According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 3.5 million Americans sustain a brain injury each year, and more than 12 million are impacted by this condition. Acquired brain injuries not only affect the injured person, but also their families and friends. The Brain Injury Association of America raises awareness for this complex condition by recognizing National Brain Injury Awareness Month every March. This initiative focuses on educating the public about the prevalence of this condition and the needs of brain injury patients and their families.

A Toolkit for Brain Injury Awareness Month

Brain injuries can be unpredictable and have consequences for the way injured people think, behave and feel. Here are some important things to remember when managing brain injury cases.

• Early Diagnosis: Early and appropriate treatment can ease the burden for people suffering from any level of acquired brain injury. Keep in mind the challenges of diagnosing injured workers and be aware of the possibility for secondary brain injuries and persistent cognitive and behavioral problems.
• Mild, Moderate and Severe: These are the three main categories of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and each comes with its own specific symptoms, complications and best practices. While severe cases generally present with clear extensive damage to the brain, moderate and mild brain injuries involve a wide range of impairment and high degree of complication.
• Understanding Conscious States: There are three types of disorders of consciousness – a coma state (C), vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). It’s often difficult to determine precisely which state a person is in since disorders of consciousness are fluid and challenging to directly observe and evaluate.
• Depression & Anxiety: A recent study has shown a possible link between the damage of white matter in the brain and the instance of depression or anxiety. This breakthrough in traumatic brain injury research can better prepare clinicians when treating the side effects of TBI.
• Concussions: Seemingly benign events can lead to significant long term problems for those who have suffered a concussion. Recognizing the symptoms and applying the right interventions can help minimize long-term impacts and improve clinical outcomes.

At Paradigm Outcomes, we work with a wide variety of complex acquired brain injury cases. We offer comprehensive, systematic care management throughout the continuum of treatment, which leads to the best possible recovery for patients. For more information on acquired brain injury, visit our website, and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.