The Importance of Disability Awareness - Case Study Example

Disability Name Institution Course Date Case Study I am a 35 year old female living with a disabled person in the category of Acquired Brain Injury. I live in Cloncurry in North Western Queensland with my husband and one small child. My home compound is characterized of having 4 low steps and 2 levels inside. The upper level has the bathroom and the bedroom. While living with the patient, I would face challenges related to communication ability with the patient, behavioral aspects of the patient, and pain management for the patient. Disability Awareness Part 1 Brain Damage depicts degeneration or destruction of the brain cells. Several external and internal factors contribute towards Brian Injury, but the Traumatic Brain Injury develops from head injury or any form of physical trauma (Walton 2013). Acquired Brain Injury depicts the injuries of the brain that develop after the birth of a child. The effects of the Acquired Brain Injury vary from one person to another depending on the extent and type of injury that an individual faced. For the selected case study, the effects of the brain injury are life-long. Arousal is one of the common effects of the Acquired Brain Injury. This includes prolonged daytime sleepiness, consciousness disorders like vegetative state and coma and insomnia. Cognitive effects are also common. These include decreased abilities of new learning and memory, reduction in the processing speed and ability to pay attention (ResCare Premier 2002). Reduced planning, insight and judgment abilities. Communication effects such as limitations in the ability to comprehend the speech from other people including words articulation is a common effect for this disability. The disability also has behavioral problems characterized in terms of anxiety and depression developments (Walton 2013). This includes explosiveness of anger and irritability and impulsivity. Sensory effects are not an exception and they develop in terms of decreased hearing, decreased vertigo and balance, and eminent visual disturbance. This makes the patient not to articulate with what is happening in the immediate environment. The disability is characterized of eminent pain for the affected patients (Temkin et al. 2009). This pain is seen in terms of chronic headache, electric or burning pain that develops from the nerve dysfunction, joint and muscle pain, which develops from injury time trauma. Disabled persons also depict higher levels of decreased coordination and weakness in neural system. This includes spasticity in the functionality of the reflex system of the brain. Part 2 For my immediate and extended family, the effects of disability are based on the socialization and interaction aspects with the disabled person. Communication is one of these effects, where it becomes very complex to speak with the disabled person (U.S Department of Veterans 2013). This makes it difficult to understand what the disabled person is talking about or even to interact with him effectively. Inability to hear effectively aggravates this problem of communication. As such, the family members may feel uncomfortable when communicating with this person. Further, the disabled person may lose energy, which makes him or her not to have an effective body balance. This may compel the family members to focus extensively on providing aid and support to this person. Consequently, family members will consider such a person as a burden or liability towards the progress and functionality of the various activities and processes of the family (Novaco 1975). In additional, behavioral acts of the disabled person is another effect, which the family has to bear with reference to disability problem. This may limit the attainment of success of the family when the disabled person becomes a frustrated person, develops anger easily and engages in various actions without thinking of the repercussions of the actions. Part 3 One of the relevant organizations that may provide information on dealing with the case of disability is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention organization (CDC 2013). The information may be obtained through phone conversation or internet. The other organization is the local VA Medical Center. This organizations deal with issues related to Traumatic Brain Injury treatment and I believe it would be very suitable to provide credible information related to the disability indicated in the case study above. Part 4 Within my locality, the organization, which would be credible in holistic management of the disability, is the Queensland facility for the disabled persons. This organization would provide timely information and support on how to handle the disabled person, as well as facilitate in ensuring that the disabled person is able to get the best medical attention and care throughout. Community based support groups would also play an active role in ensuring that the best care is provided to the disabled person irrespective of psychological differences. Daily Living Time / Activity Ease of Doing an Activity or Participating (0-4) 0 = no difficulty 4 = complete difficulty Barriers or facilitators you have encountered Your solution/s to overcome the barriers Approximate financial cost to you 7 am: getting out of bed 2 Inability to decide Support from a person $ 0.00 7. 20 am: going to the toilet 3 Confusion Personal guidance $ 0.00 7.45 am: preparing breakfast 3 Thinking it is not the best Visual display of the options $ 0.00 8.30 am: taking breakfast 2 Poor appetite Physical activity engagement $ 0.00 9.00 am: washing the dishes 4 Stress Chewing or singing $ 0.00 10. 