Importance of Brain Injury Experts for a Full Recovery

The Kind of Experts Influence the Outcome of Brain Injury Cases

By Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

Only the right brain injury experts can lead to the correct diagnosis and treatment that are so important to total compensation and recovery. However, the entire spectrum of challenges can’t be evaluated by one doctor. Brain damage impacts cognition, behavior, mood, and physical aspects. The physical problems are what we will start to discuss.

The first examination of brain injury is probably done by a neurologist. The neurological exam will examine reflexes, cranial nerves, balance, and movement. This kind of exam is only a brief image of subtle yet significant disabilities that will most likely take an expert to identify.

The Significance of a Brain Injury Optometrist

Visual impairment is one of the most significant problems after a brain injury, especially a mild one. The problem comes with the way in which the cranial nerves control eye movements, not in the way the eye works itself. A basic eye test won’t do the trick, unless the doctor measures vision while looking down. Commonly found after a brain injury too are near vision convergence problems. The neurologist needs to be an expert in concussions to spot these problems. Finding an expert in mTBI is vital.

The Necessity for a Full Vestibular and Balance Analysis

Another significant deficit in brain injury is balance. These challenges may also not be spotted in a run-of-the-mill neurological exam. The Romberg test should be done, but it is only a gross measure of ataxia. This kind of test will overlook many symptoms. In this test, the patient is asked to stand with their feet together and eyes closed. If swaying occurs or the patient has to take a step to maintain balance, a positive reading is found.

Problems that involve the inner ear, or vestibular problems, involve disabilities that are not as prominent. Primary vestibular problems often are caused by inner ear problems and can decrease the ability for eyes to focus when the head is moving. After any significant brain injury, the person should definitely see a neurootologist. This is a specialized ear, nose, and throat doctor. These kinds of specialized doctors can find problems with equilibrium and vertigo. Vertigo is often a symptom because of nystagmus, found using video goggles. The goggles record the movement of the eyes. Other tests by the neurootologist might involve the ENG, the rotary chair, and the posture platform test.

Neuropsychologists are Cognitive Specialists

The role of neuropsychologists ranks higher among experts than it should. Neuropsychologists are experts in measuring cognitive changes after brain injury, but they do not involve the full spectrum of mood and behavioral changes. One would think these things would be important to a psychologist. Only is the formal testing is viewed as a reference point to total examination will the measure be complete.

The cognitive exam can illuminate those issues, but it works better in severe brain injury rather than mild. In mild brain injury, the analysis would look average. However, average does not mean normal, as the person may have not been average before the injury.

Speech and Language Pathologists are the Experts at Brain Injury Treatment

Speech pathologists possibly have the most experience treating brain injury patients. They should be an important member to the team of experts. There is a long history of allocating funds to brain injury pathology. In a severe TBI, an important need for speech rehab exists. These doctors have the longest history listening to brain injury survivors. The speech pathologists get it. They understand that there is more to recovery than language skills.

One way to tell if the attorney you want to hire is a brain injury expert is to ask him what the importance of a speech pathologist is. If the answer is vague, the attorney is probably clueless.

Other experts who may be involved in a brain injury case is the neuropsychiatrist and the neuroradiologist. In addition, a vocational expert, and economist, and life care planner can be important to the financial side of things.

Gordon Johnson

Attorney Gordon Johnson is one of the nations leading brain injury advocates. He is Past-Chair of the TBILG, a national group of more than 150 brain injury advocates. He has spoken at numerous brain injury seminars and is the author of some of the most read brain injury web pages on the internet.

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