2020 Volume 40 Issue 3 Pages 297-303
The judgement regarding driving resumption or cessation due to brain disease or traumatic brain injury (TBI) is that a comprehensive driving evaluation including in-hospital tests such as neuropsychological tests, as well as driving simulators and on-road tests is required. Individual medical judgement is required in cases of homonymous hemianopia, unilateral spatial neglect, and severe sensory impairment. It is also important to ensure that the patient does not have a disease or condition that causes his or her license to be revoked or suspended. Patients with dementia should have their license revoked, and symptomatic epilepsy, hypoglycemia, depressive states, and sleep apnea syndromes will require confirmation on the degree of the symptoms. Patients with aphasia have difficulty interpreting the results of neuropsychological tests, however, the use of tests such as the Trail Making Test Part-A, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, Tapping span test, Visual Cancellation task Figure-A・B, Continuous Performance Test, may prove effective. If a patient is assessed as “fit to drive” by a comprehensive evaluation, we advise they contact the police for a safe driving consultation (Consultation Dial : # 8080) . On the other hand, if they exhibit some anxiety factors, the driving resumption is put on hold, and after a period of 3 to 6 months, re-evaluation is recommended after recovery.
