Summary: A traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden, forceful blow to the head damages the brain. If the blow does not penetrate the skull, the injury is called a closed head injury. If an object such as a bullet or a piece of shrapnel pierces the skull and actually enters the brain, the injury is called a penetrating head injury.
When your loved one suffers any type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), his or her life, as well as yours, becomes much more complicated. Simple tasks may become difficult or impossible to perform, you may be needed to help care for your loved one constantly, and you may even require the help of a part-time or full-time medical care professional. The time and financial constraints may seem like insurmountable obstacles, and you may feel lost and alone in your struggle.
Cause of TBI
Traumatic brain injury is caused by a number of events, including automobile accidents, falling, electric shock or lightning strike, a blow to the head, a sports injury or medical malpractice. Any of these events may cause a brain injury, and you may find your life turned upside down in the span of just a few hours.
If your loved one has suffered a brain injury, you should not try to deal with all the difficulties and financial problems by yourself. Many support groups are available to help you, and an attorney may be able to help you gain compensation for an injury that was caused by someone else's negligence or direct actions.
Taking Action after TBI
When your loved one first experiences a traumatic brain injury, you should allow a doctor to examine him or her. You may also need the advice and diagnosis of a brain specialist or qualified psychologist. Each of these examinations may be helpful if you pursue compensation through the court system.
Aneurysm support group Northern VA are able to diagnose the level of injury, you may need to find assistance in caring for your loved one. Many health care professionals and insurance companies are able to refer you to physical therapists and cognitive therapists who can help your loved one regain function from the effects of a traumatic brain injury. However, the cost for this care may be expensive, and you may feel that you are unable to cover the cost yourself.
Finding an Attorney after TBI
Working with a qualified attorney can be helpful to more than your financial well being. Many attorneys have connections with health care professionals, or can direct you toward support groups or other venues to help you deal with the severe disability of a loved one.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Those suffering from brain injuries as well as PTSD may also have difficulties with substance abuse which can also complicate recovery. Other problems may include feelings of lack of control, difficulties with positive emotions, amnesia of the event, reduced cognitive abilities, sleeping disturbances, irritability, concentration deficits and almost certainly memory challenges. Many may also have feelings of survivor's guilt. This is suffered by many returning soldiers. For those who had an extended period of unconsciousness following a brain injury, it is believed that there is less likelihood of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurring. Psychological, physical, genetic and social factors are usually involved when there has been both a Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD.
Qualified personnel
It is very important to obtain early diagnosis. Treatments by qualified personnel to help reduce some of these symptoms include having the sufferer attempt to remember the traumatic even and express his/her feelings about it. Joining a support group will also be important and having a strong friend and family support system, if possible. If depression or other related medical conditions are a factor, it will be necessary to deal with these before treatment for PTSD can be started. It will also be important to overcome alcohol or substance abuse before any treatment can be successful.
Other treatments for this condition includes talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, exposure therapy, group therapy and/or medication. Treatment can require from three to six months or possibly longer.
Prevention of traumatic brain injuries
Brain injury awareness campaigns attempt to educate the public in the prevention of traumatic brain injuries. In spite of the fact that many of these injuries can be prevented, the lack of awareness of the consequences of this type of injury means that prevention measures are often not taken. Prevention can be accomplished in many ways, i.e.: by living a healthy lifestyle, and by wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle, biking, skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, skating and skateboarding. Also, seat belts should be worn at all times when in a motor vehicle; driving should be done defensively, and alcohol and illegal drugs should be avoided while in control of a motor vehicle.
Importance of support programs to assist survivors
Those most vulnerable for sustaining brain injuries are children under five, seniors seventy or over and those between fifteen and forty. Men are twice as likely as women to sustain traumatic brain injuries. The most likely causes of brain injury are vehicular accidents, falls and accidents. However, others at risk are those who are in contact or extreme sports, construction workers and, in more recent years, those who have served in the military.
Behaviour and cognitive difficulties
Brain injury awareness information also attempts to reinforce the importance of support programs to assist survivors in working towards successful rehabilitation. And for this reason, a rehabilitation team is necessary for best results. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists and support groups. Because social, physical and economic challenges are created as a result of brain damage and resulting cognitive problems, caregiver support is also necessary. Relationships are difficult to maintain when there are behaviour and cognitive difficulties. This is especially true when friends no longer visit the survivor thereby relieving the caregiver.
It is difficult for a student to receive this type of support for their cognitive disabilities within the school system because of the lack of funding. It is very difficult, if not nearly impossible, for one teacher to handle a mixed bag of disabilities with the necessary strategies required to suit each disability. In order for there to be success, it is necessary for there to be some assistance within the classroom but this is often not the case. Funding in many schools has been lost and there are few, or no, teachers’ aides available in many classrooms.
There have been some suggestions made such as the restructuring of how classrooms operate. Another idea has been differentiated instruction (tailoring instruction to meet individual needs) done with a flexible and individual approach; using peer tutoring and, grouping students who struggle.
There is no easy solution but it is clear that the present classroom situation does not work for all children. Although there are approaches that can help, it boils down to the need for further funding for schools, with more teachers’ aides, so that all children can receive the education they require.
Help With Head Injury Treatment
Once the initial care has been commenced an accident victim will usually approach a specialist head injury claims solicitor to help them investigate a claim for compensation. Once the solicitor has investigated the circumstances of the accident and satisfied himself that the victim has good prospects of making a successful claim, the first thing he will look to do is to engage the services of a case manager to manage the rehabilitation. This person is usually a former Nurse, and is often appointed jointly by the victim's solicitor and the insurance company defending the compensation claim.
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