Identification and Diagnosis
Brain injury has been around since the first caveman bonked another caveman over the head with a club. As long as violence and accidents have existed, so has brain injury. Many of our advances with understanding the brain, how it works and what happens when it gets injured has been the result of wars and the necessity to serve wounded military service personnel.
Much has been learned about our brains and yet, there is still so much uncharted territory. Research continues to develop better diagnostic tools (like imaging techniques), medical interventions (like on-scene life supports by Emergency Medical Technicians), psychosocial interventions (like chemical dependency treatment models special populations (like offenders living with brain injury), and much more.
In a perfect world, individuals sustaining brain injury would be seen by medical personnel, diagnosed, treated and supported following the initial treatment. However, many go undiagnosed or receive limited treatment. That’s why it’s important ABE teachers are aware that brain injury could be the reason a student does not appear to be able to follow along with the class routine, tends to get lost repeatedly, needs frequent repetition or is easily distracted and disorganized.
Awareness of brain injury will assist the ABE teacher with determining strategies mploy that may benefit the student living with brain injury, limit the students frustration and provide them opportunities for success.
If a teacher is asked by a student where they can learn more about brain injury, refer them to the Resource Facilitation Program of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota. Staff will help them locate resources, answer questions and provide long-term support. www.braininjurymn.org
Common Difficulties Following Brain Injury
Intellectual/Cognitive
- Attention/concentration
- Information processing
- Memory
Executive Functions
- Insight/reasoning
- Impulsivity
- Judgment
- Generalizing
- Planning/organizing
- Problem-solving/inflexibility
- Initiation/motivation
- Insight/reasoning
Academic
- Acquiring/retaining new information
- Math/reading/writing skills
Communication/Social
- Concrete thinking
- Disorganized language
- Inefficient word retrieval
- Peer relationships
- Speech Production
Motor
- Paralysis
- Poor balance
- Fine motor
Sensory
- Vision
- Hearing
Other Sensory
Health/Physical
- Fatigue
- Strength/endurance
- Medications
- Related physical impairments
Emotional/Behavioral
- Anxiety/confusion
- Inappropriate behavior
- Anger/agitation
- Low tolerance for frustration
- Mood swings/liability
- Perseveration
- Depression
- Self-centeredness
- Perception
Functional
- Orientation
- Sequencing
- Personal care
- Organization/task/completion