An ITC am is a non-traditional assessment program designed to assess patients with varying levels of medical competency. The assessment, if performed correctly, will uncover deficits that might not be apparent on standard medical examinations, as well as providing a greater understanding of the patient’s condition and their ability to participate in daily activities. Here are 3 nontraditional ITC am is techniques to follow:
Some patients with past exposures to injury may have a traumatic brain injury, resulting in signs of amnesia for aspects of the incident. During ITC am, a clinical interview will be conducted to establish whether there is any evidence of a head injury prior to the current incident. If so, the patient’s cognitive skills will be assessed in order to determine if the amnesia has resulted from medication side effects, general cognitive decline, or other disorders.
Many patients with specific cognitive impairments, such as patients with Alzheimer’s disease, are referred to cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CBT) in the form of ITC am. This form of CBT is based on the assumption that impairment in some areas of memory or executive function may stem from some other underlying neurological condition. When this is the case, cognitive training can help the patient to compensate for their deficits, increasing their capacity to retain information.
To conduct ITC am, a neuropsychologist or neurologist will perform an interview with the patient and their family. This interview, along with a physical examination, will enable the neurologist to answer a number of basic questions, including: Do they remember everything they were told? If they do not remember all of what was said, how well can they recall the content of that day’s conversation?
Another issue that ITC am addresses are the phenomenon of amnesia for certain events in one’s life. This type of amnesia is commonly caused by trauma and is also known as post-traumatic amnesia. Although the standard medical exam will reveal amnesia, it is not always possible to know precisely what the event was about, and this can result in a series of questions that can be difficult to answer accurately.
To find out if a patient has amnesia, they will be given a neuropsychological exam and then placed in an ITC am. Each hour a different memory will be assessed, and if a pattern is noticed, the patient will be retested at a later time. Neuropsychologists who specialize in assessing memory will use standard medical testing and results in the interview.
Children with cognitive dysfunction may exhibit increased irritability, altered sleep patterns, and difficulty paying attention. Through ITC an assessment, a clinical interview will be conducted to determine the level of mental functioning and motor skills of the child. A neuropsychologist who specializes in assessing children’s cognitive abilities will be required to conduct the interview.
Patients who have multiple comorbid conditions are likely to have different symptoms and cognitive deficiencies than those who have only one. In most cases, medical records are available for all of the patients being assessed. When this is not the case, neuropsychologists will be provided with details about the patient’s medical history, including family medical histories and medications, in order to find relevant information for the interview.
When attempting to diagnose patients with impaired cognitive functions, neuropsychologists often rely on traditional ITC an assessment in combination with other sources of information. In many cases, medication can be noted and compared to the patient’s cognitive status. Other symptoms, such as learning disabilities and low IQs, can be evaluated through several different forms of medical testing.
If you or someone you know exhibits signs of memory impairment or signs of amnesia, it is important to seek medical attention. A neuropsychologist, neurologist, or psychologist who is experienced in working with patients with these issues is highly recommended. In addition to performing standard ITC an assessment, you will be required to undergo routine medical exams to determine the severity of your condition and evaluate your overall health.
After the above sections, click here to find out about where you can go for additional information about ITC am. And click here to read more about several types of memory problems, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment. Finally, click here to view a FREE video that explains some of the reasons why these assessments are important.
