More is being learned about brain injuries all the time as there is more awareness of them. And with awareness comes better ways of assessing injuries and finding tools to assist in recovery.
With both clinical and scientific research, it has been proven that there are benefits with music. It is one of the tools that has been discovered that help benefit those who have been victims of a brain injury. It helps to re-organize the structure of the brain. Music, such as Mozart will help with organizing thoughts, activities and emotions. It also helps with memory, sequencing, concentration, verbal communication, self-esteem, depression and frustration. Music can be used to reeducate and retrain the injured brain. It can help with language and speech problems. It has been been discovered that although a patient may be unable to speak or put several words together to form a sentence, they can sing those same words in a song that is known to them. It has also been shown to help build relationships and facilitate positive behavior. It helps to improve movement in limbs and increases their strength as well.
Music therapy can enhance cognitive skills. Classical music especially increases brain activity but all types of music can be beneficial. There is growing evidence that demonstrate music is a valuable resource tool for those with head injuries. Another of those benefits is that it increases dopamine levels and changes the brain's chemistry. Many professionals working with survivors of brain injury have discovered that music is a powerful tool.
Another tool is the use of technology devices that are being used by virtually everyone but are recently being used in brain injury recovery. They have been found to help survivors, particularly those who have speech difficulties. It allows them to be able to communicate with caregivers, medical professionals and friends, helping them to stay connected with others. Some of these assistive devices offer a voice generated option. These digital devices can help them to relearn simple tasks such as reading. The use of these devices also improves cognition and helps with memory and organizing as well as giving reminders of daily tasks eliminating the necessity of using a diary.
Computers can also be powerful tools in rehabilitation. This is especially true if programs are selected to meet the needs of the brain injury survivor. Introduction to computer use though should only be when the recipient is open to using a computer and not forced if they are adamantly opposed to it.
Another tool that is being used in some instances to treat brain injury and stroke is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). It is a high concentration of oxygen within a pressurized chamber. It is considered somewhat controversial as a treatment for brain injuries. However, it is claimed by some that many of the conventional treatment methods are not working. In some cases it is claimed, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can dramatically increase the oxygen carried in the blood stream and therefore assists with recovery.
It was once thought that between six to eighteen months following a brain injury, there could be little hope of recovery. But with more awareness and knowledge of the brain and the discovery of tools that can now be used in rehabilitation, it is now known that a brain injury survivor can continue to improve indefinitely.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Brain Injury, Alcohol and Dementia
Alcohol and substance abuse often follow a brain injury. And the combination of alcohol and a brain injury can lead initially to dementia-like symptoms which could become dementia if there is a continual heavy use of alcohol.
Brain injuries can cause a permanent decline in cognition in the process of thinking, remembering, understanding, reasoning and communication as well as changes in emotions and behavior, depending on the location of the injury. This is even more the case with older patients.
The symptoms of dementia include difficulty in interacting with others, problems with memory, thinking clearly, memory loss, irritability, slowed thought processes, neglecting grooming and hygiene, apathy, psychosis and mood and behavior difficulties. Dementia creates a significant loss of intellectual abilities and can be severe enough to interfere with social and occupational functioning. Someone suffering from dementia will have difficulty solving problems, maintaining emotional control and may have periods of delirium. Dementia is the result of the death of nerve cells.
Alcohol impairs brain functions and abstract reasoning also. For someone who has suffered a brain injury, there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink. Both a brain injury and alcohol affect memory, cognition, reasoning, judgment and executive function. A person who drinks heavily, and consistently over a long period of time, may have brain deficits that will continue even after they are sober, which may lead to dementia.
Heavy drinking can further permanently impair the brain over and above the injuries sustained from the head injury. Even moderate drinking can lead to brain impairment. The influence of alcohol combined with a brain injury can precipitate the potential for dementia depending on: how much and how often a person drinks; how long they've been drinking; their age, level of education, and family history of alcoholism. Heavy consumption of alcohol can result in serious and persistent changes in the brain. The combination of a brain injury and alcohol can significantly impair cognitive abilities, as does dementia.
Often, because of the brain injury, a sufferer may have difficulty seeing the relationship between their behavior and the resulting consequences of their heavy consumption of alcohol, i.e.: they don't understand why drinking is a problem; that they are too drunk to drive; that alcohol is creating a health problem for them; that it creates a problem with their relationships, or in understanding that heavy and consistent drinking can lead to the strong possibility of developing dementia.
It is difficult to deter someone from drinking if they are determined to do so but particularly if they have had a brain injury. It is even more difficult if the consumption of alcohol has been a behavior pattern before their injury as well. But it is important to attempt to do so as continual drinking combined with a head injury has no good outcome.
Brain injuries can cause a permanent decline in cognition in the process of thinking, remembering, understanding, reasoning and communication as well as changes in emotions and behavior, depending on the location of the injury. This is even more the case with older patients.
The symptoms of dementia include difficulty in interacting with others, problems with memory, thinking clearly, memory loss, irritability, slowed thought processes, neglecting grooming and hygiene, apathy, psychosis and mood and behavior difficulties. Dementia creates a significant loss of intellectual abilities and can be severe enough to interfere with social and occupational functioning. Someone suffering from dementia will have difficulty solving problems, maintaining emotional control and may have periods of delirium. Dementia is the result of the death of nerve cells.
Alcohol impairs brain functions and abstract reasoning also. For someone who has suffered a brain injury, there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink. Both a brain injury and alcohol affect memory, cognition, reasoning, judgment and executive function. A person who drinks heavily, and consistently over a long period of time, may have brain deficits that will continue even after they are sober, which may lead to dementia.
