A Case of Brain Injury on Two Different Occasions: IQ and Halstead-Reitan Test Scores

This is a brief case report focused on the neuropsychological test scores of a man who suffered two separate brain injuries. His first injury was to the left side of his head when he struck a rock with his head when ocean diving. Approximately 5 years later neuropsychological testing was done as he had lost his job selling technical equipment and had difficulties in functioning on a daily basis. The testing showed clear signs of significant impairment to the left, cerebral hemisphere. Approximately one year after the neuropsychological testing, he suffered another brain injury in an auto accident. Follow-up neuropsychological testing was conducted 11 months after the auto accident, approximately 23 months after the first testing. The second testing demonstrated some clear improvements in cognitive functioning including to his left, cerebral hemisphere. Unfortunately, he not only still demonstrated impaired neuropsychological functioning, he now demonstrated a decrease in performance on a measure particularly sensitive to the right, frontal cerebral cortex.