.  I was just wondering if there was even any way I could slowly phase back into work.  Probably not realistic at all right now - I do engineering stuff and there are safety concerns with what I do. 

Ya ... I think the test will be a humbling experience.  I'd like to know tho.  I think the cognitive stuff will improve with treatment .... slowly ....

I live on the west coast - Seattle area - so I hope I can find someone like Dr. Shea out here.