Hi Doris,

I'm glad your doctor followed up. I also passed the FAST test. I had a stroke in the cerebellum region of the brain in 2015. A Neuro Psych Assessment can help determine what deficits your husband has. Not sure where you're located, in Ontario/Canada mine was $4,000 back in 2018. It took me about 6-months post CVA to realize some of the struggles I was having (similar to your husband). I have struggles with Executive Function (memory, planning, etc.).

A specialized eye exam with a neuro optometrist was very helpful for me and diagnosed Post Trauma Vision Syndrome. I did vision retraining for a long time. I also had a Central Auditory Processing Exam with an Audiologist that helped me better understand why noisy/busy environments were overwhelming for my brain. I hope these testing options help you tease out more information.

I had Occupational Therapy and used the CONSTANT THERAPY (speech and cognitive therapy) App during my sessions, the OT had me download the App and use it at home instead. There is a free trial so he can try it out. It was very beneficial for me.

Sharon

As far as Doris’s mention of dementia later in life ... Our two vascular neurologists offered no information on dealing with any aspect of the stroke disease. After my husband had a cerebellar stroke, he had several months of sessions with a speech pathologist for cognitive/memory impairment. She (not the neurologist) recommended a neuro psychological evaluation. That report noted “major neuro cognitive disorder.” We weren't told what that means, and I assumed it was simply the term for the memory damage. (By chance, several months later, I read (at bhwa.com--Better Health While Aging) that it's the term for dementia. I believed that my husband was already dealing with a lot, so I didn’t tell him this. Later, when the topic happened to come up, I asked him if he’d want to know if he had dementia. He said, “No. I’m already dealing with enough.” After many hours of searching online over nine months, I finally read that when it's vascular/stroke-caused dementia, there is nothing to do about it. But at the same time of the evaluation, the vascular neurologist said, "It might not be MND." So we will see the neurologist at the nearest large medical center whose specialty is memory--to leave no stone unturned. And second opinions have been a real help in the past. (She's booked out until January 2024. Always ask to be on the “cancellation list.") Even if you don’t have the diagnosis yet, the Alzheimer’s Association provides master's-level clinicians on their 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900). They can guide you. The person I spoke with was very good.

As far as not getting diagnosed on the first trip to the ER: I learned from speaking via Zoom with the Vestibular Disorders Association's (VeDA--which by the say does not address post-stroke/vascular dizziness) volunteer ambassador, David Morrill. He, like my husband and yours, had a stroke the ER doctor missed. His brother later did also, but knew from David's experience to insist on being evaluated for a stroke. David said there's an effort under way to educate ER doctors to miss fewer strokes with atypical symptoms.