Concussion Support

Post-Concussion Assessment and Support

At Bowyer Psychology, our experienced Clinical Neuropsychologists and Clinical Psychologists provide support for individuals experiencing persistent or ongoing symptoms following a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We offer comprehensive assessments and personalised interventions to support recovery and wellbeing.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury, typically resolves within 2 to 12 weeks. However, for approximately 20% to 50% of individuals, symptoms can persist well beyond this period¹. When symptoms continue beyond the expected recovery time, this is referred to as Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms (PPCS). In some cases, these symptoms may last for over a year.

Symptoms of concussion or mTBI

It is well recognised that a wide range of symptoms can emerge following a concussion or mTBI. These symptoms are often grouped into six main domains: fatigue, cognitive, headache/migraine, vestibular, ocular, and affective².

Common symptoms may include:

• Fatigue – feeling unusually tired or low in energy
• Cognitive – difficulties with memory, attention/concentration, slow processing speed, increased distractibility, trouble with multitasking and difficulty with keeping a train of thought
• Headache/Migraine – ongoing or worsening headaches
• Vestibular – dizziness, balance problems, or feeling unsteady
• Ocular – blurred vision, sensitivity to light, or eye strain
• Affective – anxiety, depression, irritability, suicidality, and emotional lability

Comprehensive Concussion Assessments

Our experienced Clinical Neuropsychologists provide comprehensive assessments for those experiencing persistent or ongoing symptoms following a concussion.

Assessments are available for children; adolescents; and adults who have been experiencing symptoms longer than 2 weeks after your concussion.

Assessments can help to:

• Identify cognitive strengths and challenges to guide appropriate support and intervention strategies
• Provide a baseline assessment to monitor recovery over time. This is particularly valuable for individuals at higher risk of repeat concussions, such as athletes
• Determine whether symptoms meet DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Traumatic Brain Injury, which may be classified as mild or major
• Support insurance claims related to a concussion or mTBI

Steps for Assessments:

1. Initial Consultation: Assessments begin with an initial consultation with one of our Clinical Neuropsychologists. This helps the clinician understand your current concerns and gather the relevant background information. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, highlight any concerns, and clarify aspects of the assessment process.
2. Assessment: Following the initial consultation, the cognitive assessment will be scheduled. This will typically involve 3-4 hours of cognitive testing and completion of relevant questionnaires.
3. Review of Information and Report: After the assessment, the Clinical Neuropsychologist will interpret the results and prepare a detailed report outlining the findings and tailored recommendations. This report integrates information from multiple sources, such as imaging scans (if available), allied health reports, and input from relevant professionals. Where appropriate, we will liaise with your treating medical team to ensure a holistic understanding of your situation.
4. Feedback: Around four weeks after the assessment, you’ll attend a feedback session with the Clinical Neuropsychologist. During this appointment, the results and recommendations will be explained in detail, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions or discuss next steps.

Tailored Intervention and Support

At our clinic, we understand that every individual experiences their own set of difficulties following persistent/ongoing concussive symptoms.

As such, our Clinical Neuropsychologists and Clinical Psychologists will work with you to develop a tailored treatment plan.

Treatment will be based on your individualised concerns and symptoms, with strategies and interventions provided to help support your long-term recovery and assist in managing symptoms.

Our experienced Clinical Neuropsychologists and Clinical Psychologists provide support for a range of concerns associated with recovery, including, but not limited to:

• Mood-related changes such as anxiety, depression and alexithymia.
• Cognitive challenges such as attention problems, memory issues, slow processing speed, issues with planning/organisation.
• Reintegration into daily living, including support with returning to work, school or community activities.

How to Book an Appointment?

For further information about our concussion support services, get in touch below:

• Submit an enquiry – we will get back to you as soon as we can!
• Call us at (08) 6317 6000
• Email us at enquiries@bowyerpsychology.com.au

¹ McInnes, K., Friesen, C. L., MacKenzie, D. E., Westwood, D. A., & Boe, S. G. (2017). Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and chronic cognitive impairment: A scoping review. PloS one, 12(4), e0174847.

² Harmon, K. G., Clugston, J. R., Dec, K., Hainline, B., Herring, S., Kane, S. F., … & Roberts, W. O. (2019). American Medical Society for Sports Medicine position statement on concussion in sport. British journal of sports medicine, 53(4), 213-225.