When you file a claim for long-term disability benefits, your insurance company will look for objective proof of your disability. A neuropsychological evaluation is the best way to provide your insurance company with an objective assessment of your cognitive or psychological disability and can be a valuable part of your claim. The severity of symptoms and how symptoms manifestation themselves vary greatly even among individuals with the same disability.
If you have one of these conditions, you may want to consider having a neuropsychological evaluation:
A neuropsychological evaluation is an objective, scientific test which measures the way your disorder affects your cognitive functions. The test measures memory, your ability to learn, your problem-solving abilities, and the level of your verbal and executive functioning. The evaluation typically includes an IQ test, screening for other psychological conditions, and a validity test that shows the reliability of the results.
A neuropsychologist administers the evaluation, which usually lasts for one to two days. During the test, he or she collects data based on your responses, reviews the data, and provides their professional assessments of your cognitive functioning.
Your primary and secondary diagnosis, cognitive deficits, and your ability to work are all determinations a neuropsychologist can make from the evaluation. It is crucial to show the insurance company how your condition prevents you from working, not just the diagnosis of your condition. Here are a few examples of how cognitive or psychological disorders can impede your ability to work.
The test results can also indicate the need for additional treatment, testing, or evaluations. For example, an underlying psychological or behavioral disorder can exacerbate cognitive functioning. If there is a reason to suspect an organic factor is contributing to your dysfunction, your physician may recommend that you undergo diagnostic imaging tests.
Insurance companies consider a valid neuropsychological evaluation one of the most reliable tests to determine cognitive disorders or dysfunction. If your claim is related to a cognitive disability and you have not had an evaluation, the insurance company might require you to be evaluated before making a determination.
Your insurance provider may offer to provide a neuropsychologist to perform your test. Keep in mind it is in the insurance company’s best interest to prove that your condition is not severe enough to warrant long-term disability benefits. You may want to find your own independent neuropsychologist to prevent the possibility that results may be skewed in the insurance company’s favor.
The insurance company will want to see that you were able to pass the validity testing. The validity test measures how consistent your answers and your efforts were during the test. This is to ensure you did not perform differently during any part of the test to influence the outcome. Failure to pass the validity testing may negate its value to the insurance company.
It never hurts to have an experienced professional to help you during the disability claims process. A disability attorney can help you make decisions about testing and can determine the best way to use your results to support your claim.
Learn more about whether a neuropsychological evaluation could help support your disability claim. Speak to an Ocala FL long-term disability lawyer at CJ Henry Law Firm, PLLC today.
