Migraine

Has anyone here had neuropsychiatric testing to establish cognitive disabilities? I may have it done for my long-term disability claim for fibro and migraines.

What should I expect? Did it help your claim? I know it's expensive but that's okay. Any info, no matter how small, would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

Hi LauraSue,

I've had this testing done not directly part of my disability claim, but to see if there have been any cognitive issues from when I fell. My insurance at the time did pay for it. I don't know if it has any bearing on my claim. First time around, I've been denied. Currently my lawyer appealing it.

It's not so much that the test is hard, but sort of mentally taxing. Sorting, grouping, defining words, that sort of thing. Some things are timed. Don't worry about the timing, just do your best. Things start easy then get a bit harder. If you have a Migraine, well, then it may be a different story. My pain level that day started at around a 4 and ended up about a 6, and I'm not even talking Migraine pain. But I kind of got myself worked up for nothing. The "test giver" was very serious....like give me a break, this is not life or death stuff here.

If I had to do it again, I wouldn't get so uptight before I took the test and not worry about the timer.....

Does that help any??

Yes, it does, Nancy. That's exactly the kinds of things I wanted to know. Thank you!

My migraine specialist referred me to neuropsych testing due to test results & the symptoms I was presenting, plus my concerns about my memory. My insurance paid for it.

The test was long and tiring, but the neuropsychologist was very pleasant. It's probably because of the field(s) I am in (and we both did similar work earlier in our careers), but I felt more comfortable during the neuropsych testing than with my doctors (who inadvertantly, make me anxious & forgetful).

It helped me figure out what areas I struggle with & what I do really well in. While most of the stuff I predicted because I know myself well & have a basic understanding of the brain/neurology, some stuff was surprising at first. It all made sense. It would be helpful for job accommodations if I could be truthful, but there is no way I could be truthful to my supervisors or prospective employers.

It also helped pinpoint possible areas of the brain that "may" be impaired. Being mixed-dominent (primarily left, but pretty mixed), my brain may be atypically wired, though.

I am still dealing with the looonng process of being evaluated, so I still don't know how helpful all this testing has been.