You have accessed the home for Neuropsychology Rehabilitation Services - LifeSpan. We are a multidisciplinary practice that offers a wide array of neuropsychological (NRS) and traditional psychological services (LifeSpan). From here you are able to access information regarding our services, as well as information regarding both our staff and office locations.
It is our goal to offer comprehensive, quality care from the time of consultation all the way through treatment. With a particular emphasis on health psychology we employ the use of clinical skills adapted to those with medical conditions. Previously, physical health was separated from mental health and treated in different settings. We now realize the importance of emotional, cognitive and behavioral factors contributing to and a consequence of health, illness, or injury. We recognize the uncertainty and confusion that accompanies both traditional health and mental health issues and we hope to provide as much clarity as we can. The best way to get the answers to specific questions that are unique to your particular situation is to directly contact us.
FORENSIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
Dr. Sica has been clinically treating the full spectrum of brain damage, particularly head injuries, for over 30 years. He is a board certified neuropsychologist through the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology. This is one of two boards nationally recognized within his field.
Dr. Sica created Neuropsychology Rehabilitation Services in 1979, one of the five original head injury facilities in New Jersey. He also was one of the original clinical advisory board members of the New Jersey Brain Injury Association.
Furthermore, he is credentialed by the National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology, standards exceeding licensure requirements in terms of training experience in his field. Dr. Sica has an extensive professional background in private practice, hospital affiliations, teaching, published articles, and developing programs for hospital and national organizations.
Neuropsychological testimony can define the functional outcome of acquired neurological injuries in the legal decision process. With the growth of neuropsychology in the legal arena, you need to be assured of the competency of your expert neuropsychologist, whether for the plaintiff or defense. This includes consultation, valid scientific neuropsychological testing meeting the Daubert challenge, results interpretation, and ecological applicability of these findings in terms of the patient’s cognitive and psychological daily adaptive functioning.
He has consulted in many different types of cases namely, probate (testamentary competence), administrative (WC, disability), and civil (PIP), providing counsel with both practical and strategic information in definitional capacities – treatment, expert witness, and litigation consultant.
The following information is important.
A neuropsychologist has attained a doctoral level of training and supervision through internship and post-doctoral residency working with a myriad of brain conditions. He/she administers, scores, and interprets the neuropsychological tests that comprise the neuropsychological examination (NPE).
The NPE provides valid evidence of the nature and rate of recovery from injury to the brain, besides determining the patient’s functional capacity on a daily basis. Furthermore, the NPE can determine potential behavioral problems due to brain injury. Finally, the neuropsychologist can answer questions about the patient’s cognitive abilities prior to trauma versus the immediate cognitive deficits.
Another aspect in preparing a head injury case is to understand that there is no fixed relationship between the clinical aspects of a head injury and observable behavior. It is therefore inaccurate to predict the functional capacity of a patient merely on the basis of observation or a cursory neurological examination (vs. NPE).
Specifically, the neurological examination is designed to evaluate the motor and sensory functions but provides only a limited description of the higher cortical cognitive brain functions. The NPE is just the opposite. It provides a description of the strengths and weaknesses across the entire range of cognitive abilities, thereby defining the patient’s unique needs. Thus, the NPE and the neurological examination are complimentary.
Attorneys working with personal injury or Worker’s Compensation cases are familiar with what is referred to as “mild” brain injury. These individuals appear to be functioning normally because of a negative neurological examination. Nevertheless subtle deficits can exist, including attention, memory, and organization, undermining daily efficiency.
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?
Our expert testimony involves three areas: Probate, administrative, & civil.
1. The existence of an injury. An NPE can objectify if cognitive loss has occurred. The loss may be decreased cognitive capacity due to brain injury or a post-traumatic stress reaction secondary to an MVA or work-related accident.
2. The cause of an injury.We can provide an opinion as to the probable source leading to the patient’s injuries or losses.
3.Permanency, rehabilitation. Degree of the patient’s future cognitive capacity and rehabilitation needs. This includes quality of life, work and family relationships.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTERMATH OF PHYSICAL INJURIES
There is probably no physical injury that does not produce some degree of psychological trauma. Emotional stress itself can leave permanent psychological scars. The most notable is the post-traumatic reaction.
Any emotional stress particularly if sudden and unexpected including that which may accompany an accident or physical injury, can precipitate, without any brain damage, physical, behavioral and cognitive changes.
This threat or fear of injury of “violation” of bodily integrity can be more provocative of post-traumatic disorders than actual physical injury.
This area of injury is also examined and treated as with brain injuries.
CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Traumatic brain injury, concussion, post-concussion syndrome (mixed, organic/functional disorders), cerebral vascular accidents, attention deficit disorder, dementia, tumors, post-traumatic stress disorder, pain and suffering, effects of chronic stress, anxiety and phobic reactions, depressive reactions, psychophysiological disorders, whiplash syndrome, low back syndrome and chronic pain conditions.
