Barriers to Returning to Work Following A Brain Injury

The severity of the injury – whether it is mild, moderate or severe - will have a large bearing on when and if someone is able to return to work following a traumatic brain injury. But that is only one of the many things that will determine a survivor’s ability to return to the work force. There will be many things also that will determine their ability to hold a job if they do manage to secure one.

Those with fewer memory problems or personality changes are better able to successfully obtain employment. The amount of cognitive deficits they are left with and whether they have adapted to them will play a large part in their re-entry into the job market.

Other things that will be a consideration are their attention skills; ability to respond to the needs of their work environment; ability to focus; memory; reasoning; problem-solving; anger management difficulties; inability to take initiative; problems in sustaining their behaviour, and poor inter-personal relationships.

Age also can be a barrier to successfully returning to work. Employers often prefer hiring a younger person rather than someone who is possibly considered past their ‘prime’ especially one who has a disability.

Also many times employers are nervous about hiring someone who has sustained a traumatic brain injury. Most people do not understand brain injuries and the worry is they don’t know what they’re getting and don’t wish to take a ‘chance’ on potential problems.

Some survivors don’t have the self-esteem, or they lack the initiative to apply for positions of employment. The fall-out for a young person especially of not working further harms their feelings of self-esteem. This is particularly true if they have few leisure time interests, lack outside social contacts or are completely dependent on their family, spouse or caregiver.

Studies show that those who have a higher education or an advanced level of training, are more successful in their ability to find work – and to be able to keep it. This also includes those who have had access to rehabilitation and especially if it was available as soon after the injury as possible.

Unfortunately many brain injury survivors are unable to return to work for various reasons and are left floundering – jobless and with few financial, emotional and physical resources.