A brain injury can occur in only a fraction of time, but its results may be devastating and permanent. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, over 1.7 million people experience a traumatic brain injury in the United States each year. Because the brain is a complex organ, affecting so many different senses and bodily functions, a brain injury can have various effects on the injured person, with no two injuries manifesting exactly the same way. The outcome for a person with a brain injury may be improved with rehabilitation and development.
Initial Assessment
Following a brain injury, the individual must first be assessed by a number of professionals who specialize in care of treating patients with many different levels of impairment. This initial assessment can help the physicians and therapists involved to develop a plan of treatment that will focus on the patient's particular strengths as well as his shortcomings after the injury. The assessment phase is an ongoing process through rehabilitation and is updated frequently to reflect the amount of progress. Some types of professionals involved in the assessment process after a brain injury include neurologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, nutritionists and psychologists.
Cognitive Development
Brain injury development and rehabilitation may begin shortly after the injury has occurred. Typically, the symptoms and initial effects are the most significant immediately after the injury. There may be some swelling and bruising of the brain, which can cause initial impairments that may resolve after these injuries have subsided. A person with cognitive deficits after a brain injury may have difficulties with memory, concentration, speaking or understanding language. Additionally, there may be personality changes, depression or anger control issues. Early types of therapy include orientation of the patient to self as well as place and time. Ongoing therapy involves working in speech or cognitive therapy to improve reasoning skills and possible long-term care of emotional changes while managing the brain injury.
Physical Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation to restore some physical function following a brain injury may work to help the individual to develop physical skills at as high of level as possible. Depending on the level of injury, the person may have difficulties with standing, getting up or walking. Some patients with brain injuries remain unable to get out of bed and need assistance with turning and repositioning to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers and to promote good skin care. A physical therapist can help during rehabilitation to practice large motor movements to regain some balance and to maintain muscle strength. This type of rehabilitation may occur after an initial period of healing from the brain injury. The patient may work with a physical therapist on an outpatient basis or through home visits.
Fine Motor Skills
An occupational therapist may work to assist a brain injured patient with performing many tasks that require fine motor skills. A brain injury may affect a person's ability to perform regular activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, grooming, eating or using the toilet. These activities are often taken for granted until a brain injury occurs and an individual may forget how to perform such activities or may need to develop the dexterity for carrying them out. The therapist may work with the patient in situations that require these activities and assist him as he learns to perform the activities himself. Some patients may have difficulties with swallowing after a brain injury and must be assessed for signs of choking or aspiration while eating or drinking. These patients may work with an occupational therapist to perform some oral-motor exercises to develop the muscle coordination needed for swallowing.
