TBI Neuropsychological Evaluation
Objective testing of how a head injury has affected attention, memory, processing speed, language, executive functioning and mood.
A traumatic brain injury can come from a direct blow to the head or from rapid acceleration and deceleration, as in a car crash or a fall. In the acute period, symptoms such as migraine headaches, memory loss, nausea or speech problems get medical attention first. The longer-term question in litigation is different: months later, what has this person lost, and is it because of the injury?
That question is answered with a neuropsychological evaluation. Dr. Tutty's personal injury work, more than 535 evaluations, has often involved TBI.
Signs That Testing May Be Warranted
- Forgetting conversations, appointments or recent events
- Slower thinking, or losing track in the middle of a task
- Trouble finding words or following conversation
- Problems planning, organizing or keeping up at work
- Irritability, low mood or anxiety that began after the injury
- Headaches, fatigue or sleep changes that interfere with daily life
- Family or coworkers saying the person is 'not the same'
What the Evaluation Measures
In one all-day session, standardized neuropsychological batteries assess:
- Cognitive ability
- Attention, visual and auditory
- Memory, visual and auditory
- Processing speed
- Executive functioning: planning, flexibility, working memory
- Language, expressive and receptive
- Visual-spatial processing
- Fine motor skills and dexterity
- Emotional and behavioral functioning
How Results Are Interpreted
Scores mean little on their own. They are compared with normative data and, more importantly, with the person's own pre-injury baseline, built from work history, education, daily functioning, medical history and developmental history. A drop in memory is interpreted differently for someone who managed a busy office before the crash than for someone with a long-standing learning problem.
The evaluation also considers other explanations for poor performance, including prior conditions, pain, medication, sleep disruption, depression and anxiety. Separating these factors is often where the case is decided.
What the Report Contains
- Background and pre-injury functioning
- Records reviewed
- Tests administered and results
- Interpretation: which deficits are present and their likely causes
- Prognosis
- Evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation recommendations
Read the full personal injury methodology →
Common Questions About TBI Testing
Can a mild TBI cause lasting problems if the CT or MRI was normal?
Standard imaging often looks normal after a concussion or mild TBI, because it is designed to detect bleeding and structural damage rather than changes in how the brain functions. Many people recover fully. When symptoms persist, neuropsychological testing measures functioning directly instead of inferring it from imaging.
How long after the injury should testing happen?
It depends on the case. Testing too early can capture symptoms that are still resolving; testing later shows what has persisted. The timing is discussed with counsel during the consultation.
Does the evaluation consider depression, anxiety and pain?
Yes. Mood, anxiety, sleep and pain all affect test performance and daily functioning. The evaluation measures emotional and behavioral functioning alongside cognition so the report can address how much each factor contributes.
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