If you suffered a head injury in a Seattle crash, a legal neuropsychological evaluation may become part of your case. This exam uses tests to measure how the injury affects thinking, memory and attention. The results may help show how the injury affects daily life and damages.
How to prepare for the evaluation
Before the appointment, the examiner may review medical records and accident reports. Getting enough rest and bringing glasses, contacts or hearing aids can help the process go more smoothly.
It also helps to give a clear history of your symptoms. If pain, tiredness or another physical problem affects your performance during the exam, tell the examiner right away so the record reflects that.
What may happen during the testing session?
The evaluation usually includes an interview and a series of tests. It may last several hours because the examiner looks at more than one area of thinking and function. The exam may look at:
- Memory
- Attention
- Concentration
- Processing speed
- Language
- Planning and decision-making
- Hand coordination
People often want a plain-language sense of the testing format before they go in, and this overview of a neuropsychological evaluation gives that kind of background.
How the report may affect the case
After the exam ends, the specialist prepares a written report. The report explains how you performed on the tests and how those results relate to work, focus and daily tasks.
That written analysis may become more important when a traumatic brain injury case depends on cognitive limits that do not always appear on standard imaging. A personal injury attorney can review the report alongside the medical record and assess how the findings support the damages claim.