Disability Adjustment and Vocational Guidance Counseling for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a multi-faceted and complex injury with unique incidence, prevalence, and consequence that affects health, independent function, and participation in society. Currently, limited long-term funding sources are available to support the vocational rehabilitation needs of individuals with TBI. To improve our understanding of the diverse needs of this population, eight vocational organizations throughout Florida received community capacity-building grants awards. Through these grants, 81 individuals with TBI received vocational guidance counseling and disability adjustment services for a period of one year. Participants completed a project survey upon entry into and exit from the program, with a completion response rate of 48%. Results indicate that the participants’ internal thoughts and beliefs about ability to work showed significant improvement after receipt of customized services. Survey findings suggest that the individuals who received tailored vocational guidance and disability adjustment services showed better adjustment to return to work.

Download Full-text

Behavioral and electrophysiological auditory processing measures in traumatic brain injury after acoustically controlled auditory training: a long-term study

Einstein (São Paulo) ◽

10.1590/s1679-45082015ao3379 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 535-540 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carolina Calsolari Figueiredo ◽

Adriana Neves de Andrade ◽

Andréa Tortosa Marangoni-Castan ◽

Daniela Gil ◽

Italo Capraro Suriano

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Auditory Processing ◽

Behavioral Assessment ◽

Auditory Training ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Long Run ◽

One Year ◽

The Right

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the long-term efficacy of acoustically controlled auditory training in adults after tarumatic brain injury. Methods A total of six audioogically normal individuals aged between 20 and 37 years were studied. They suffered severe traumatic brain injury with diffuse axional lesion and underwent an acoustically controlled auditory training program approximately one year before. The results obtained in the behavioral and electrophysiological evaluation of auditory processing immediately after acoustically controlled auditory training were compared to reassessment findings, one year later. Results Quantitative analysis of auditory brainsteim response showed increased absolute latency of all waves and interpeak intervals, bilaterraly, when comparing both evaluations. Moreover, increased amplitude of all waves, and the wave V amplitude was statistically significant for the right ear, and wave III for the left ear. As to P3, decreased latency and increased amplitude were found for both ears in reassessment. The previous and current behavioral assessment showed similar results, except for the staggered spondaic words in the left ear and the amount of errors on the dichotic consonant-vowel test. Conclusion The acoustically controlled auditory training was effective in the long run, since better latency and amplitude results were observed in the electrophysiological evaluation, in addition to stability of behavioral measures after one-year training.

Download Full-text

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Trauma Surgeon's Perspective

Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders ◽

10.1044/nnsld22.3.82 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 82-89

Author(s):

Oscar D. Guillamondegui

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

Trauma Team ◽

The United States ◽

Long Term Outcomes ◽

Term Care ◽

Injured Brain ◽

The Moment

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious epidemic in the United States. It affects patients of all ages, race, and socioeconomic status (SES). The current care of these patients typically manifests after sequelae have been identified after discharge from the hospital, long after the inciting event. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of identification and management of the TBI patient from the moment of injury through long-term care as a multidisciplinary approach. By promoting an awareness of the issues that develop around the acutely injured brain and linking them to long-term outcomes, the trauma team can initiate care early to alter the effect on the patient, family, and community. Hopefully, by describing the care afforded at a trauma center and by a multidisciplinary team, we can bring a better understanding to the armamentarium of methods utilized to treat the difficult population of TBI patients.

Download Full-text

Prosodic Impairment Associated With Traumatic Brain Injury

Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders ◽

10.1044/nnsld19.3.97 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 97-102

Author(s):

Billy Irwin

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Detailed Analysis ◽

Acoustic Characteristics ◽

Individual Variations

Abstract Purpose: This article discusses impaired prosody production subsequent to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prosody may affect naturalness and intelligibility of speech significantly, often for the long term, and TBI may result in a variety of impairments. Method: Intonation, rate, and stress production are discussed in terms of the perceptual, physiological, and acoustic characteristics associated with TBI. Results and Conclusions: All aspects of prosodic production are susceptible to the effects of damage resulting from TBI. There are commonly associated prosodic impairments; however, individual variations in specific aspects of prosody require detailed analysis.

Download Full-text