Description of Brain Injury - Essay Example

Topic Brain Injury Insert Insert Insert Brain injury affects the working of the brain by altering the level of behaviour, biochemical and structural functioning of it. It is not spontaneous but is caused due to an injury as a result of pressure on one's brain; it may have a short-term or a long-term effect1. As it not only affects the cognitive processes but also the body leading to partial or full functional disability. The behavioural outcomes of such an injury are not predictable as they vary from person to person. It also depends on the degree of functioning prior injury along with the location of damage in the brain of the injured. Such as, it may bring about memory loss, affects speed, duration and interpretation of the process of information involving sensory perception with existing knowledge. Also possible reaction time obstruction can lead to a decline in productivity or injury in some cases along with motor disability. All of this leads to concentration problems, irritation, understanding language, impulsiveness, seizures, headaches, unpredictable behaviour, skills detriment and difficulty in learning and carrying out daily activities. Diagnosing brain injury is a difficult process because injuries to the brain mostly go undetected. There are several reasons of this; neurological tests fail to detect cases of brain injury because these are not sensitive to detection equipment. Secondly, casual communication of doctors with patients may not show any indication of it. Even the patients themselves are not aware of symptoms and take them lightly if they are. On the other hand, close observation of such people may verify the differences in behaviour as alteration in one's temperament occurs to some extent. All this aids in determining the seriousness of the injury also the people closely related to the injured may comprehend behavioural changes instinctively. It is unknown how many patients acquire brain injury because several injured persons aren't hospitalized at all; in fact it has decreased2. The most common cause of brain injury is accidents involving vehicles which account for half of all brain injuries in America alone and child abuse in children. Although, aged people are more vulnerable to these injuries as of their tenuous brains but it effects young people the same way even if the injuries are not that serious. In addition, patients suffering from brain injury are most likely to have further injuries to their brains. Children especially the ones not in school yet are in the least danger of acquiring such an injury though they may suffer from one due to a serious fall. The troubles of rehabilitation are not only physical but also cognitive, psychological and behavioral that can cause long-term problems such as acute management, memory loss and social limitations. However, further advancement in technology makes it easier for the therapists and rehabilitation to make use of products especially designed for people with abilities3. Adaptations Treatments devised for the sufferers of brain injury are different for individuals of different ages like preschoolers, adolescents in school, employees and retired persons. For the benefit of all the patients, therapies determining the effects brain injury have on the performance of an individual are developed. Cognitive therapy involves understanding differences in before and after performance of the patient and focusing on changes in skills or reasoning. It happens often that patients face hard time expressing themselves and understanding others which is helped through speech therapy. Patients deal better if they are focused on developing skills and increasing productivity as they will pay less attention to their problems emotionally. While, psychological therapy aims to assist patients adapt better to the symptoms of brain injury such as acceptance of how they are now compared to prior injury. The psychological adaptations are important in daily activities, recreation and learning or working; this is most important. If the patient doesn't feel self-reliance then that makes it difficult for them to come to terms with their shortcomings. Patients are also expected to be aware of several discrepancies they may have to face in their lives due to brain injury4. Music therapy, though in its infancy, has been researched upon little for the improvement it has socially and emotionally on the patient. The rehabilitators are asked to play instruments they are interested in and are therefore, actively involved in a skilful venture. The outcomes that are related with brain injury in childhood heavily depend on the development factors such as the age at the moment of the injury, the time taken for the symptoms to occur and the age at which the recovery occurs. The main adaptation is rather focused on the parents of the preschooler than the preschooler itself. It may be difficult for the parents to cope with their child hence, optimistic behaviour is needed. Preschoolers are adapted to the fact that if they cooperate readily their recovery time will shorten although they may be unable to successfully perform their recreational activities. It may also cause irreversible damage in personality such as rebellious attitude and repressed needs overtime in later years even after recovery. As for adolescents and working class population, the difficult part is to get them to use products designed for their help as they may feel humiliated. Though, they are more ready to use products to help them with their memory. These two groups are in the most need for psycho-social and psychological therapy to get to the acceptance level. The last group, the retired and old persons need greater assistance as of their weak reflexes and exhausted body functions both physically and mentally5. Accommodations As preschoolers who have brain injury have not yet completely developed their brains, it will be beneficial for them to maximize their potential through activities involving puzzles and toys as they require thinking processes. Accommodations in the house helps protect children from further injuries such as preventing them from entering the kitchen or bathroom at all times without supervision. Arm supports for children motivating them to eat themselves and restraining them from falls through beds that give