Unexpected iq testing is unexpected, and triggering

[Justmehere]

I am working with Voc Rehab, a government organization that helps people with disabilities go back to work. They wanted to get an updated mental health evaluation to see what kinds of treatment could help at this point in my recovery. They have also wondered if I have mild symptoms of another condition, a developmental one. I have done a full nueropsych evaluation in the past, three times, and I was reluctant to do anything like it again. The eval showed only that I have a high IQ, ADD, and one mild learning disability that makes it hard to read under florescent lights. That was it. It did also repeatedly show that they thought I had PTSD and the PTSD probably interfered with my life a lot, and I should go get evaluated for it. Then I would go elsewhere and get the PTSD verified and so on...

It's been several years since the neuropsych evaluations were done, but Voc Rehab and I agreed a new one was not needed. They said this would be focused on mental health. The first person they sent me to for the mental health eval wanted to test for learning disabilities. I have already been tested for this, and I said no. He pushed anyhow, and I left before doing the testing, feeling very frustrated and told Voc Rehab I agreed to a mental health eval, not this.

We found a different person, who agreed to not go on "rabbit trails" and to focus on mental health. The evaluation was scheduled to occur during two 3 hour appointments over two days. I had the first appointment last week. It turned into 4 hours of academic testing. He never asked about a single mental health symptom. I kept doing the tests to try and be compliant, and simply see the process through this time, but I was frustrated again. I figured now we would get to testing and evaluations that were more focused on mental health. Heck, I figured he would at least start asking about symptoms and etc.

He did send me two very short basic online tests via email. Stuff they give in ER's to screen if you are suicidal. I did them, and I was hopeful that the rest would be more focused on mental health.

Today, I just found out that the psychologist planned from the start to do full IQ testing at the second appointment. No one can tell me why. No one has ever expressed concerns about my cognitive abilities. I'm a terrible speller, and I know I write in a too rambly and too detailed way, but that is related to trauma, and my IQ was tested to be in the top 1-5% of the population.

I am beyond triggered. I'm quite upset about this actually. I don't want my IQ tested. Not again.

The appointment is tomorrow. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this? I need to be seen as agreeable, but the thought of doing IQ testing again is sending me into a really bad panic. I don't fully know the reasons why. One of the previous nueropsych tests (which always involves IQ testing) was wrongfully released to family and that lead to trauma. This might be part of why I'm triggered, but I don't know if it is. I'm simply really pissed.

My Voc Rehab rep has been understanding and has encouraged me to discuss my questions and concerns with the psychologist, especially because I had panic attack about it today. Maybe if the guy was evaluating mental health more then could evaluate why I am pissed and in a panic over IQ testing!

I do have a right to decline doing any of it, at any point in time. I am not sure how it would affect my Voc Rehab case if I did.

Any suggestions on how to handle this or why this would make a difference in evaluating PTSD?

 

[Ronin]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this?

Yeah, refuse it. Demand accomodations, as in settings that would be safer for you. So far they've been lying to you, misleading at best, don't sound as right people to be testing jack anyway. (Online tests for intros??? Seriously? Who even administers that stuff.)

I'd want to see their qualifications for -any- neuro/cognitive tests to be quite honest.

Also, please don't let them put you in a corner by possibly holding denial of service over you. If a refusal to something that wasn't consentual and is actively hurting you should lead to denial of service, then they weren't people to treat you in the first place, because they are doing their job wrong.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Well, it's good that refusing it is an option. If you do feel it's too much, you can refuse it.

I also have a huge fear of IQ tests, and I don't know how I would handle it.

I guess one option is to say the full list of reasons why you don't want to do it, or to tell them directly that it was supposed to be mental health, not intelligence... I'm really sorry you are having to go through this.

 

[Ronin]

Also, if you're going for it?

Remember tests can be flawed, and require a lot of careful analysis.

Someone forming an impression doesn't a science, or correct analysis, make.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I'm a terrible speller, and I know I write in a too rambly and too detailed way, but that is related to trauma, and my IQ was tested to be in the top 1-5% of the population.

It doesnt. Im dyslexic and a horrible speller as well but have a high IQ and a unique abilty to teach myself anything. And i ramble, as all know which i get from my dad whom does it more.

I do have a right to decline doing any of it, at any point in time. I am not sure how it would affect my Voc Rehab case if I did.

Ask. But unsure of why it scares you, you know you have a high IQ. Maybe im not reading or understanding the post right, im dyslexic after all; which is a learning disabilty but yet can teach myself anything & love learning ;)

 

[Teasel]

Everything you describe about how they have behaved with you leaves me feeling they don't have your best interests at heart here, rather some other interests.
This feels like the kind of situation where I would find myself wishing I could truly believe in my right to object. Forgive my ignorance what is the voc rehab? Have quickly Googled - is their aim to help you get the help you need or to try and rule out your case for receiving that help?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Forgive my ignorance what is the voc rehab?

