Traumatic brain injury occurs when a person receives a blow to the head or a jolt that disrupts brain function. Brain injuries ranges from mild, brief mental changes to severe, long-term brain damage. The Brain Injury Association of America website says 1.4 million people in the United States suffer from TBI, and 50,000 of those people die. The primary causes of brain injuries include falls, automobile accidents, strokes and assaults and affect cognitive and motor skills in many patients. Therapy for a brain injury helps sufferers regain independence.
Get Acute Rehab
Get acute rehabilitation therapy when a brain injury stabilizes. According to the BIAA, acute rehabilitation includes a team of health professionals who help a patient with brain injuries regain skills such as dressing themselves, eating, going to the bathroom, walking and speaking. A physiatrist leads the acute rehab team and develops a customized therapy program.
Physical therapists help patients regain mobility and balance. Occupational therapists help brain injury sufferers overcome physical and emotional challenges. They improve skills such as swallowing, bathing and grooming, motor skills, driving and cognition. Speech and language pathologists help patients with writing and speaking skills. Case managers or social workers check on patients to make sure they are getting cost-effective, efficient treatment. These are the basic members of the acute rehabilitation who help brain injury sufferers regain independence.
Receive Sub-acute Rehabilitation
Sub-acute rehabilitation is less aggressive than acute rehab for brain injuries, but it occurs for a long time. This therapy program is for brain injury sufferers who've made improvements after acute rehab but progress is still slow and they need further therapy. This therapy can take place at a nursing home or some other rehabilitation facility. Day rehab facilities provide structured therapy and rehabilitation during the day, and the brain injury sufferer returns home afterward.
Obtain Outpatient Therapy
Get outpatient therapy for brain injury once acute and sub-acute rehab has been completed. Outpatient therapy works for patients who are able to live independent lives but need to fine tune certain skills. This therapy focuses on one area that has not responded readily to treatment. A person who has regained motor skills may still require speech therapy, or it could be the other way around. Outpatients get therapy a few times a week to work on these skills. Some patient with brain injuries can have therapy at home.
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