Criteria: Table 13-4 Consciousness and Awareness (327), Table 13-5 Episodic Loss of Consciousness or Awareness (328), Table 13-6 Sleep and Arousal Disorders (329), Table 13-Alteration in MSCHIEF (331), or Table 13-9 Aphasia or Dysphasis (332).
Follow the principles in Section 13.1. “The first step is assessing CNS impairment in 4 categories”: state of consciousness and level of awareness, mental status, use and understanding of language, and influence of behavior and mood. Rate on most severe impairment and combined with other neurological impairments, as appropriate. Mild traumatic brain injury generally does not result in impairment. (page 330). If significant head injury most often rated on Alteration in Mental Status, Cognition, and Highest Integrative Function (Table 13-8) or Emotional (Global Assessment of Functioning) (table 13-9), both resulting in up to 50% WPI.