Vacational rehab. It can be used for a lot, usually in the US (never used it, just how i understand it) used to get jobs or back in the workforce?

I must not have read/ understood the entirw theead. Forgive me @Justmehere

 

[SeaQuel]

Is this the same thing as your state's department of vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities?

You said it was through the government, and I'm just wondering if it's the same program I'm using, which is a state-funded program.

I'm still being "qualified" for the services, but they are only requesting specific medical records from my therapist and others. No testing or anything of the sort.

They should have given you a copy of anything you signed. If so, it should state the types of services they can provide, what your obligations are, and what their obligations are.

If you don't feel you are being heard, can you talk to someone else there? Do you have another contact?

 

[Justmehere]

Yes, it is the Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation.

They are building up a plan of possible services to help me be more fully employed. They already found me eligible and are looking to make sure they are providing all the services needed, and not overlooking anything. In my specific case, it does make some sense.

To make matters too complicated, I have specifically blocked them from getting records from my trauma therapist because of triggers and my specific trauma history. My therapist, Voc Rehab, and myself, along with a legal advocate, have all agreed to have someone new, who is trauma informed, do a full evaluation of my mental health, rather than the more typical route of relying on current treating providers. This evaluator is going to talk to my therapist and get info for their recommendations.

I'm beginning to think maybe I should have just come up with the funds to pay my therapist to do a full evaluation. Voc Rehab wouldn't have been able to pay for it, but maybe it would have been worth the triggers and money.

I communicated more with the psychologist doing the testing, and the representative at Voc Rehab handling my case.
Voc Rehab seems just about as bewildered as to the recommendation to do IQ testing as I was.

The psychologist explained it more as to why he wanted to do it. He wants to rule out a Traumatic Brain Injury playing a role in my symptoms, because if it is playing a role, then they will want to add in treatment specific to that. That seems reasonable.

I realized that the cognitive testing itself doesn't trigger me. It's not fun, but it's not stressful. I don't think I could handle the results. I blame myself for a specific traumatic event that lead to a mild head injury that occurred after the last time I had this same testing. I am really scared that I do have damage, and that it's my fault.

Being able to post about my freaking out about this and reading everyone's feedback has helped me slow down and communicate my concerns. The psychologist agreed that we could skip the IQ testing if I decided I need to do that. he is looking into other ways to evaluate what he needs to do, and is ok with doing it or dropping it. Voc Rehab says they will authorize more time to even just go in and talk about my concerns tomorrow, so that myself and the psychologist shouldn't feel like we are time limited to sort this out. They are ok with my doing it or not doing it.

I said that if I do agree to do it, please don't tell me the number. Good or bad, it will trigger me in ways that are not helpful right now. I would want to reserve the right to find out later, if I wanted to, but I don't want to know how badly any abilities are affected - only general strengths and weaknesses, and what I can do about it. Voc Rehab has already agreed to and authorized some Occupational and Speech Language Services, so they could just add in any TBI related help there too without it being a very big deal...

I copied the legal advocate on the flurry of emails today about this between myself and them, and she wrote me back to say I was doing well sorting it out.

This is probably going to seem stupid, but I'm so not used to such reasonable responses from people, or my own intense desire to not know stuff like this about myself.

I am planning on going to the appointment tomorrow, and I'm in tears reading the Voc Rehab email reminding me, "you can say no."

I can say no now. It seems like I really have a choice, and while it might help to do what they want, it doesn't mean the end of everything to say no. That's really different for me.

I very may well turn down doing this testing. It is a precarious thing to just jump into. I don't trust these people, but trying to believe they are not the enemy while still protecting myself.

I'm sorry to ramble on once again, I'm quite nervous tonight. Thanks all for helping me think all this through and remember before Voc Rehab even said it, that I can say no, and walk away from this, and express my concerns. Sometimes it does actually work out ok.

 

[Friday]

I am planning on going to the appointment tomorrow, and I'm in tears reading the Voc Rehab email reminding me, "you can say no."

I can say no now. It seems like I really have a choice, and while it might help to do what they want, it doesn't mean the end of everything to say no. That's really different for me.

<grin> Good on!

If you think it might help, you can always bring a printout of the email with the phrase highlighted "you can say no" as backup, as well. Do you need it? Nope. You can always say no. It's still nice, sometimes, though to have written proof from their superiors in hand if you feel yourself getting compliant just to get something over with.

 

[Justmehere]

If you think it might help, you can always bring a printout of the email with the phrase highlighted "you can say no" as backup, as well.

Great idea, I'm so printing it out! :D