To say the least, life is disrupted after a brain injury. The injury to the brain where the damage is invisible or minimal can be quite devastating as the effects emerge only after one returns to multifaceted life which may happen much after than the initial injury. At Cerebral Matters we serve those who have endured Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI), Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or other neurological problems who suffer from cognitive, behavioral and emotional symptoms. In many cases, the complaints begin with difficulty in focusing or a few memory lapses and may escalate into depression and anxiety as these symptoms are subtle and pervasive so the disruption they cause is only tangible to the individual who is suffering from the diagnosis.
We at Cerebral Matters differentiate between the conventional cognitive rehabilitation where the goal is to help patients make a community reentry after TBI from that of helping them to make an academic or professional reentry as a highly versatile and competent individual. After a TBI/Concussion, these individuals begin to experience subtle and insidious changes in focus, memory, thinking and management abilities, which prove to be extremely disruptive. Most often, individuals with TBI and Concussion are unable to juggle the responsibilities of day-to-day life due to impaired attention, memory and executive functions. They may have additional struggles such as depression, anxiety or overall feeling of stress and dissatisfaction as a result of these cognitive deficits. Finally, individuals with TBI/ Concussion also describe experiencing generalized difficulty in relating to loved ones or the community who is baffled by patients' inconsistent and unreliable behaviors.
At Cerebral Matters, the TBI/Concussion Training Programs focus on restructuring thinking related to attention, memory, planning, organization, time management, goal setting and social cognition in order to return to independent and self-sufficient life-style. Through discussions, practice and exercises-based training patients are eventually expected to harnesses new thinking skills. The therapeutic process is designed to train the impaired brain to develop habits, insight and motivation.
Symptoms
Cognitive Symptoms
Difficulty with concentration (often distracted)
Cannot do multiple things at one time
Misses details and needs repetition
Problems in concentrating when reading or retaining what was read
Difficulty remembering names, faces, or events
Difficulty remembering to do things at a later time
Poor math skills (difficulty doing math in your head or understanding word problems
Slowed thinking
Difficulty in making decisions
Difficulty initiating tasks or maintaining interest
Poor self-regulation and self assessment skills
Poor insight and judgment
Physical Symptoms
Headaches/Headaches from having to concentrate
Mental fatigue
Post-traumatic Vision Syndrome
Sleep Disorder or poor sleep regulation
Ringing in the ears
Loss of sense of taste or smell
Behavioral/Emotional Symptoms
Emotional Lability (cry easily or laugh without a reason)
Apathy or flat emotional affect
Lack of Initiation
Quickness to irritability and anger
Quickness to frustration
Poor self-confidence/poor self-esteem
Vocational Challenges
Difficulty in:
expressing and defending a point of view/opinion
using appropriate persuasive strategies
interacting with coworkers and supervisors in an appropriate manner
being flexible and see other person's perspective
being able to see the 'big-picture'
receiving feedback/criticism from supervisors/coworkers
complaining in an appropriate manner
asking questions in a manner that facilitates cooperation
Academic Challenges
Difficulty in:
maintaining mental stamina to pursue prolonged hours of academic work
expressing and defending a point of view/opinion
comprehending class lectures and written text
interacting with peers and teachers in an appropriate manner
completing assignments on time
taking formal tests with time constraints
incorporating feedback/criticism from professors to make changes in written projects
asking questions in a manner that facilitates cooperation
Interpersonal-Social Challenges:
Following social p's & q's in a appropriate way to promote interpersonal bond
Relating to others in a congenial and inviting way to promote social connections
Steering conversation and preventing oneself from going on a tangent or getting derailed
Using humor appropriately or banter of any kind in a temped way
Preventing others from perceiving oneself to be imposing or annoying
Recognizing breakdown in social interactions with appropriate problem solving
Showing sensitivity to others' feelings and perceptions
Presenting oneself in a positive light
Diagnosis
Adults may have the following diagnosis:
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) as a result of a car accident or a fall or injury to the head
Post aneurysm surgery or post aneurysm rupture
Post Brain-Tumor resection
Anoxic injury (lack of blood supply to the brain)
Post cardiac surgery
Electrocution
Other neurological diagnosis such as Multiple Sclerosis or Seizure disorder
Adults who may have challenges:
Executive dysfunction due to Attention Deficit Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Atypical Neuropsychological profile
Highly accomplished adults with significant managerial responsibilities