scholarly journals “So that's the way it is for me — always being left out.” Acquired Pragmatic Language Impairment and Social Functioning following Traumatic Brain Injury

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacinta M. Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Language Impairment ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Pragmatic Language Impairment

Our ability to interact appropriately in everyday interpersonal situations is fundamental to successful social integration. Impaired pragmatic competence correlates significantly and substantially with indices of social function across several domains for adults with acquired neurological disorders. In particular, evidence supports the negative impact of pragmatic impairments on the development and maintenance of relationships and community integration more generally.Pragmatic language competence sits in a complex, multifactorial space characterised by interacting associations with cognitive and psychological functions and social and environmental parameters. This complexity is evident in much of the research seeking to unravel the nature and magnitude of interactions between pragmatic language competence and social outcomes in adults with acquired neurological disorders.Over recent years our understanding of the impact of pragmatic impairments on social outcome has benefited substantially from inclusion of the insider's perspective in our research evidence base. Indeed, a methodological inclusion of constructivist paradigms has enabled the development of a rich understanding of the devastating social impact of impaired pragmatic competence.The aim of this paper is to review pragmatic language impairment in the context of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and detail its impact on social functioning from the perspectives of people with TBI and their intimate partners/spouses and friends. With these perspectives as background, the paper concludes with consideration of therapeutic developments and a brief look at a novel intervention designed to reduce the negative impact of pragmatic deficits and improve functional language use following TBI.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Exacerbates Emotional Complaints but not Cognitive Impairments in Individuals Suffering from Postconcussional Disorder after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara C. Schroeder ◽  
Ronald M. Ruff ◽  
Lutz Jäncke
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Composite Scale

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on (a) neuropsychological test performance and (b) self-reported emotional complaints within individuals suffering from postconcussional disorder (PCD) after a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). A two-group comparative research design was employed. Two MTBI samples with and without PTSD were assessed with a neuropsychological test battery and the Ruff Neurobehavioral Inventory (RNBI). On the neurocognitive test performances no significant between group differences were found, but the MTBI group with PTSD endorsed a significantly greater number of emotional complaints, especially in the RNBI subscales of anxiety and depression. The patients with PTSD also endorsed a significantly greater number of premorbid sequelae in the RNBI emotional composite scale as well as the RNBI premorbid subscales of pain, anxiety and abuse. In sum, PTSD has a negative impact on emotional but not cognitive functioning within individuals suffering from PCD after a mild TBI.

scholarly journals Clinical Relevance of Cortical Spreading Depression in Neurological Disorders: Migraine, Malignant Stroke, Subarachnoid and Intracranial Hemorrhage, and Traumatic Brain Injury

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lauritzen ◽  
Jens Peter Dreier ◽  
Martin Fabricius ◽  
Jed A Hartings ◽  
Rudolf Graf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Cortical Spreading Depression ◽  
Spreading Depression ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) and depolarization waves are associated with dramatic failure of brain ion homeostasis, efflux of excitatory amino acids from nerve cells, increased energy metabolism and changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF). There is strong clinical and experimental evidence to suggest that CSD is involved in the mechanism of migraine, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury. The implications of these findings are widespread and suggest that intrinsic brain mechanisms have the potential to worsen the outcome of cerebrovascular episodes or brain trauma. The consequences of these intrinsic mechanisms are intimately linked to the composition of the brain extracellular microenvironment and to the level of brain perfusion and in consequence brain energy supply. This paper summarizes the evidence provided by novel invasive techniques, which implicates CSD as a pathophysiological mechanism for this group of acute neurological disorders. The findings have implications for monitoring and treatment of patients with acute brain disorders in the intensive care unit. Drawing on the large body of experimental findings from animal studies of CSD obtained during decades we suggest treatment strategies, which may be used to prevent or attenuate secondary neuronal damage in acutely injured human brain cortex caused by depolarization waves.

scholarly journals Traumatic Brain Injury as a Disorder of Brain Connectivity

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmeet P. Hayes ◽  
Erin D. Bigler ◽  
Mieke Verfaellie
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Axonal Injury ◽  
Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Recent Advances

