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Michael Paul Mason, BrainLine (page 2 of 4) Page 2 of 4
In severe cases that affect the brain’s most basic functions, fundamental abilities can be altered or inhibited. Paralysis or spasticity (muscle tightening) can affect a person’s ability to move, swallow, or breathe. Digestive problems can arise, and hormonal changes may result. Women with TBI often experience menstrual difficulties.
With appropriate help, however, a person with TBI can find ways to cope with these difficulties.
9. What thought-related changes may occur due to a brain injury?
- Shortened attention span
- Memory problems
- Poor judgment
- Partial or complete loss of reading and writing skills
- Problem-solving difficulties
- Language problems, including communication deficits and loss of vocabulary
- Inability to understand abstract concepts
- Difficulty learning new things
10. What physical changes may occur due to a brain injury?
- Weakness
- Muscle coordination problems
- Full or partial paralysis
- Changes in sexual functioning
- Changes in the senses (hearing, sight, touch, etc.)
- Seizures (also called traumatic epilepsy)
- Sleep problems
- Speech difficulties
11. What subtle or severe personality and behavioral changes may occur due to a brain injury
- Difficulty with social skills
- Inability to empathize with others
- Tendency to be more self-centered
- Inability to control one’s emotions
- Increases in irritability and frustration
- Inappropriate and/or aggressive behavior
- Extreme mood swings
- Depression (individuals with TBI are considered to be at a high risk for depression)
12. Why is it so difficult to predict the outcome of a TBI?
Although the field of neuroscience has advanced our understanding of TBI considerably, we still know a limited amount about the brain’s capacity to heal following injury. Instead of predicting outcomes, rehabilitation professionals often create treatment plans to help people achieve specific goals.
These plans must take into account the severity of injury, the amount of time (if any) spent in a minimally conscious state, and available resources. Neuropsychological evaluations test for areas of specific impairment, and can be of great assistance in understanding the severity of injury. Armed with that information, rehabilitation workers can then help people with TBI reach their goals through therapy and other efforts.
13. What is the process of treating a TBI?
As soon as the injury occurs, most people should receive care in a medical center that specializes in trauma care. If the examining doctor believes that the injury is a mild TBI, then the patient is typically evaluated and tested and possibly discharged with the appropriate recommendations for follow-up care. Patients are told to immediately report any worsening of symptoms.
In the case of moderate and severe TBI, individuals may transition into surgery, intensive care, acute care, or any combination of the three. Specialists at every stage of treatment should be available to recommend subsequent stages of treatment. Once the person is medically stable, helpful treatment options may include the following:
- Acute rehabilitation programs
- Post-acute rehabilitation centers
- Sub-acute care through a skilled nursing facility
- Long-term care/supervised living for slow-to-recover patients
- Coma stimulation programs
- Residential facilities that specialize in TBI
- Outpatient rehabilitation
- Day treatment programs
- Neuropsychological Testing
- Neurological medication management
- Epilepsy treatment centers
- Neurobehavioral management programs
- In-home treatment provided by medical professionals
Some rehabilitation may last weeks or months, while others may last years. Programs and treatments will change as you or your loved one’s particular needs change. Some centers may also provide respite care services for family members who need to place their loved one into temporary care.
14. What are the differences among all the rehabilitation specialists who may be needed?
- Neurologists: Neurologists are doctors who are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders. These can include diseases of the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and nerves.
- Physiatrists: Physiatrists are medical experts in rehabilitation medicine. They typically oversee the rehabilitation process.
- Occupational, Physical, Speech and Language Therapists: These therapists work with a person with TBI to regain cognitive and communication skills, physical abilities, and behavioral skills.
- Vocational Rehabilitation Experts: These experts are employment coaches who help with regaining job skills.
- Behavioral analysts: These specialists create strategies for dealing with behavioral problems.
- Neuropsychologists: These specialized psychologists focus on thinking skills and behavior problems.
- Case managers/ care coordinators: Case managers/case coordinators assist people in finding and accessing needed programs and services.
Note: Some professionals also carry additional certification from the American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists. See: http://www.aacbis.net/ for details.
15. Will I get better?
TBI is treatable, and treatment is always made better with the help of people who care about you. Keep in mind that TBI is considered a catastrophic injury; the greater the severity of the TBI, the less likely you are to return to your pre-injury physical and mental status.
There is a popular myth that suggests that there is a limited time frame for helping someone after a brain injury, but the fact is that many people continue to make gains in their recovery many years after the injury.
