Acquired brain injury occurs normally as a result of damage to the brain caused by a blow or jolt to the head. It can result in a brief change in mental status or a loss of consciousness, or mild concussion – these are mild symptoms, caused by mild brain trauma, and medical support or rehabilitation is not normally required.
In the event of a sever traumatic brain injury (TBI), there can be unconsciousness lasting for hours, days or weeks, and permanent disabilities can arise. As well as physical disabilities, a person who has suffered a severe TBI can suffer from reduced attention span, problems with their memory (short-term or long-term), and in solving problems or exercising judgement and language difficulties.
Learning new information, or retaining existing skills (like reading and writing, or spoken language) can also prove problematic, and the resulting frustration can lead to apparent changes in a person’s personality as they struggle to deal with the limitations thrust upon them. Some people with TBIs can experience changes to their personalities generally, becoming more self-centred, finding it difficult to understand and react appropriately to social situations, being more irritable or suffering extreme mood swings. They are also at great risk of suffering from depression.
Caring for people who have suffered a severe TBI can be very hard, physically and emotionally, and many carers find that they need specialist support to help them to help their loved ones. Since it is very difficult to predict how soon and to what extent a person with severe TBI will recover and with what support, it is hard to know what the future will hold and what future care and support the person with TBI will need and for how long.
Acquired brain injury rehabilitation can be a lengthy process, but its aim is to allow the injured person to live as independently as possible. It does so by improving the body (through physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) and helping the brain to recover by allowing it to re-learn things that have been lost, through work by psychiatrists, neurologists and neuropsychologists. Ultimately, when recovery has been largely achieved, experts can be involved to help to regain job skills so that the person with the TBI can re-enter the world of work and achieve independence.
It is important that a person’s family is involved with their rehabilitation and any plans be discussed with their loved ones.
Barchester Healthcare offers a range of services and support teams and experts to help your loved one towards rehabilitation. Barchester is committed to a person-centred approach to healthcare and takes pride in providing personalised services and support for its clients.