AbstractObjectives:Recent advances in neuroimaging methodologies sensitive to axonal injury have made it possible to assess in vivo the extent of traumatic brain injury (TBI) -related disruption in neural structures and their connections. The objective of this paper is to review studies examining connectivity in TBI with an emphasis on structural and functional MRI methods that have proven to be valuable in uncovering neural abnormalities associated with this condition.Methods:We review studies that have examined white matter integrity in TBI of varying etiology and levels of severity, and consider how findings at different times post-injury may inform underlying mechanisms of post-injury progression and recovery. Moreover, in light of recent advances in neuroimaging methods to study the functional connectivity among brain regions that form integrated networks, we review TBI studies that use resting-state functional connectivity MRI methodology to examine neural networks disrupted by putative axonal injury.Results:The findings suggest that TBI is associated with altered structural and functional connectivity, characterized by decreased integrity of white matter pathways and imbalance and inefficiency of functional networks. These structural and functional alterations are often associated with neurocognitive dysfunction and poor functional outcomes.Conclusions:TBI has a negative impact on distributed brain networks that lead to behavioral disturbance. (JINS, 2016,22, 120–137)

scholarly journals Hyponatremia in the Neurologically Ill Patient: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-216
Author(s):  
David P. Lerner ◽  
Starane A. Shepherd ◽  
Ayush Batra
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Systemic Complications ◽  
Acute Presentation

Hyponatremia is a well-known disorder commonly faced by clinicians managing neurologically ill patients. Neurological disorders are often associated with hyponatremia during their acute presentation and can be associated with specific neurologic etiologies and symptoms. Patients may present with hyponatremia with traumatic brain injury, develop hyponatremia subacutely following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, or may manifest with seizures due to hyponatremia itself. Clinicians caring for the neurologically ill patient should be well versed in identifying these early signs, symptoms, and etiologies of hyponatremia. Early diagnosis and treatment can potentially avoid neurologic and systemic complications in these patients and improve outcomes. This review focuses on the causes and findings of hyponatremia in the neurologically ill patient and discusses the pathophysiology, diagnoses, and treatment strategies for commonly encountered etiologies.

scholarly journals Traumatic Brain Injuries: Unreported and Untreated in an Army Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 185 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 154-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M Escolas ◽  
Margie Luton ◽  
Hamid Ferdosi ◽  
Bianca D Chavez ◽  
Scot D Engel
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injuries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Treatment History ◽  
Anonymous Questionnaire ◽  
The Military

ABSTRACT Introduction In 2008, it was reported that 19.5% of service members previously deployed experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Fifty-seven percent of those did not seek medical care. It was suggested that concerns with seeking care involved confidentiality and career issues. Objective: This study addressed mTBI history, medical treatment history, and stigmas associated with mTBI/concussion. Materials and Methods An anonymous questionnaire was developed. Data collection occurred throughout March 2018 in conjunction with Brain Injury Awareness Month activities. Results All 5,174 volunteers were Army; 86% male; 87% were between 18 and 34 years old; 89% had <14 years in the military; 35% had a combat deployment; and 10% reported having one or more mTBIs in their military careers. Of the Soldiers who reported a concussion, 52% sought medical care. Of those not seeking care, 64% reported they did not think the injury required care, followed by 18% fearing negative impact on their career. Twenty-eight percent who experienced an mTBI versus 11% who have not reported that there is a stigma associated with an mTBI. Conclusions Soldiers sometimes failed to report their suspected concussions and did not seek medical care. Educational efforts may increase reporting of and medical screening for potentially concussive events. Future research to determine the ramifications of unreported and untreated mTBIs/concussions is recommended.

That Can't Be Right! What Causes Pragmatic Language Impairment Following Right Hemisphere Damage?

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingerith Martin ◽  
Skye McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Language Impairment ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Weak Central Coherence ◽  
Central Coherence ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Right Hemisphere Damage ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Pragmatic Language Impairment

AbstractRight hemisphere damage (RHD) following unilateral stroke is often associated with impairment of pragmatic language, specifically, the ability to comprehend inferences that arise from language used in context. Three kinds of cognitive deficits have been proposed to explain the pragmatic deficits in RHD individuals, impaired Theory of Mind (TOM), weak central coherence (CC), and impaired executive function (EF). This study aims to evaluate the explanatory ability of these theories in relation to the comprehension of nonliteral (ironic) jokes versus literal lies. Twenty-one RHD patients and 21 age-matched controls were assessed on tasks tapping TOM, CC processing and general inference ability (EF) and the comprehension of irony. Second-order TOM and EF were found to play a significant role. However, neither construct, either in isolation or combined, completely explained the poor performance of RHD patients on this task compared to control participants.

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