Dear all, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with doing a Neuropsych test? Did you do one? And when? What was your experience and was it beneficial for your recovery/return to work? I did my 2nd test in Dec and just received the feedback. I know that Luminosity has a test and you can do it only twice in 12 months - I think. Thanks
Hi Michael,
Yes I have had testing however not done recently in regards to returning to work.
I do love lumosity and the focus it brings to tasks.
For me when I was working the ability to focus on tasks helped so much, being able to leave home at home, work at work. Being able to separate work and workplace culture was a reason I was able to last so long at work in times of stress.
Are you happy with the feed back you received?
Sue
Hi Sue.
I've done my first test in January 2017 (6 months post stroke) and I didn't like the feedback that much. I felt that it didn't elaborate on the fact how serious the stroke was, but it had a comment about being depressed (surprise, surprise). This time it is ok, they recommend that it would be good if I have someone 'shadowing' me at work once I go back initially. The other thing is that my work insurance asked for a copy of the report, so my doctor will write to them so that its formal. Well, I'm not stressing too much about it. It is what it is. Thanks
Hi Sue, I guess it is ok. I didn't like the first one I did in Jan 2017. My work insurance are asking for a copy, so my doctor will write to them and prepare a report. Fingers crossed. Thanks. Michael
Hi Michael,
I didn't like the tests either. Ugh.
Were you treated with respect and care when you did them?
Good luck with whatever happens next.
Sue
Hi Sue, yes I was treated well. I think like with anything new for us stroke survivors, it is a bit tricky.
But then, how do they know that I wasn't 'dumb' before I had the stroke? Just a question of perspective...
Hi Michael,
Yes all different people have these tests with no doubt vastly varying results between everyone. We are all so unique.
Hoping the result from all that happens now is heading you in the direction you feel is right for you.
Good luck with everything.
Sue :-)
Hi Michael,
my employer required me to do a neuropsych test before they would discuss my return to work, I did it about 6 months post-stroke. The dr they sent me to was good, although it was quite clinical and I found the experience draining and worrying as the report was being sent to my employer directly. While it didn't stop me returning to my job, it also didn't help in terms of getting my employer to make any allowances. I was a teacher in a non-government school, and I asked to return to work on a part-time basis. I was told I would have to resign and apply for a part-time position, or return to my former position full-time. Their reasoning was that it would be unfair to the person who was currently doing my job. It was absolutely ridiculous and unfair to me, and I could have fought them over it, but I wasn't in a position to take on that fight at that point, I was also in no condition to start applying for jobs and interviewing for jobs. So I returned to full-time employment with no consideration made. Luckily I had some excellent colleagues who looked out for me, and made sure the load wasn't too taxing (like giving me playground duty in areas where students weren't allowed to play games/run around). The neuropsych test was beneficial for my recovery because it identified areas I needed to work on, but from a work perspective, it didn't really change anything for me.
I love lumosity, I do it every day!! I also do suduku and play solitaire on daily-basis.
Kat
Hi Kat, thank you for sharing your experience. I find it interesting that your employer didn't show a bit of common sense. It is after all an institution which educates our future generations - what about compassion? I think that, sadly, many employers hide behind their 'policies'. I'll see what happens in my case - a bank. I've been told that there is a return to work program.
Michael
Katrina, your return to work made me think of my attempt. I worked in the public sector and the Saturday before my Monday return I received an email to say my performance review was booked in for 9 am on that Mondya mornign so on top of the stress of actulaly returning that was the environment I faced. Needless to say it didn't get better and I can no longer work. But I am glad I tried
Toni
Hi Michael,
yes, hiding behind policies is definitely one of my employer's strong points! Being a religious organisation I expected better. Unfortunately, as the recent royal commission has shown, it's not always the case. I really hope that your bank supports you in returning to work! I have had a lot to do with people with disabilities in my family and in my work and it is so important to be a valued member of a community, and doing some kind of work is part of that.
Toni - how ridiculous! I'm shocked that your employer would subject you to that on the day you return to work. That being said I had a number of observed lessons in my first term and the feedback from that was horrendous, with a number of personal comments made about me in the report that I was not happy with. I went to my heads of department and told them I was resigning as a result of the observation, they intervened on my behalf and reminded the observer that I'd had a stroke and to back off.
Ros, I was a primary school teacher and it definitely didn't get me off to a good start with my confidence. I was 'lucky' in that whilst the principal made things stressful the rest of the staff were supportive. I'm now a strokesafe ambassador so feel like I'm putting some of my teaching skills to good use :)
Toni
Thank you Michael for getting the conversation going around neuropsychology assessments and return to work.
It sounds like you are all well aware of what a neuropsychology assessments involves. The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has further information about the skills of neuropsychologists and the treatments they are able to provide.
Thank you Katrina for sharing about your recovery and how the neuropsychology test was beneficial. The assessments can often provide some indications about areas of difficulty that will need to be addressed in returning to work. The ultimate goal of these tests is to support the stroke survivor’s recovery and participation in family, work and community. The assessments usually take into account how the person was functioning before the stroke, including prior education, personality, memory, attentional ability etc.
A successful return to work starts with understanding of how the effects of your stroke will impact you. Then support and good planning are needed to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. The ‘Return to work after stroke’ fact sheet contains further information, including what you can do if you feel you have experienced discrimination in the workplace.
Wishing you all the best with your return to work Michael.
Kirsty (StrokeLine)
Please call StrokeLine on 1800 787 653 if you would like advice on stroke prevention, treatment, recovery and support.
Thank you all for your contributions. It helps! It made me also reflect on my experience, i.e. how vulnerable and 'lost' my family was after I had the stroke. Often, carers are forgotten, as the focus is on the stroke survivor. I almost feel as if SAV would need a 'spokesperson', a 'face' and a 'voice' to an awareness campaign. What comes to my mind are individuals like Peter Costello, Jeff Kennett and Julia Gillard for example. It was such a great opportunity recently, when Melbourne acquired two new state-of-the-art ambulance vehicles, fully equipped to treat a stroke patient on the way to hospital.
In the US, Sharon Stone was prominent, but mainly because she survived a stroke.
Well, maybe SAV are already onto this idea.
Thanks
Cheers,
M
Well, caught up with my boss and he is very supportive. He said that the bank will work with my therapists/doctors to have a return to work plan in place. He also said that they already have something in place for another colleague who has similar health issues. I'll keep you posted!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the update and best of luck. It's great to hear that they are willing to work with you.!
Sue
That's great news Michael! I hope it all goes smoothly for you.
All the best,
Kat
thank you all! I guess I'm lucky because I have a boss who is first of all a human being. He asked me to check as to when my income protection kicked in (November 2016) as it can go up to 2 years. So, me and the family are ok until then. What I want to do now is to focus on my physical/cognitive rehab over the next few months and give myself the best chance for a safe return to work. I've now decided to have a weekly exercise program and stick to it - I do admit that I've been a bit lazy. I'm hoping that it'll improve my fitness. I'm off to the local pool in the arvo! And yesterday, I went for a bike ride, which proved to be a bit of tricky, so I'll avoid that for my own safety.