Military Neuropsychological Assessment

For Veterans, returning home may be a complicated journey filled with emotional, physical, and mental highs and lows, particularly if they are trying to recover from an injury. Although coming home after multiple tours of duty is a dream come true for family and friends, many Veterans struggle to find normalcy upon their return. Many of our Veterans do not sustain physical injuries while overseas, but hundreds of thousands of Veterans return home with various injuries from psychological effects, cognitive abnormalities  and traumatic brain injuries. 

An estimated 60 to 80 percent of Veterans who have sustained an injury from a blast also have a TBI. Although traumatic brain injuries are common among injured Veterans, it may be difficult to accurately determine how many suffer from TBIs; TBIs are often seen as an “invisible disability.” Some of the signs and symptoms, of traumatic brain injuries, are mistaken for common mental and emotional health issues that Veterans struggle with when returning home.

Sadly, not every vet with a TBI is aware that he or she has one, as the signs and symptoms may vary for each person. Per the Mayo Health Clinic, there are cognitive issues such as mental confusion or difficulty understanding. However, there are also behavioral issues like aggression and irritability; many of the symptoms depend on where the TBI occurred in the brain.

Individuals with TBIs may also suffer from anger, anxiety, depression, sensitivity to light and sound, or loneliness. These symptoms may be common for a vet with or without a TBI, returning home, trying to get “back to normal” after witnessing atrocities.

Since TBIs can result in some major cognitive and behavioral changes, a vet with a traumatic brain injury may have a difficult time adjusting to life after returning from overseas. From alcohol and drug abuse and violent outbursts to chronic pain and feelings of hopelessness, TBIs can contribute to situations that may put a vet behind bars, end a relationship, or make it difficult to find or keep a job. Since some traumatic brain injuries go untreated or misdiagnosed, some Veterans experience a lifetime of struggles that could be prevented by a neuropsychological evaluation.

If a veteran knows that he or she has PTSD or a traumatic brain injury, or suspects that he or she may have suffered one during a tour of duty, he or she should seek neuropsychological assessment and neurological treatment as soon as possible. Once diagnosed, and depending on the severity of the injury, he or she may require various therapies, medication and possible disability compensation.