August/September 2010 - Testing

After the initial consultation with Dr. Halperin on August 6^th, the search for answers included two Neuropsychology testing sessions, a PET/CT scan, and EEG and finally a spinal tap after a preliminary diagnosis.

August 17:  Marcia had the first of two separate neuropsychology tests.  We were told these test are highly accurate, standardized instruments with predictive accuracy in the 80 – 95% range, validated through clinical trials.  These trials indicate amount of deviation from baseline norms and can determine scope and severity of cognitive impairment. 

I can’t say exactly how or what was involved (I was in the waiting room), but I learned later the nature of the tests.  When we met with Dr. Halperin in early August, he asked Marcia a series of questions, some challenging questions, like “name the last 7 Presidents of the US in reverse order” and “count backwards by 7, starting at 93”.  Some were not so hard, like “how many kids do you have”.  Today’s session was like this, but was an hour long and included more spacial tests (drawing).  Dr. Saur, this session’s neuropsychologist, couldn’t clearly identify Aphasia, though language is clearly impaired, but found no spacial or physical issues.  He scheduled a PET/CT scan for August 20.

August 20:  PET/CT scan (Positron Emission Tomography) is a type of nuclear medical imaging.  This is used to pinpoint abnormal metabolic activity within the body and is commonly used to evaluate brain abnormalities including memory disorders, seizures and other central nervous system disorders.

August 23:  EEG (Electroencephalogram), which measures the electrical activity of the brain and is used to diagnose epilepsy, check for problems with loss of consciousness or dementia and to help find out if a person has a physical problem in the brain or mental health problems.

September 14:  More Neuropsych tests with a different doctor, Dr Papka.  Almost a repeat of the 8/17 tests, but with a different doctor.  Grueling tests from Marcia’s perspective.  Same general tests as the first round, but much deeper.  We aren’t sure why we had to do this twice, nor was Dr Halperin.

We’ve been to Summit and the Neuroscience Center half a dozen times since the beginning of August.  From a medical care perspective, we have appreciated the thoroughness of the testing, a far cry from the MRI-only evaluation from our first neurologist.  At this point, we’re not sure if there is anything left to test.