Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain that results in lasting cognitive changes.  It may come from a car accident, a fall from a high place, while playing sports, or some other accident.  An individual may or may not lose consciousness.  Effects can last for several weeks or several years. Individuals may struggle to achieve as much as they once did, they may not even be able to work, or they may no longer be able to live alone or care for themselves. The severity of a traumatic brain injury determines how long recovery can take.  A neuropsychological evaluation characterizes an individual’s strengths and cognitive challenges and sets out a treatment plan to help recovery take place faster.

Recommendations:

1.  Depending on the nature of the brain injury and the way it affects an individual’s everyday life, cognitive remediation can assist with developing strategies and “work arounds” to improve quality of life by addressing difficulties with attention, memory, problem solving, and fatigue.

2.  Some people may also benefit from referrals to medical doctors to address post traumatic headaches, difficulties with sleep, attention, or memory.

3.  A special type of therapy designed to help people with brain injuries can assist with improving relationships with family and friends, helping them understand how the brain injury has affected someone with a TBI, and creating a more supportive environment for them.

4.  Some people with brain injuries may benefit from referrals to other agencies that can assist with community needs, like supportive housing, or other programs.  In San Francisco, one agency that help with this is SFTBIN.

Links

The Brain Injury Network provides a variety of supports for survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury: www.braininjurynetwork.org

Mega-lawsuit says NFL hid brain injury links
by MARYCLAIRE DALE
A concussion-related lawsuit bringing together scores of cases has been filed in federal court, accusing the NFL of hiding information that linked football-related head trauma to permanent brain injuries.