clear vision for their surroundings and free movement within the confines. Many such accommodations are in use to make the child feel independent and free from further jeopardy. Accommodation in schools for brain injured students is achieved through maximizing learning by overcoming problems through techniques such as individualized education program (IEP). Neuropsychological assessment in spite of this does not show how a student will react when in a classroom or with his peers hence limiting the assessment of his ability. To overcome this difficulty, a record of the student's behaviour is made from questioning his teachers, level of previous academic performance which makes the evaluation 'ecologically valid.' In addition any such steps taken will improve the student's IEP as his attending manner and skills in the classroom will be taken into account. As brain injury lessens strength while increasing tiredness, the learner will have difficulty in maintaining attention at a constant rate. Other difficulties are memory loss, executive functioning and intervention such as compensatory strategies such as schedules, visual images and mental preparations. Others include the influence of the environment on a student's abilities such as extended deadlines, altered school day and workload. Alternate assessments and instructional plans help by reducing the complexity of questions and instructions will eventually make habits of not forgetting. Using tape recording, oral testing, minimising distractions, giving extra time on exams and providing outlines all help overcome ineffectiveness6. Workplace accommodations for a patient with a job are of primary concern because the employer is expected to fend for the injured worker. This is crucial because inappropriate responses can lead to either improvement or in further impairment because of affected self-sufficiency of the worker. A recovered patient may need to be observed for the presence of skills required for the particular job he is in; this will prompt the employer to return the worker to the full-time job if skills are there. On the other hand, if things do not go as planned and the worker has impaired skills needed for the job; it is important for the employer to modify the job to be simpler early on or given a job better coordinated to the current skills. This will help the worker in grasping the simple tasks and then going on to fully carry out the job required. To avoid failure in such decisive steps, the employer should be prepared to switch back the job or be successful in recognizing the potential of the worker. Complete recovery thus, needs supportive behaviour of the employer and a schedule comprising of acceptable amount of work7. Technology As with any other aspect of our lives, technology has helped us cope in drastic situations arising daily; it has also help in reducing the number of deaths regarding brain injury. The most useful creation for patients having difficulty in mobility is the wheelchair. These have been around since time immemorial and advancing technology has improved its use for people with disabilities to better fit into their lives. Whether they are children, students, personnel or retired persons, all benefit from the use of such a chair as it comes with special features for every individual. Memory-specific computer programs such as the Visions System, ProsthesisWare and the Essential Steps System provide auditory prompts. While, Expert system (ES), a form of artificial intelligence using professional advice along with previous cases and treatment to give a better adaptive aid to the patients of brain injury. Although, advance designing of the expert system is still required for easier operation, and making use of the characteristics of the users such as reasoning skills and behavioural changes. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) also vastly help injured patients especially workers and retired persons in memory aid. PDAs, as a cognitive aid help, recover self-estimation significantly as performance of tasks and self-reliance improve. While, the ES-MR helps patients showing them the use of certain strategies in different situations. The non-expert version will in time be developed and help patients ease into their normal lives once again. A large amount of products are being developed rapidly to assist people with disabilities such as keyboard communicator for aid in speech disabilities, chairs providing seating positioning for children, food warming dishes for people who take time finishing their meal, floating device to aid in stable upright position, electrical moving wardrobe rack for easily accessible clothes and many other. As its impact is realized on the lives of people with brain injury, rapid growth is in need of technology. A device called Transcranial Doppler (ultrasound) helps in deciding the path the treatment should take after a brain injury. It works by measuring the amount of blood flow of an individual and if blood flow escalates rapidly then that means that the brain isn't functioning well. If the blood flow is hence improved at the time of the brain injury it will provide further significance of the technology. Such devices will nonetheless definitely be of immense help to the injured; development in cognitive aids will be an accomplishment. References Fraser, T. R., Clemmons. C.D. (1999). Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Practical Vocational, Neuropsychological, and Psychotherapy Interventions. Edition: illustrated, revised. Published by CRC Press. Semrud-C. M. (2001). Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents: Assessment and Intervention. Edition: illustrated. Published by Guilford Press. - Thomas.C.J & Herson.M. (2004). Psychopathology in the Workplace: Recognition and Adaptation. Edition: illustrated. Published by Routledge. Tyler, J. S. & Mira, M. P. (1999), Traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents: A sourcebook for teachers and other school personnel (2nd edition), Austin, TX. Zasler, D. N., Katz.I.D, Zafonte. D.R. (2006). Brain Injury Medicine: Principles and Practice. Edition: illustrated. Published by Demos Medical Publishing, LLC. DeLisa. A.J, Gans.M.B & Walsh.E.N. (2004). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice. Edition: 4. Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More