Dr. Antonucci Functional Neurology (Concussion & Neurorehab)

Overview

What It Is Dr. Matthew Antonucci’s functional neurology practice specializes in multi-modal neurorehabilitation for persisting post-concussion symptoms and other neurological challenges. Care combines detailed neurological assessment with individualized therapy that may include vision/orthoptic work, vestibular and off-axis rotation training, neuromuscular re-education, cognitive training, gaze stabilization, and non-invasive neuromodulation.

How It Works Persisting concussion symptoms often involve disrupted integration across visual, vestibular, autonomic, and cognitive systems. Targeted, high-dose exercises and neuromodulation aim to restore more efficient network function through use-dependent and sensory-motor plasticity. Treatment is typically delivered in intensive short blocks (e.g., multi-day programs) with measurable pre/post change.

Conditions - Primary focus: persisting post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) and traumatic brain injury–related symptoms. - Also addressed: selected neurodevelopmental challenges, vestibular and visual-motor problems, and other functional neurological presentations. - Note: Published retrospective and quasi-experimental work from the clinic reports significant symptom and performance improvements; larger independent RCTs of the full multi-modal package remain limited.

How it is administered

In-clinic intensive programs (often multi-day) after comprehensive functional neurological assessment. Modalities may include vision therapy, vestibular/rotational training, neuromuscular and cognitive exercises, and non-invasive neuromodulation, individualized to exam findings.

The NPA Treatment Database lists this treatment in connection with 11 condition records. A database relationship does not establish effectiveness, safety, or suitability for an individual.

These controlled question pages reference this treatment through stored condition relationships.

Symptoms connected in the NPA database

The current record associates this treatment with the following symptom information. This is not a claim that the treatment will improve these symptoms.

Cognition & Memory

Delayed cognitive skill development
difficulty concentrating
Difficulty sustaining attention
difficulty with flexible thinking
Difficulty with sequencing
forgetfulness
indecisiveness
intense focus on specific interests
Later memory and thinking changes
memory
memory complaints
mental fog
mental fog during/after attacks
multitasking difficulty
Problems with concentration
processing speed for written information
racing thoughts
Short-term memory issues
Short-term memory problems
slowed mental processing
slowed processing
slowed thinking
spatial neglect
trouble organizing or completing tasks
Variable cognitive strengths/challenges
working memory challenges
working memory issues
worry

Emotion & Behavior

anxiety
apathy
avoidance behaviors
avoidance of reading tasks
Challenges with social communication
depression
difficulty with regulation
emotional control issues
emotional dysregulation
emotional lability (uncontrollable laughing/crying)
emotional regulation differences
Excessive fear or worry
feelings of worthlessness
Frustration
impulsivity
Irritability
loss of interest/pleasure
lowered self-confidence
mood changes
mood changes before or during attacks
mood swings
Persistent sadness
repetitive behaviors
restricted interests
social withdrawal
Social-emotional delays

Motor Control

Balance and coordination problems
balance and gait problems
coordination or motor-planning differences
Delayed gross or fine motor milestones
difficulty walking
excessive movement (hyperactivity type)
Fidgeting
Minimal (occasional fine-motor or coordination differences)
muscle stiffness/spasticity
muscle tension
Muscle weakness
Occasional weakness or coordination changes during aura (rare subtypes)
One-sided weakness or paralysis
poor balance and coordination
reduced fine motor skills
Repetitive movements
Restlessness
rigidity/stiffness
slowed movement (bradykinesia)
slowed movements
Slowed movements or restlessness (psychomotor changes)
stiffness/spasms
trembling
Tremor
walking difficulty
weakness

Sensory & Pain

central post-stroke pain (burning, shooting pain, and sensitivity to touch, temperature)
electric-shock sensations
headaches
muscle aches
nausea
Numbness or altered sensation
numbness or tingling
Pain
Persistent headaches
Physical sensations (heart racing, chest tightness, sweating)
reduced sense of smell
sensitivity to light/noise
sensitivity to light/sound/smell
sensory changes
Sensory over- or under-sensitivity (touch, sound, light, etc.)
Sensory sensitivities in some individuals
Throbbing or pulsing head pain
tinnitus
Unexplained aches and pains
Variable sensory processing differences

Sleep & Fatigue

Excessive fatigue
Extreme fatigue (one of the most common symptoms)
fatigue
Insomnia or excessive sleepiness
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Mental fatigue from reading effort
post-attack exhaustion
profound fatigue and low energy
profound physical and mental fatigue
restlessness at night
Sleep difficulties
sleep disruption
sleep disturbances
Sleep disturbances common
Sleep problems (including REM sleep behavior disorder)
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Variable sleep pattern issues

Visual & Auditory Processing

auditory processing sensitivities or differences
Blurred or double vision
Difficulty distinguishing letter/word shapes and sounds (core auditory-phonological and visual processing issues)
Difficulty filtering auditory distractions
difficulty processing sounds
difficulty processing visual information
double vision
Heightened sensitivity to sensory input in some cases
light sensitivity
phonophobia (sound sensitivity)
Possible delays in visual-motor or auditory processing skills
Strong visual processing differences
Vision loss or double vision (optic neuritis)
visual attention challenges
Visual auras (flashes, zigzags, blind spots)
Visual field loss
visual processing changes
Visual processing or spatial difficulties in some cases

Practical information

Insurance coverage

Variable; many patients pay substantial out-of-pocket costs. Some components may be billable under therapy benefits.

Cost information

Intensive programs often several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on length and services.

Results and outcomes described in the source record

Clinic reports describe measurable symptom reduction within multi-day intensive programs for many patients; ongoing home exercises support maintenance.

Side effects and risks

Temporary symptom increase during challenging exercises is possible; medical screening guides safety. Overall risk profile depends on modalities used.

Research context in the NPA database

This section reproduces the current database's research summary and detail. Structured citation metadata has not been supplied, so it should not be read as an independently verified literature review.

Research summary

Evidence Level: Limited to Emerging (clinic-published outcomes) What the research shows: Clinic retrospective analyses (including multi-modal neurorehab for PPCS) report significant improvements in symptoms and objective measures (e.g., processing speed, reaction time, visual acuity). Key takeaway: An intensive functional-neurology approach for persisting concussion symptoms with published clinic outcomes and a still-developing independent trial base.

Research detail

Overview Dr. Antonucci’s approach uses multi-modal functional neurology assessment and treatment, with a major focus on persisting post-concussion symptoms.

Evidence Base and Published Work • Clinic-published work (e.g., multi-modal neurorehabilitation for PPCS in hundreds of patients) reports statistically significant improvements in symptoms and cognitive/motor measures. • Related papers address head-eye vestibular motion therapy and off-vertical axis rotational stimulation. • Independent large RCTs of the complete multi-modal package are limited.

Outcomes Outcomes most frequently described in clinic data include reduced post-concussion symptom burden and improved performance on cognitive and sensorimotor measures after intensive treatment.

Questions to ask a provider

1. Is an intensive functional neurology program appropriate for my persisting concussion or neurological symptoms? 2. What assessment will be used to build my treatment plan, and which modalities are likely to be included? 3. What is the typical length and daily schedule of the intensive program? 4. What outcomes have been reported for patients with a profile similar to mine? 5. What is the total cost, what is covered by insurance, and what home program follows the intensive phase?

Website and contact information

Visit the related website

Explore the interactive Treatment Database

Continue to compare educational treatment information in the interactive database. The standard disclaimer acknowledgement is required before the database opens.

Explore treatment information in the database