posted
If so what do you think about it? Do you think it could be used for anything like diagnosis or progress indicator?
I have done one today and I am kinda dissapointed. Test methodology and tests themselves do not exactly inspire confidence in the sensitivity and reliability of the result. I hoped I could use it to have as a more reliable reference for neuro symptoms but it seems it is not that sensitive and can only detect extremes
Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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quote:Originally posted by JamesNYC: How COULD that test detect anything but extremes, if it can even reliably do that?
It would be nice to have a point of reference for neuro symptoms (regardless of their cause). So that is main reason why I have done it .
quote: How COULD that test detect anything but extremes, if it can even reliably do that?
I believe it is quite possible to design test fairly sensitive for those purposes. They use those sorts of all the time for evaluating "mental" performance - for diagnostic purposes, in drug trials ,research etc
Unfortunately I don't think the one I took is good for that. - I can find tests online which are higher quality than this. And I think the test cost something like $2000 ( my insurance paid for it otherwise I would have not taken it )
Also they have those standard psych questionnaires lumped in it as well , and those are just rubbish imho with no worthy purpose for me. I did not go there for psych part since I know my psych diagnosis ("depression")
Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
It very helpful for neuro lyme and helpful both for disability and health insurance claims. It has its uses.
They give you three tests that test the same function, testing many different areas of how the brain is processing information. Usually, someone with lyme will get different results on all three, ace one, fail one and may be average on another indicating typical "lyme brain".
Coltman, Not sure what you are doing. Sounds like you are researching to write a book.
If you are not on ABX get on it and see how you react. ABX only kills bacteria. If you react that will tell you something.
What happened to Brandimic, haven't heard any thing from him?
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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quote: They give you three tests that test the same function, testing many different areas of how the brain is processing information. Usually, someone with lyme will get different results on all three, ace one, fail one and may be average on another indicating typical "lyme brain".
Very interesting is that the information from some sample of Lymies?
I dont have results for me yet, but I believe I done quite horribly on digit span, digit letter sequencing and coding parts, while reasonably all right on other parts. Would be interesting to see other people experiences
quote: Coltman, Not sure what you are doing. Sounds like you are researching to write a book.
I believe I described my situation (including to you in PM) I dunno why "what I am doing " looks wierd. - I am researching many options and I do consider feedback on those forums valuable . I got some very quality info here -thats why I post.
quote: If you are not on ABX get on it and see how you react. ABX only kills bacteria. If you react that will tell you something.
- I do not have LLMD yet (thought finally I got appt, but its end of october) .Regardless this topic was not about ABX but test which could be used as a reference point for neuro symptoms .
quote:Originally posted by JamesNYC: You are SO funny. Are you not convinced yet? Or are you going back and forth?
Ohh yeah and btw this post is not about lyme doubtst - that one is in another thread Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
My apologies, I forgot you have your appointment in October. I talk to many people with lyme in a given day due to my help in the "seeking a doctor" section.
I actually found the neuro psych tests quite interesting but I took them years ago. My results definitely indicated "lyme brain". I especially had trouble remembering faces in the cards with the scenes on them.
But as I said, they are most useful for insurance and disability purposes. Any good LLMD would not need them to make a dx.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
From my untrained understanding, a single full neuro-psych evaluation can show deficits, and if the test is repeated overtime, then changes can also be monitored.
That is, it can work as a stand-alone test, and/or be used to track changes.
I've never had a full evaluation, but I've read that they take most of a work day (8 hours) to complete.
My LLMD's office had me take a "mini" exam on a computer that took ~20 minutes, and was worthless.
If you do consider this option further, research it and make sure that you get the "real deal" administered and interpreted by an appropriate professional.
(I like my LLMD, but that rinky dink computer test was one instance in which I didn't have much faith...)
For what it's worth, I appreciate both your skepticism in other posts and your curiosity in this post. I went through a similar phase.
Posts: 455 | From Was in PA, then MD, now in the Midwest | Registered: Nov 2008
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
Yes it is a long procedure. As I said I did mine years ago but I remember I went on three or four separate days and I think I was there for at least four hours at a time. It involved many hours.
I never had a follow up. My treatment was enough to tell me I was improving. It was also very expensive.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
Isn't that a fairly subjective test, relying on the opinion of Drs? I also understand that they interview people who are close to you & former employers.
I've heard that insurance companies like to use them to decline payment for those they can catch on their good days.
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
i had 3-4 days of testing for ssdi, disability insurance benefits.
included the awful MPI...MINN. 300 Q/A where they use and, or, but, etc. so the Q could go either way.
psychiatrist's results were NOT on the money at all; he was making things up; some things were accurate and showed my weaknesses.
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Abxnomore
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posted
They don't interview other people or employees if you contract to privately have one done. May be you are thinking about tests done to qualify for
disability or something like that. The only doc whose opinion is involved is the psychiatrist who gives and analyzes the tests.
