Limitations of neuropsychological testing to predict the cognitive and behavioral functioning of persons with brain injury in real-world settings

Abstract

While neuropsychological tests have been designed to identify cognitive impairments stemming from a brain insult and their severity, the vast majority of these tests were never designed to predict how these patients were likely to function in real-world settings, live independently, return to work, or maintain competitive employment. No one specific neuropsychological test or measure can accurately predict how an individual who has sustained a brain insult will function in everyday or vocational settings. Predictions based on neuropsychological test data tend to be more accurate if the particular tasks utilized during testing closely match or simulate the individual's everyday and vocational demands. Predicting an individual's vocational potential also requires a careful assessment of his or her work and medical history, injury characteristics, emotional and behavioral functioning, motivation to return to work, and family circumstances.