Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Disability Evaluations

We recently met with a renowned physician in the Salt Lake area who works with MS patients. His clinic has a need for psychologists who do MS disability evaluations.  Often, those with MS eventually develop cognitive deficits which can cause difficulties at work--sometimes to the point that they can no longer work and must go on disability.  

At our clinics (Salt Lake and American Fork), we can conduct these evaluations for approximately $500-600.  Occasionally, some insurances will cover this type of evaluation, but often the patient has to pay out of pocket.  This evaluation would generally  include:

• Full WAIS-IV (IQ/Cognitive Abilities)
• IVA Continuous Performance Test (Attention)
• Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test, and/or The Booklet Category Test, and/or The Comprehensive Trail-making Test (Executive Functioning/Planning/Cognitive Flexibility)
• California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (Verbal Memory/Recall Memory/Cued Memory/Recognition Memory)
• Selected Subscales from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition (Episodic Memory/Memory for Stories-Details)
• Other tests if deemed necessary
• Detailed Report that can be submitted to disability reviewers

If baseline IQ testing is needed for documentation in future disability claims, this can be done for $150-$200.   The benefit of having IQ testing completed right after being diagnosed with MS is that it will assist the patient later on if/when the patient deteriorates to the point of requiring disability.  For example, if a person has a high IQ of 125 (95th percentile) when he/she is first diagnosed with MS, but never has this tested or documented, then if/when his/her IQ decreases a full standard deviation, say to 110 (75th percentile), there is documentation that this represents a substantial deterioration of cognitive abilities.  However, if the baseline testing is never done, an IQ score as low as 90 (25th percentile) would still be considered average and the patient may not qualify for disability services because there is no proof that the cognitive abilities have declined.  

Contact us at the following numbers and ask for Dr. Ryan Houston (Licensed Psychologist).  If Dr. Houston is over-booked, we also have other psychologists that can perform the evaluations.

Salt Lake Office:             801-483-1600

American Fork Office:   801-756-3664