A patient with traumatic brain injury is receiving outpatient physical therapy. The therapist notes that the patient becomes agitated during therapy sessions. To which professional should the patient be referred for assessment and diagnosis?

A patient with traumatic brain injury is receiving outpatient physical therapy. The therapist notes that the patient becomes agitated during therapy sessions. To which professional should the patient be referred for assessment and diagnosis?

• A. Occupational therapist
• B. Speech-language pathologist
• C. Neuropsychologist
• D. Vocation counselor

Answer: (C)

Evaluating cognitive and behavioral changes after brain injury is the domain of a neuropsychologist. Agitation during therapy can reflect disruptions in attention, executive function, emotion regulation, or mood following traumatic brain injury. A neuropsychologist uses standardized cognitive tests and clinical interviews to characterize these deficits, provide a formal diagnosis, and guide treatment and prognosis. This specialized assessment helps pinpoint brain-behavior relationships and informs rehabilitation planning and safety considerations. Other professionals contribute to rehab—an occupational therapist focuses on daily tasks, a speech-language pathologist handles communication and swallowing, and a vocational counselor supports return-to-work—but they do not perform the comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation needed to diagnose cognitive and behavioral sequelae after TBI.

Evaluating cognitive and behavioral changes after brain injury is the domain of a neuropsychologist. Agitation during therapy can reflect disruptions in attention, executive function, emotion regulation, or mood following traumatic brain injury. A neuropsychologist uses standardized cognitive tests and clinical interviews to characterize these deficits, provide a formal diagnosis, and guide treatment and prognosis. This specialized assessment helps pinpoint brain-behavior relationships and informs rehabilitation planning and safety considerations. Other professionals contribute to rehab—an occupational therapist focuses on daily tasks, a speech-language pathologist handles communication and swallowing, and a vocational counselor supports return-to-work—but they do not perform the comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation needed to diagnose cognitive and behavioral sequelae after TBI.