00 am: cleaning the house 4 Memory loss of house set-up Relaxing $ 0.00 11.00 am: taking a shower 4 Pain Body exercise $ 0.00 11.30 am: dressing 3 Difficulties in making a choice Considering the day’s activities first $ 0.00 12.00 pm: watching television 0 Poor vision and hearing ability Keeping a distance between the screen and eyes $ 0.00 12.45 pm: preparing lunch 3 Muscle pain Body exercise $ 0.00 12:30 pm: taking lunch 2 Body weakness Eating enough and well-balanced diet $ 0.00 2.00 pm: taking a nature walk 2 Body pain Support from metal rails or a walking stick $ 0.00 3.45 pm: preparing tea 3 Poor attention Engagement in a conversation $ 0.00 4.00 pm: taking tea 1 Impulsivity Singing $ 0.00 4:30 pm: watching movies 2 Hearing problem Use of sign language $ 0.00 6.30 pm: preparing supper 4 Decreased coordination Focus on the diet $ 0.00 7.00 pm: taking supper 3 Decreased balance Have a supplementary diet $ 0.00 9.00 pm: preparing to sleep 4 Insomnia Accompaniment in the bedroom $ 0.00 Challenges Part 1 Acquired Brain Injury disability is associated with several emotional problems that make one vulnerable to social restrictions. These emotional difficulties include anger management, self-control issues, depressions, and inability to solve various problems. This leads to social anxiety, low levels of self esteem, and loneliness (Smith et al. 2003). As such, one feels being isolated from other members of the society. Difficulties in expressing self control, especially in matters related to social functions results in isolation of the member and denial from other social members. This occurs since the person is regarded as a social burden or nuisance who cannot interact and relate effectively with other social members. Moreover, the disabled person finds it difficult to get engaged in leisure activities and social contact functions that other members of the society openly and freely engage in. Disabled persons are also secluded from social affairs and rights, which include marital difficulties in the family. This includes the inability to solve family problems or been considered in the same issues. Unemployment acts as another isolation factor for social restrictions of the disabled person (Goldstein 1990). This renders the disabled person a victim of the poor social class that is often segregated in various social functions. This makes it impossible for one to maintain effective family, as well as social relationships as it may be expected in the society. Moreover, the interaction level and rate of the person is reduced significantly making it impossible for one to understand what is happening in the immediate environment including the various social functions. Finally, the behavior of the disabled person acts as the main root cause for the social restrictions. Part 2 Brain Injury patients have the ability of reacting in a way that it becomes impossible for them to be accepted in the work and family relationships including the whole society (Headway 2011). This may include their ability to break rules on how close they should stand to people, the acceptable time for interrupting other people while talking, how and when they should express their emotions, how to respond or interpret the body language of other people, intimacy and sexuality expressions, and when to make their points heard in a conversation. This happens since behavior of an individual is meant to serve a purpose. Hence, presence of a challenging behavior calls for clear comprehension and the purpose of such a behavior. Examples of behaviors, which may be expressed by people with acquired brain injury, include self-centeredness, drug or alcohol abuse, avoidance or withdrawal, verbal aggression, sexual inappropriateness, financial irresponsibility, extreme impatience, physical aggression and impulsivity among others. Several approaches exist, which may aid in dealing with the challenges of the behavior of people with acquired brain injury (Headway 2011). The effectiveness of each of the challenge is dependent on the extent of the brain injury and personal values. However, any of the adopted challenges will attain its desired goals if there is full assessment of the behavior and account of the culture and circumstances of the concerned person occurs effectively. Psychologists may provide necessary professional help, which is desired for this form of assessment. At a personal level, there is a need of making changes related to routine and the environment modification, which include switching off any television, which may be noisy. The other essential change is providing feedback with respect to the behavior of the person, as well as changing the reaction towards the behavior of the person (Horn & Zasler 1996). The final change is the reduction on the demands placed upon the person from time to time. As a community, people have to comprehend that change is possible and understand what is happening. This will ensure that the community has the ability of interacting with people suffering from any form of disability effectively. Further, the community has to ensure that it changes its perspectives and reactions to behaviors of the people. Part 3 The first approach is planning for the day or the whole week. In order that this step achieves its desired objectives, there is a need to adopt a step-by-step approach that is characterized of manageable tasks. A checklist should be used with a tick off column to aid in identification of areas where the activity has been accomplished as outlined in the plan. One has to rehearse the plans mentally to ensure that the brain as the ability of having a memory of it is expected in each activity and during