16. How long will it take to get better?
TBIs tend to heal slowly. In mild cases, symptoms may persist for weeks or months. For moderate to severe TBIs, some symptoms may resolve over the course of months or years, while others may persist for a lifetime.
Written exclusively for BrainLine by Michael Paul Mason. For more information about author and brain injury case manager Michael Paul Mason, go to www.michaelpaulmason.com.
Michael Paul Mason has served as an editor for two literary publications, and has appeared on several national media outlets, including the Lehrer Newshour, CBS News, and NPR's Morning Edition.
His writings have appeared in several newspapers and magazines, including Discover, The New York Times, and The Believer. Mason remains active as a lecturer and speaker. Mason has also built a reputation for noteworthy journalism. When Mason's article, "Dead Men Walking", appeared in Discover magazine, it ignited a national debate about the treatment of brain injured soldiers. Mason has since traveled to Iraq to report on healthcare and humanitarian issues.
Mason's first book, Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath is an exploration into the harsh realities endured by brain injury survivors. While currently a brain injury projects manager at the Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute at Brookhaven Hospital, Mason continues to advocate on behalf of Americans with brain injury and is involved with several national legislative initiatives.
He is currently the founding editor of This Land, a monthly magazine based in Tulsa. He is also at work on a non-fiction book called The Human Assembly: The Discovery, History, and Industry of our Parts, Tissues, and Organs.
The contents of Brainline (the “Web Site”), such as text, graphics, images, information obtained from the Web Site’s licensors and/or consultants, and other material contained on the Web Site (collectively, the “Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for medical, legal, or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Specifically, with regards to medical issues, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Web Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. The Web Site does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Web Site. Reliance on any information provided by the Web Site or by employees, volunteers or contractors or others associated with the Web Site and/or other visitors to the Web Site is solely at your own risk.
Comments [9]
I have a 46 year old family member who, at 18, was in terrible accident. He was drinking, rolled his truck, and was thrown from the vehicle. No one saw it actually happen, but he was found walking around the highway with no recollection of the accident. No medical measures were taken, and will he will not acknowledge anything wrong with him. Though he has learned adult coping skills, he thinks and behaves just like he was still 18. Has anyone else experienced this?
MVA about fifteen months ago. One of my problems is sexual dysfunction-What can be done??
After being in serveral blasts in both Iraq and Afghanistan I suffer from TBI, it has a great impact on your daily life, from sleeping, eating, and one of the worst is your emotional state of mind. It not only effects the soldier but the family back home, the TBI has been one of the hardest things that both my wife and I have had to overcome and we are far from overcooming it completely. in short I wanted to tell people not to hide the fact that they have a TBI but to embrace it and learn from it.
im experiencing a hard time focussing in class but i never had before i recently took a blow to the head, what do i do
seizures at the age of 70 with M.R.I scan showing oedema in the brain ??what does it mean???
I want to know the memory capacity of the human brain
I had a severe motorbike accident in 1986 - that left me in a coma for 7-months. I had global brain damage. I won't try to fool you: rehabilitation is tough and it takes a lot of effort - but it does happen ... if you're willing to put in a lot of effort.
I suffer having a traumatic head injury, because I was hurt in a vehicle accident three years ago. And every day, I suffer because everything is so hard to do, especially since I am in a wheelchair all day long, away from my friends and family. It really is painful, I can\'t explain it.
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My 23 year old step son was in an accident July 2010. While he has made a very good recovery physically and mentally, I feel often like I am dealing with a teenager not a 23 year old. It is very difficult because he lies and manipulates you in any situation that suits him. They say to be patient and kind and caring to a TBI, but my TBI is very hard to deal with on a daily basis. The lies and manipulation just tear down your patience and caring attitude. I know he struggles but adding the �extra�s� on top of the injury makes it very depressing to deal with. It seems to be that these personality traits were there before and now are �heightened�. SO in so many words I relate to the post of the boy acting 18. We were told by doctors to expect to deal with a 12 year old. I believe daily he goes anywhere from about a 12 year old to an actual 23 year old. I believe it is just the way they will be unless they get the therapy they so need and deserve. That is my hope as for now, starting therapy that should have happened directly after the injury, but it is very hard to get the TBI to understand that there is something wrong and to come to terms with the actual incident. Good luck to all, I know we all need it.
Dec 28th, 2011 6:09pm