Accurate diagnosis → Targeted Rehabilitation →Timely rehabilitation → Optimum long-term life quality
Survivors of ABI, particularly after ‘moderate’ and’ severe’ injury, frequently face multiple physical, cognitive, emotional, and neurobehavioral problems, which can have long-term and far-reaching consequences . Neurobehavioral problems, in particular, contribute to poor functional outcomes, high burden on carers and families. Within the’ mild ‘population the research and literature, has demonstrated, that up to a third of these patients can be left with a range of persistent symptoms that prevent them from working and living normally.
TBI is often referred to as a ‘hidden disability’ because disability after TBI results largely from cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems, rather than physical impairments. There is also the issue of the ‘frontal lobe paradox’ when patients perform well on routine screening but major problems emerge once in the community as a result of the ‘saying-not-doing’ / ‘knowing–doing dissociation’. This is when patients know and say what they want and need to do, and yet fail to engage with therapy or perform necessary tasks, rapidly leading to, for example, loss of employment and relationship breakdown.
Following acute management after acquired brain injury (TBI), most patients receive treatment which is inadequate or inappropriate, and mistimed. This results in suboptimal rehabilitation outcome and avoidable detrimental chronic effects on patients’ recovery. This worsens long-term disability, and magnifies costs to the individual and society. Neuropsychology Ireland believe that accurate diagnosis of the causes of disability is paramount in developing a truly effective pathway for appropriate care and rehabilitation. Our expert-led, integrated care pathway delivers accurate and timely diagnosis and optimal treatment at all stages during a ABI patient’s care.
In summary Neuropsychology Ireland strives at all times to deliver optimal accuracy with respect to patient assessment and diagnoses and optimal pathways for care and rehabilitation particular to each patient’s needs.