Driving Fitness in Neurological Conditions – A Lifespan Perspective

The webinar will provide a structured overview of factors influencing driving fitness across different age groups and neurological conditions.

Beginning with children and adolescents, the session will address issues of driving fitness in the context of cognitive impairments, acquired brain injuries, and neuropsychiatric disorders such as ADHD and autism spectrum conditions. These early-life neurological challenges can have a lasting impact on the ability to drive safely and must be carefully evaluated.

In adulthood, other aspects of neurological factors come into play. Many developmental disorders persist into adult life, often with subtler manifestations. In addition, adults may face neurological challenges, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, brain tumors, and the early onset of progressive diseases.

With advancing age, the prevalence of neurological dysfunction increases. Older adults may be affected by any of the aforementioned conditions, with a particularly heightened risk for progressive memory disorders and Parkinson’s disease, which can significantly impact driving ability.

Speaker:
Sari Kukkamaa is a licensed neuropsychologist with a Master’s degree in Psychology (2002) and licentiate-level training in neuropsychology (2013). She has been working in the field of driver assesssment since 2004, with a focus on the assessment and rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain injuries, as well as other acquired and developmental neurological conditions.
Currently she is working at the Oulu University Hospital’s department of Rehabilitation, and as a part of it, at the Driving Medicine Policlinic, where she evaluates the driving ability of patients with multiple diagnosis.  
Since 2013, she has also contributed to the investigation of fatal traffic accidents, providing psychological expertise in the analysis of around 200 cases.