NDIS Neuropsychology for Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain injury caused by an external force, such as a fall, motor vehicle accident, assault or sporting injury. It's one type of acquired brain injury. A neuropsychologist can assess how a TBI has affected thinking skills such as memory, attention and planning, and recommend supports. For NDIS participants, funding can be more complex when a compensation scheme also covers the injury.

How TBI differs from other brain injuries

• Sudden onset: the injury happens at a known moment, so there’s often a clear "before and after" that family can describe.

• Wide range of severity: from concussion and mild TBI to severe injuries with long hospital stays and rehabilitation.

• Effects can be spread across the brain: TBI can affect several thinking skills at once rather than one area.

• Often linked to an insurer or scheme: motor vehicle and workplace injuries are frequently covered by statutory compensation schemes.

Mild TBI and concussion

Many people recover well from a mild TBI or concussion. Some have ongoing difficulties, such as trouble concentrating, slower thinking or fatigue, that affect work, study or daily life. A neuropsychological assessment can help clarify whether these difficulties are cognitive, how significant they are and what strategies may help. CARED's neuropsychological assessments include concussion.

What a neuropsychologist assesses after TBI

The assessment covers attention, memory, learning, processing speed, language, problem-solving, planning and changes in behaviour or emotions. For people with TBI, the neuropsychologist pays particular attention to:

• what the person could do before the injury, often with input from family

• hospital and rehabilitation records, including the severity of the injury

• fatigue, which can affect performance, so testing is paced or split

For the full assessment process and how findings guide supports, read NDIS Neuropsychology for Acquired Brain Injury.

Helping someone prepare for the assessment

A little preparation helps the neuropsychologist get an accurate picture and helps the person feel more at ease. Before the appointment, it can help to:

• gather hospital discharge summaries, rehabilitation reports and any previous assessments

• ask a family member or someone who knows the person well to attend, or to share what has changed since the injury

• bring glasses, hearing aids or any communication aids the person usually uses

• plan for a good night's sleep and a quiet day beforehand, as fatigue can affect results

• note any questions the person, their family or support team want the assessment to answer

How the findings can help

The neuropsychologist's report explains the person's cognitive strengths and difficulties and makes practical recommendations. Depending on the findings, these might include:

• strategies for memory, attention or planning at home, work or study

• referrals to other supports, such as occupational therapy, psychology, speech pathology or positive behaviour support

• recommendations about the type and level of support the person needs day to day

• information that can be used as evidence when requesting NDIS supports or at a plan reassessment

A clear report can also help family and support workers understand changes in thinking or behaviour, so they can respond in ways that suit the person.

TBI, compensation schemes and the NDIS

If the TBI happened in a motor vehicle accident or at work, a statutory compensation scheme may fund treatment and care. Examples include:

• lifetime care schemes, such as icare Lifetime Care in NSW, which pays reasonable and necessary treatment, rehabilitation and care for people severely injured in NSW motor accidents, including brain injuries

• motor accident (CTP) schemes, such as the Transport Accident Commission in Victoria

• workers compensation schemes

The NDIA explains how statutory schemes interact with the NDIS:

• the NDIS cannot replace or fund supports a statutory scheme already provides

• a person can receive NDIS supports and scheme supports at the same time, with the NDIS plan designed to complement them

• participants must tell the NDIA about statutory scheme supports

• the NDIA may reduce funding in a later plan to avoid doubling up

• a scheme decision must be appealed through that scheme before asking the NDIS for similar supports

In practice, check who is funding neuropsychology before referring. If a scheme covers it, the referral may need to go through the scheme's case manager or approval process.

Questions to ask before referring

• Did the injury happen in a motor vehicle accident, at work or in another situation a scheme might cover?

• Does the person have an open claim, and who is their case manager?

• Has the scheme already approved or declined a neuropsychological assessment?

• Does the participant's NDIS plan already include funding that could be used for neuropsychology?

• Has the participant told the NDIA about their scheme supports?

Next step

This article is general information, not individual clinical, legal or NDIS advice. Compensation arrangements vary by state and scheme.

Refer now, or read NDIS Neuropsychology: Assessments, Reports and Support and When Should a Support Coordinator Refer to Neuropsychology?