Learn about TBI - For Individuals and Families
Assessment and Rehabilitation
Whether an individual is recovering from an acute brain injury in a hospital or a mild brain injury at home, assessment and rehabilitation can play a critical role in the recovery process.
Assessing the Injury
Assessing the injury is a key part of the rehabilitation process. Examples of physical challenges that may result from TBI include:
- Weakness and reduced motor coordination
- Speech and swallowing difficulties
- Paralysis
TBI may also affect abilities related to:
- Thinking
- Problem solving
- Memory and other cognitive functions
It may take several assessments to evaluate the full impact a TBI may have on overall functioning. Because emergency treatment may effect the initial assessment, it may be important to conduct additional assessments in the weeks or months following the injury.
The Rehabilitation Process
The rehabilitation process is different for everyone. Rehabilitation programs should be individualized. Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two injuries are exactly alike.
Rehabilitation channels the body’s natural healing abilities and the brain’s relearning processes so that an individual recovers as quickly and efficiently as possible. Rehabilitation also involves learning new ways to compensate for abilities that have permanently changed due to brain injury.
The Role of Rehabilitation
Inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation can begin to address the brain injury issues that cause so much frustration and confusion. Research has found that patients who received inpatient rehabilitation after brain injury had better outcomes than patients who received only acute care. Outcomes were measured in the areas of functional status, daily care requirements, ability to return home and vocational status.
The goal of rehabilitation is to help people regain the most independent level of functioning possible. It’s very important that therapists treating the person with TBI be trained specifically in TBI rehabilitation.
Acute inpatient hospital rehabilitation uses a comprehensive approach that includes medical stabilization, physical rehabilitation and cognitive/behavioral rehabilitation. Rehabilitation promotes learning, coping and adapting as the patient faces lifealtering changes.
Social skills training and counseling services are provided to address the emotional and adjustment needs of the individual and family. In this environment, interaction among patients provides another opportunity for support.
Rehabilitation may be short-term (a few weeks or months) or long-term (several years). Typically, most recovery occurs within the first 12-18 months of injury, although gradual improvements may continue after that time.
Many individuals with brain injury follow a treatment course in which they initially receive acute medical, proceed to the acute level of rehabilitation and progress to more independent settings such as home with an outpatient program. Some individuals will need long term care that may occur at home or in an extended care setting.
Home and Community-Based Treatments
Individuals with brain injury who are able to go home may still need therapy or other care. Outpatient therapy is provided at hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation facilities. Outpatient physical therapy will help build up strength and endurance. Outpatient occupational, speech and cognitive therapy may also be needed. Family or friends may need to arrange transportation for therapy appointments. Home health care programs are available in many communities. Some of the services they offer include in-home nursing care, homemaker and health aides, meals-on-wheels, adult day care, home therapy visits, medical equipment rental/purchase and transportation.
The Continuing Role of Rehabilitation
| Specialized Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation |
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| Sub-Acute Rehabilitation |
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| Post-Acute Rehabilitation |
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| Community Re-entry |
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| Extended Care |
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