each particular time period. This should involve discussing the plans with other people to ensure that the activities included in the plan are realistic and achievable (Headway 2012). After this, strategies have to be formulated, which will be used in the accomplishing of the various activities as outlined in the plan. Routine tasks including house tidying, washing and shopping should also be develop. This will ensure that the brain is engaged in these tasks throughout. Moreover, back up plans should be developed in advance to ensure that issues with former plans do not limit the ability of the planned activities to achieve their desired objectives. Mood is a complex situation for one to deal with alone (Bazarian et al. 2009). This calls for seeking for help from a doctor who may recommend some form of therapy like the cognitive behavioral therapy. Further, one should provide an allowance for other people to provide information and suggestions related to difficulties that one is experiencing in the process of mood control. Personality and behavioral changes for the mood should also be effected successfully in the life of an individual. Finally, social difficulties that are related to family members and trusted friends may develop. This calls for effective mental preparedness, which is focused towards handling issues and matters related to social functions. Engagement in social activities and seeking professional help would assist in handling social problems effectively. Part 4 Several professionals and individuals may be engaged in the rehabilitation and medical care of individuals suffering from brain injury impairment (Kushel, & Lezzoni 2006). These include neurologists, physicians, psychiatrists, and neurosurgeons that are specialized in the process of treating brain injury. These individuals comprehend the brain injury effects and are engaged in the creation of the various rehabilitation strategies including assessment of the severity of the injury. These professionals may engage in medical interventions, which include therapies like speech, occupational, and physical, long-term hospitalization and injury (Pope & Tarlov 1991). The first year injury for the patient is the most effective in the process of ensuring that long-term recovery outlook is attained. This should include development of an individual educational program that will ensure that physicians and educators work effectively in developing transitional plans. The professionals have a concept that disability can be easily be reduced through environmental modification. This includes limiting instances of assumptions taking. Disability is also viewed as the extent of interaction that develops environmental demands and personal functional abilities. Massive adaptive technologies and assistive devices exist that would ensure that the gap between environmental demands and functional ability is reduced significantly (Washington, DC: Social Security Administration 2003). Healthcare providers should focus on seeking the alteration of the environmental practice in order to ensure that disabled persons do not have any limitations with reference to communication and physical barriers as they may be present in the environment. However, the physicians should engage in the process of deciding whether a person is disabled, but they should be at the forefront to ensure that such people obtain information related to environmental impairment. Another concept is that referral to advocates or lawyers contribute significantly towards helping the patient (White et al. 1997). Bibliography Bazarian JJ, Cernak I, Noble-Haeusslein L, Potolicchio S, Temkin N. 2009. Long-term neurologic outcomes after traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 24:439-451. CDC, 2013. What are the Effects of TBI? Available at < http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/outcomes.html> Goldstein M. 1990. Traumatic brain injury: a silent epidemic. Annals of Neurology 27:327. Headway, 2012. Executive Dysfunction after Brain Injury. Available at < https://www.headway.org.uk/executive-dysfunction-after-brain-injury.aspx> Headway, 2011. Challenging Behavior Following an Acquired Brain Injury. Brain Injury Services & Support, Fact Sheet. Horn LJ, & Zasler ND. 1996. Medical Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury. Philadelphia: Hanley & Belfus, Inc. Kushel, M, & Lezzoni, L., 2006. Disability and Patients with Disabilities. Chapter 37. Pope A, & Tarlov A., 1991. Disability in America: Toward a national agenda for prevention. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Novaco, R. W., 1975. Anger Control. Lexington, KY: D.C. Health. ResCare Premier, 2002. Developing individual behavior plans [CO.Beh.401]. In Training, education, and mentoring system. St. Louis, MO: R. Estes (Ed.). Smith DH, Meaney DF, Shull WH. 2003. Diffuse axonal injury in head trauma. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 18(4):307-16 Temkin NR, Corrigan JD, Dikmen SS, Machamer J. 2009. Social functioning after traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 24; 6:460-467. U.S Department of Veterans, 2013. Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury. Available at < http://maketheconnection.net/conditions/traumatic-brain-injury> Washington, DC: Social Security Administration, 2003. Disability evaluation under Social Security. Walton, 2013. Acute and Long-Term Symptoms of Brain Injury. Available at http://www.wrh.org/acute_and_long-term_symptoms_of_brain_injury.cfm White, S. M., Seckinger, S., Doyle, M., & Strauss, D. L. (1997). Compensatory strategies for people with traumatic brain injury. NeuroRehabilitation, 9, 205-212. Read More