Traumatic brain injuries are a trying experience for both the victim and their family. Rather than suffer these costs alone and unaided, a brain injury law firm can help to guide you through the process of recovery.
The 8 Levels of Cognitive Recovery
All TBIs are different, and their severity falls on a continuum. Subsequently, researchers from the Rancho Los Alamos Medical Centre have devised a scale for measuring the level of recovery after brain injuries. A family member’s role in TBI recovery varies according to the scale, outlined here:
- No Response
- Complete absence of change in behaviour when given external stimuli;
- Generalized Response
- Demonstrates general response to various stimuli (painful, auditory, etc.) with non-purposeful vocalization and movement;
- Responses may be the same regardless of stimulus;
- Localized Response
- Demonstrates minimal responses (blinking, following objects in visual field, movement when uncomfortable, etc.) that are directly related to the stimulus;
- May respond to some people (family, friends) but not others;
As a family member of a TBI victim in stages one through three, your role is to help with comfort wherever possible and, frankly, to focus on reducing your own stress and grief. Because your family member is only minimally responsive, medical professionals will need to use their expertise in rehab at this point. You can, however, do things to help establish the state of your family member, such as touching and talking to them when they are awake, playing music they enjoy, and showing them family pictures or heirlooms with the intention of gauging the response.
- Confused/Agitated
- They are in an alert, heightened stage of activity;
- Mood may swing with no correlation to external stimuli;
- Absence of short term memory;
To help reduce agitation, you should speak to your family member in a calm, slow voice. You should also limit the amount of visitors your family member receives, as too much activity around them can contribute to confusion.
- Confused – Inappropriate
- They are alert and not agitated, but instead may wander vaguely and without focus;
- Able to respond to simple commands fairly consistently;
- When provided context (i.e. who they are with, what day it is), may be able to perform short periods of automatic conversation (i.e. simple responses);
- Confused – Appropriate
- Alert, not agitated, and able to attend to highly familiar tasks for up to 30 minutes (e.g. a morning routine);
- Recognition of family and friends, vague recognition of staff;
- Consistently follows simple directions;
You should start to broaden your family member’s sphere of familiarity by referring to extended family and friends. Try playing ball games or simple card games: these help to facilitate learning capacity. Praise your family member for all of their correct behaviours. Above all else, keep things consistent and in accordance with a routine.
- Automatic
- They are consistently oriented to person and place within a highly familiar environment;
- Requires only minimal supervision for safety in routine activities;
- May be unable to recognize inappropriate social interaction, and may be oppositional when confronted about this;
- Purposeful
- They are consistently oriented to person and place, regardless of environment;
- Able to recall and integrate past and recent events;
- Acknowledges the feelings and needs of others;
- May still overestimate or underestimate their abilities;
With the efforts of recovery coming together in these stages, your family member will begin to regain much of their pre-injury personality and abilities. Through stages 7 and 8, you can help them by simply checking in on them at regular intervals to insure that they are still comfortable in daily life. You should still stay aware of your family member if they need to make important decisions (e.g. regarding finances), as their processing capability is likely still lessened and they may be susceptible to peer pressure or suggestions.
How a Brain Injury Law Firm Can Help
With all that you’ll be doing to aid your family member, expenses are bound to accrue. A brain injury law firm can handle your family member’s case, assuring well-deserved compensation for your family member.
Sources:
www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/documents/Patient Education/BrainInjuryHandbook-trh.pdf
http://www.northeastcenter.com/rancho_los_amigos_revised.htm