Heavy drinking can further permanently impair the brain over and above the injuries sustained from the head injury. Even moderate drinking can lead to brain impairment. The influence of alcohol combined with a brain injury can precipitate the potential for dementia depending on: how much and how often a person drinks; how long they've been drinking; their age, level of education, and family history of alcoholism. Heavy consumption of alcohol can result in serious and persistent changes in the brain. The combination of a brain injury and alcohol can significantly impair cognitive abilities, as does dementia.
Often, because of the brain injury, a sufferer may have difficulty seeing the relationship between their behavior and the resulting consequences of their heavy consumption of alcohol, i.e.: they don't understand why drinking is a problem; that they are too drunk to drive; that alcohol is creating a health problem for them; that it creates a problem with their relationships, or in understanding that heavy and consistent drinking can lead to the strong possibility of developing dementia.
It is difficult to deter someone from drinking if they are determined to do so but particularly if they have had a brain injury. It is even more difficult if the consumption of alcohol has been a behavior pattern before their injury as well. But it is important to attempt to do so as continual drinking combined with a head injury has no good outcome.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Multiple Brain Injuries Compound Already Existing Problems
Repetitive head injuries are when someone has sustained a second injury or concussion before the symptoms from the first have been resolved. Multiple injuries over time, regardless of the success of their recovery, can result in functional deficits as well.
Following medical recovery after an injury, there should be rehabilitation to assist in learning the use of adaptives strategies and in applying skills to solve problems. The recovery process can only be measured individually because of the brain's complexity and because no two injuries are the same. This is because each person has a different personality and way of coping, etc. The difficulties resulting from a head injury and the subsequent deficit symptoms could continue for years following such an injury. Follow-up rehabilitation puts the focus on replacing skills and functions that have been lost by working on the deficits. Rehabilitation sometimes may need to be extended for years beyond the initial injury.
Most brain injuries affect more than one aspect of brain based functions. Subsequent injuries can emphasize any lingering deficits from the initial injury and also may increase the risk of long-term damage that affects personality and cognitive abilities. This can accentuate the problems for not only the victim but for his family and the community at large.
A Bill passed recently in the United States was implemented mainly to help young athletes and to increase the awareness of the short and the long-term impact of brain injuries and concussions.
Although it was initially passed with athletes in mind, perhaps it should be used with military personnel who have been involved in combat as well. It has recently come to light that the soldier suspected of shooting sixteen civilians in Afghanistan recently had suffered more than one injury while in Iraq, possibly as many as three. In interviews with family, friends and neighbors, there is every indication that this soldier had displayed no tendencies towards aggression or violence before his injuries.
Studies indicate that injuries such as these change personalities, especially if post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been part of the problem too. So is it any wonder that with multiple concussions or head injuries there is an increasing potential for depression, aggression and violence? Are those in the military properly assessed following a head injury? Are they being given rehabilitation and a proper amount of time to recover before they are sent out on another tour of duty?
Studies indicate that even those with a mild brain injury can have psychological problems such as depression and anxiety, and substance abuse and alcoholism. Then when post traumatic stress disorder is in addition to a head injury, the psychological abilities to respond to issues created by the injury will be further impacted.
When we see a tragedy such as the needless killing of civilians happen, it increases the importance of ensuring that there is full recovery and rehabilitation following a head injury. And also that proper assessment be done not only to determine the injury, and any subsequent injuries, but also to assess the possibility of post traumatic stress disorder being a factor.
Following medical recovery after an injury, there should be rehabilitation to assist in learning the use of adaptives strategies and in applying skills to solve problems. The recovery process can only be measured individually because of the brain's complexity and because no two injuries are the same. This is because each person has a different personality and way of coping, etc. The difficulties resulting from a head injury and the subsequent deficit symptoms could continue for years following such an injury. Follow-up rehabilitation puts the focus on replacing skills and functions that have been lost by working on the deficits. Rehabilitation sometimes may need to be extended for years beyond the initial injury.
Most brain injuries affect more than one aspect of brain based functions. Subsequent injuries can emphasize any lingering deficits from the initial injury and also may increase the risk of long-term damage that affects personality and cognitive abilities. This can accentuate the problems for not only the victim but for his family and the community at large.
A Bill passed recently in the United States was implemented mainly to help young athletes and to increase the awareness of the short and the long-term impact of brain injuries and concussions.
Although it was initially passed with athletes in mind, perhaps it should be used with military personnel who have been involved in combat as well. It has recently come to light that the soldier suspected of shooting sixteen civilians in Afghanistan recently had suffered more than one injury while in Iraq, possibly as many as three. In interviews with family, friends and neighbors, there is every indication that this soldier had displayed no tendencies towards aggression or violence before his injuries.
Studies indicate that injuries such as these change personalities, especially if post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been part of the problem too. So is it any wonder that with multiple concussions or head injuries there is an increasing potential for depression, aggression and violence? Are those in the military properly assessed following a head injury? Are they being given rehabilitation and a proper amount of time to recover before they are sent out on another tour of duty?
Studies indicate that even those with a mild brain injury can have psychological problems such as depression and anxiety, and substance abuse and alcoholism. Then when post traumatic stress disorder is in addition to a head injury, the psychological abilities to respond to issues created by the injury will be further impacted.
When we see a tragedy such as the needless killing of civilians happen, it increases the importance of ensuring that there is full recovery and rehabilitation following a head injury. And also that proper assessment be done not only to determine the injury, and any subsequent injuries, but also to assess the possibility of post traumatic stress disorder being a factor.
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