Traumatic brain injuries affect people differently depending on the severity of their injury and which area of their brain suffered damage. For victims of a TBI, learning to live with their disability may require time, patience and ongoing support.
When people understand the diverse effects of a brain injury, they can confidently seek customized treatment to minimize the impact of their injury on living a fulfilling life.
The realm of impact
Because of the complexity of a person’s brain, even a minor injury can cause at least temporary difficulty that may worsen if not treated promptly. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, TBIs can affect brain function at every level including the following:
- Emotional: a person’s ability to reason, manage and recognize his or her emotions
- Communication: a person’s ability to initiate, comprehend and respond to communication
- Senses: a person’s awareness of his or her senses and recognition of them
- Behavioral: a person’s ability to react appropriately to people and situations
- Cognition: a person’s ability to learn, retain and utilize information
For TBIs that affect more than one area of a person’s brain, the process of learning how to live with an injury may increase exponentially.
The value of customized treatment
Because brain injuries range so significantly in terms of severity, no treatment is a one-size-fits-all solution. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs suggests that people can benefit from a combination of treatments. A customized plan can help victims approach their injury with solutions unique to their situation. Over time and with growth and progress, treatment plans may require modification to retain an optimal level of effectiveness.
