If You Have Seen One Brain Injury You have seen one brain injury'

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If You Have Seen One Brain Injury- You have seen
one brain injury.

• My Story
• Carmen Clementson

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December 4, 2007

• Motor Vehicle Accident 1049 a.m.

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Leading Causes of Mild Brain Injuries

• Falls - 28
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Sports Related Injuries
• 20 of all head injuries are sports related
• Every 23 seconds someone sustains a mild
  traumatic brain injury.
• Mild traumatic brain injury is often confused
  with depression.

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What a bump on the head can translate to

• There are acute hyperdense subarachnoid blood
  products identified overlying the left cerebral
  hemisphere, including left frontoparietal region
  as well as the left sylvian fissure region, most
  likely on the basis of posttraumatic subarachnoid
  hemorrhage.

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CAT SCAN 12-4-07
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TBI Statistics

• An estimated 5. 3 million Americans a little
  more than 2 of the population currently live
  with disabilities resulting from brain injury
  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• An estimated 100,000 Minnesotans live with the
  effects of a brain injury
• Leading cause of death and disability among young
  children and young adults, leading cause of death
  until age 44.
• 5,000 individuals in Minnesota sustain a TBI
  annually.
• 800-669-6442 www.braininjurymn.org

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Traumatic Brain Injury Defined

• A traumatic brain injury is caused by a blow or
  jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury
  that disrupts the normal function of the brain.
  Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a
  TBI
• The severity of a TBI may range from mild i.e.,
  a brief change in mental status or consciousness
  or amnesia after the injury ( braininjurymn.org)
• A very important factor in recovery is how soon
  you get the care you need.
• 80 of head injuries are mild head injuries.
• Sometimes these injuries go untreated or are
  misdiagnosed.

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Life is a one-way street

• Life is a one way street,
• No matter how many detours you take,
• None of them leads back,
• And once you know and accept that,
• Life becomes much simpler because then you know
• You must do the best you can
• With what you have and what you are and
• What you have become. By Isabel Moore

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Mild Brain Injury

• Characterized by
• Brief or no loss of consciousness
• Feeling dizzy, nauseous or faint
• Blurred vision, headaches
• Weakness, shaking
• Trouble talking
• Concussion length of time symptoms persist
  indicates mild to moderate injury.

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Possible Changes after a brain injury

• Memory
• Decision making
• Planning
• Sequencing
• Judgment
• Processing speed
• Problem solving
• (braininjurymn.org)

• Persistence
• Organization
• Self-perception
• Perception
• Inflexibility

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Possible Changes after a Brain Injury

• Hearing and visual changes
• Spasticity and tremors
• Fatigue and/or weakness

• Taste and smell
• Balance
• Mobility
• Speech
• Seizures
• Motor Coordination

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Possible Personality and Behavioral Changes

• Depression
• Social skills problems
• Mood swings
• Problems with emotional control
• Inappropriate behavior
• Inability to inhibit remarks
• Lack of response to social cues

• Problems with initiation
• Reduced self-esteem
• Difficulty relating to others
• Difficulty forming new relationships
• Stress, anxiety and frustration
• (braininjurymn.org)

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RecoveryWhat does recovery mean to you?

• Measured in weeks, months and years
• Usually most rapid in the first six months
• Recovery from a brain injury is slow
• Brain does not regenerate new cells
  unlike other injuries.
• NO BRAIN INJURY IS TOO MILD TO IGNORE OR TOO
  SEVERE TO LOSE HOPE
• www.braininjurymn.org

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Self Awareness A

• Unaware the brain injury has caused changes
• Thinks they do not need compensation techniques
• Will not use them
• Resists others telling of need to do things
  differently
• (www.braininjurymn.org)

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Self Awareness B

• Aware the brain injury has caused changes but.
• Sees the need for compensation techniques but.
• Is unable to use the techniques without
  external cues.
• Accepts help from others.

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Self Awareness C

• Aware the brain injury has caused changes, and
• Sees a need for compensation techniques.
• Is able to use compensation techniques
  with/without cues, may come up with own
  strategies.
• Accepts help from others
• (www.braininjurymn.org)

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Variables Impacting Coping

• Person with the brain injury
• - Cognitive Changes
• - Physical Changes
• -Previous coping strategies
• -Social support network
• -Available resources
• -Community reintegration (work, school)
• -Sense of optimism

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Traumatic Brain Injury CenterHCMC

• Established in 2006
• Goal was to establish a comprehensive,
  multidisciplinary center of excellence for
  patient care, education and research to serve
  people who have sustained a traumatic brain
  injury.
• Comprised of a team of professionals consisting
  of physicians, nurses, speech pathologists,
  physical therapists, occupational therapists,
  therapeutic recreation, neuropsychology, clinical
  psychology, and psychiatry.

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Neuropsychological Assessment

• Determines
• -Which functions of the brain have been
  disrupted
• -To what extent
• -What these changes may mean in a day-to-day
  life
• -Typically done 2-6 months after injury
• www.braininjurymn.org

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What is short term memory?

• Two minutes
• Two hours
• Twenty-four hours
• This week

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Multi-taskingMay not work!

• Start with one thing!
• Focus
• Minimize distractions
• Arrange tasks sequentially
• Use technology

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Other Considerations

• Good nutrition
• Regular exercise
• Counseling / family support
• Just know, some days are better than others!
• Modify or eliminate use of
• caffeine
• alcohol

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Adjustment is life-long

• Has been described as a series of stages or major
  tasks which may not proceed in an orderly fashion
• Developing and using coping skills
• Situational response to view of self
• Gaining sense of empowerment in ones life
  situation
• www.braininjurymn.org

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Variables impacting coping

• Level of emotional and behavioral control
• Active problem solving coping style
• Supportive social network
• Ability to re-frame
• Access to information, education and services
• Self-reliance
• Financial stress insurance coverage
• ( these apply to caregivers as well)
• www.braininjurymn.org

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Smart, well educated, good people say the
darnedest things to people with head injuries!

• You look great! You must be back to work
• Will you ever be able to go back to work?
• Well at least you can still talk.
• You talk to much about your head injury.
• They are letting you drive?
• I cant imagine you being one of those TBIs
  that are so mean and angry.
• Did it hurt?
• You may not remember this but.
• Do you feel stupider? ( oh boy)
• Why cant you just get over it?
• Will you ever be normal?

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Customer Service for all human beings!

• Under promise and over deliver
• Be polite and positive
• Always respect another point of view
• Give as much information to customer/consumer as
  you can
• Patience grasshopper
• Never make assumptions
• Humor helps!

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The Bottom Line

• Dont wait!
• Tell your kids and family that you love
  them.
• Dont stay mad at anyone.
• Dont go to bed at night with a list of
• I wish I would of
• next week, next year.
• TODAY is the day we are given.
• MAKE IT COUNT.

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THANKS to

• Diane Helgeson and Quin Buchtel
• First Responders
• Jay Kieft
• My family
• My staff
• Helen Mathison and all the staff at HCMC
• Dana Butler
• My church family
• Supportive friends
• Brain Injury Association of Minnesota