How to Overcome Brain Trauma

Brain trauma, also known as traumatic brain injury or TBI, occurs when the head suffers a violent blow due to accident or assault. Even a mild brain injury can cause loss of consciousness and symptoms such as confusion and mood changes, so it's vital to seek medical care any time there's a head injury. For those who experience a serious injury resulting in moderate to severe brain trauma, the road to recovery is not an easy one.

Things You'll Need

• Skilled rehabilitation team
• Medications
• Cue cards
• Calendar

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Instructions

• 1

  Seek the best qualified help you can find. The patient often needs to stay in an inpatient rehabilitation facility initially. Check out the rehabilitation program and facility carefully. The staff should have all the appropriate credentials and lengthy experience; the facility should be accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. It's best if the patients are similar in age, sex, and level of injury. The treatment should offer qualified medical care and programming designed to help the patient achieve his maximum potential.

• 2

  Follow through with the rehabilitation plans developed by your medical team. The patient will need therapy for problems with speech and language, relating to other people and performing all the tasks of everyday life. He might also need medication, such as anti-seizure medication or anti-depressants; it will be necessary to take the medication exactly as prescribed in order for it to be effective.

• 3

  Use cue cards and calendars to help deal with memory loss due to TBI. The staff at the Mayo Clinic recommends that patients write down cues, such as "break it down, step by step" and "Pay attention to details." They also suggest using a calendar to help keep track of daily tasks and appointments.