Neuro psych testing are only tests to see how your brain is functioning using methods to test reasoning, recall etc.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
I did the whole enchilada ---- through one of BEST neuro-psychiatrists in Houston. It had been suggested that I do this for a "base-line" for years by my psychiatrist (who I see for 2-3 minutes every 3 months or so for a med-check.)
My other doctors had also been highly recommending that I do the testing, just for more helpful insight to aid in my tx. And they were asking me to do this testing even BEFORE this Lyme dx!
This was not done to qualify me for SSD either. No one was interviewed except me. I was already on SSD for FM/CFIDS/and many other dx's I won't bore you with.
It's a tedious process that consists of at least 3 major testing methods & it does take many hours to complete. I divided mine up into a 2-3 day time frame. The doctor actually encouraged me to do that, as he could see how fatigued and frustrated I was getting.
I didn't do mine 2-3 days in a row, I did them over a period of a couple of weeks. Yes, some of the questionnaire parts of the testing were repetitive, tedious and weird.
I asked the doctor if I could "explain" my answers to some of the strange questions and he smiled and told me to feel free to write any explanation to any question on a separate piece of paper. I took full advantage of that.
Anyway, after all of the diversified methods in which they tested me, I got an 11-12 page report and follow-up meeting with the neuro-psych doc. I just looked at what they call "Instruments Employed" for the testing, and there are approx. 22 different ways they tested me.
I scored everything from "superior" to "impaired" on my testing. I think I was thoroughly tested! It showed & explained my strengths, weaknesses and much more. It goes on to say there are "significant 10 pt. discrepancies" in certain areas, which were "not expected for my age & education."
Final dx: Tests scores support Mild Brain Impairment - Probable Subcortical Basis Consistent with Neurocognitive Lyme Disease. (There are a couple of other dx's given as well.)
It also says it supports my disability status, etc. Keep in mind I had NO IDEA what any of this would reveal, and this doctor doesn't give any BS dxes and he has a stellar reputation because he's completely fair in his scoring,etc. He even has a couple of other doctors do a couple of the tests, so nobody is swayed one way or the other.
I was SHOCKED, but also not too surprised at what it revealed. I actually cried when I read this report. It revealed things I didn't WANT to know. I didn't know how strangely my brain was functioning and I felt quite inferior. (And I was actually thinking pretty clearly the days I tested.......I thought!)
Anyway, I'm sure I've divulged too much personal info, but I'm just trying to help other lymies based on my experiences. That's what others here have done for me!
Good luck! Do it, it's very eye-opening and helpful!
Posts: 268 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2007
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LisaS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10581
posted
How do you get a dr to do a neuro psych evaluation, I have been to two neurologists and they don't do anything!
posted
I wouldn't ever bother getting an evaluation of this kind again. I saw a Neuro-Psych-O at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago in 2001. I had been hospitalized in 2 other rural hospitals in Neuro Intensive care for the previous 2.5 weeks.
Here I've got this massive EM rash on my right leg after a recent tent camping trip. There was a small black dot in the middle of the bite which they said was a "spider bite." I have to wonder if the tick was still embedded in there causing some sort of tick paralysis.
I had all of these crazy neuro symptoms -- like I forgot how to eat all of the sudden. I couldn't lift a fork of eggs and get them in my mouth. I'm walking into walls. Tripping over little things like the couch.
So of course, they search my hospital room for hidden alcohol because hey.. I must be "drunk". Why didn't they just run a Blood alcohol test or a toxicology screen?
The Psycho doctor wants to know if my husband needs Viagra (NO!) during rounds with 12 - 15 doctors present rather than focus on my bilateral facial paralysis and seizures. These he believes are due to epilepsy in spite of the fact that I'd never had a seizure in my life before this camping trip.
LisaS: A Neurologist is different than a Neuro-psychologist. If you really want the testing you'd have to get the name of a Neuro-psych near you.
Posts: 192 | From Dwight, IL USA | Registered: Mar 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
terri1boys, thx for sharing your story; interesting hugs
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Abxnomore
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Member # 18936
posted
Terri3boys The way my testing was done sounds very much like yours. Yes, the results were disturbing, although I can't remember any more what mine revealed in detail.
It was equally frustrating when I knew I knew the answer to many questions but could not find the information in my head. I found the testing process in and of itself extremely interesting.
LisaS it seems to be a sub specialty within the psychiatric field. You have to find someone who specializes in doing this type of testing.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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quote: low on auditory attention span, extremely low (actually considered malingering) on visual attention span.
Very interesting . Was the "visual attention span" where program flashes letters and have not to skip one of them? - I done horribly on that . Also where you have repeat numbers back and such I just couldn't memorize them past 4 or 5
quote: little shape reflection "which one belongs test" don't actually know the name of it I got it perfect.
Did you get the last one right? I had one with irregular shapes and red dots (circles, chordes, and then triangles/squares), I didnt get it , I suspect there was some sort of transformation, but I couldnt figure it out
Do you remember last shape?
Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
If you want help... contact a good occupational therapist and/or a speech therapist.
They are trained to teach you how to work around the problems that are shown.
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