What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when you have an acute or sudden injury that causes damage to your brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading causes of TBI are falls, motor vehicle accidents, and violent assaults.
If you have had TBI, rehabilitation therapy will be an important part of your recovery. This can take many forms depending on your needs and might include physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as psychological care and social support. All of these are designed to help you recover from the effects of your injury as much as possible.
Rehabilitation after a TBI
Rehabilitation can improve your ability to function at home and at work, help treat mental and physical issues, provide social and emotional support, and help you adapt to changes as they may occur during your recovery. It can also help with Pain Management, muscle weakness, balance and coordination, and alternative methods for daily tasks.
Every person’s needs and abilities after TBI are different. Your program is designed especially for you and is likely to involve many types of healthcare providers. Over time, your program will likely change as your needs and abilities change.
Your individual program could include these treatments:
- Physical therapy
- Physical medicine
- Occupational therapy
- Neuropsychological Evaluation/Psychological care
- Speech therapy
- Vocational therapy
- Counseling
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Therapy (BIRT) at NWRTW
BIRT outpatient treatment at NWRTW is designed to reduce and manage a client’s symptoms after a TBI, improve overall condition, and teach skills/techniques to assist in the path to return to work. How long it lasts and how much follow-up care you will need depends on how severe your injury was and how well you respond to therapy. Some people may be able to return to the same level of ability they had before TBI. Others may need lifetime care.
Treatment is tailored to provide everyone an opportunity to reclaim his or her independence, self-efficacy, quality of life, and productivity.
We offer integrated care provided by physicians, psychologists, neuropsychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and vocational rehabilitation counselors.
Our Program might be right for you if you have documented episodes related to a head injury, or you struggle with symptoms following a head injury that fall into the following categories:
- Physical Symptoms
- Dizziness
- Balance and coordination
- Fatigue
- Blurry or double vision
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Cognitive Symptoms
- Slowed thinking
- Difficulty with memory
- Difficulty with decision making
- Impulsivity
- Poor judgement
- Difficulty planning
- Emotional/Behavioral Symptoms
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Difficulty controlling emotions
- Poor frustration tolerance
- Quick to anger
If you’ve suffered a brain or head injury in the workplace, or know someone who has, talk to your doctor or care coordinator about NWRTW. Our program is designed to help people recover from work-related head injuries. CONTACT US for more information.