Introduction to Brain
Injury
The brain controls our abilities to think, communicate, move, behave, and create. It is the main organ that affects learning. After a brain Injury, a person may experience changes in his or her behavior and/or thinking.
This self-directed learning module contains information you are expected to know in order to provide a safe environment for patients who have a brain injury, our guests, and you.
Target Audience: Support Staff working with individuals with Brain Injuries
Recommended for: Clinicians whose specialty is for another population besides Brain Injury
Instructions ........................................................2
Learning Objectives...........................................2
Module Content .................................................3
Job Aid ..............................................................8
Posttest .............................................................9
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Introduction to Brain Injury
The material in this module is an introduction to important general information .
After completing this module, contact your supervisor to obtain additional information specific to your department.
• Read this module.
• If you have any questions about the material, ask your supervisor.
• Complete the online post test for this module.
• The JOB AID on page 7 may be customized to fit your department and then used as a quick reference guide.
• Completion of this module will be recorded under My Learning in PeopleLink.
When you finish this module, you will be able to:
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Identify the 3 main parts of the brain
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Name some behavior and thinking changes that may occur after brain injury
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Identify community resources for individuals with brain injury
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Introduction to Brain Injury
The brain controls our abilities to think, communicate, move, behave, and create. It is the main organ that affects learning. The brain is a soft organ that is the consistency of gelatin. An adult brain weighs approximately 3.5 pounds. It is located inside a rough and bony skull and is surrounded by fluid. The brain has three main sections, the brain stem, the cerebellum, and the cerebral cortex as well as four sections also called lobes.
The Brain’s Parts:
A. Brain Stem controls basic functions needed for survival, like breathing, swallowing and heart rate.
C. Cerebellum coordinates how the body moves
D. Cerebral Cortex is the most complicated component of the brain. This part controls how we think and problem-solve.
There are also four lobes of the brain all located in the cerebral cortex:
1. Frontal lobes control organization, problem-solving, inhibition of behavior, planning, and memory.
2. Temporal lobes are the centers for understanding language, hearing, and memory.
3. Parietal lobes are the part of the brain that responds to touch, heat, cold, and pain.
4. Occipital lobes control a person’s vision.
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Introduction to Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury is damage to the brain which occurs after birth. Brain injuries can be classified as traumatic or non-traumatic.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when damage is a result of an external force. These injuries can be caused by:
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Motor vehicle accident
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Fall
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Assault
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Blast injury
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Being struck by an object
Non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI) may be caused by:
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Infection
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Tumor
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Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) due to near drowning or drug overdose
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Metabolic disorder
After a brain Injury, a person may experience changes in his or her behavior and/or thinking.
Cognition:
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is another word for “thinking”
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is the process that is used to understand and interact with the world
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is also used to describe how our brain makes sense of and expresses our experiences
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Introduction to Brain Injury
Cognition changes may include:
1) Decreased ability to pay attention
2) Loss of long term and/or short term memory
3) Difficulty doing many tasks at the same time
4) Difficulty solving complex problems
5) Trouble planning
Behavior changes may include:
1) Speaking or acting before thinking
2) Difficulty controlling emotions
3) Increased agitation
Tyler’s Story:
Following his brain injury 6 years ago, Tyler has had difficulty making and keeping friends.
Those close to Tyler notice that he often says the first thought that comes to his mind even if the comment is offensive to the listener. Most of his friends are embarrassed for him and have slowly drifted away. His impulsive comments with co-workers have nearly cost him his job at an office supply store.
Recently Tyler has recognized that he often speaks before thinking about how his comments are keeping him from attaining his future life goals. He has joined a class at his local community college that helps people re-learn social skills. Tyler has found it easier to accept feedback about these personal skills from someone who has had a similar experience. He also noticed that when he receives feedback on the spot just as he makes the comment, he is able to recognize that the listener is uncomfortable and rephrase his comment. Tyler is also using a technique suggested by another classmate to stop and think before making the comment. Tyler now has the opportunity to consider possible consequences of his comments.
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Introduction to Brain Injury
As an individual recovers from a brain injury, access to community resources is very helpful.
The individual’s family or caregiver may need resources as well. There are many agencies and resources within each community that can help meet the needs of individuals with brain injury.
Some services are not available in all areas. The resources at Carolinas Rehabilitation can be accessed by referring to the Carolinas Rehabilitation Telephone Directory.
Carolinas Rehabilitation Resources:
A. Adaptive Sports & Adventures Program (ASAP)
This program provides sports and recreational opportunities for those with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.
B. Outpatient Clinic
The clinic schedules medical appointments for the patient with a physiatrist. A physiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
C. Outpatient Services
Services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology/neuropsychology, and driving evaluations are offered on an outpatient basis.
D. The Outpatient Brain Injury Program (OPBI)
This is a program that addresses cognition, adjustment to life changes, and community re-entry issues.
E. Project STAR
This program provides traumatic brain injury information to individuals and their families. Referral and community-based services are also provided. Project
STAR trains community groups and professionals on TBI issues. The Family and Community Support Office at Carolinas Rehabilitation for the Brain Injury
Association of North Carolina (BIANC) is housed in Project STAR. You can reach Project STAR by calling 704-355-1502.
F. Vocational Rehabilitation
This state agency assists eligible individuals with a disability in preparing for and obtaining employment. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has an office at
Carolinas Rehabilitation.
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Introduction to Brain Injury
Other Community Resources:
Information about the state and federal community resources can be obtained through Project
STAR at Carolinas Rehabilitation by calling 704-355-1502.
A. Brain Injury Support Groups
This group meets at Carolinas Rehabilitation and other locations across North
Carolina and South Carolina. A listing of all the brain injury support groups in North
Carolina can be accessed through the Brain Injury Association of NC (BIANC) website: www.bianc.net
and in South Carolina through the Brain Injury Alliance of
SC website: www.biausa.org/SC
B. Brain Injury Association of America (BIAUSA)
This association provides information and resources, participates in legislative advocacy, and hosts educational programs on brain injury. Website: www.biausa.org
C. Brain Injury Association of North Carolina (BIANC)
This is a statewide association that supports individuals with TBI and their families in North Carolina. BIANC provides four regional family and community support offices including one housed at Carolinas Rehabilitation through Project STAR. A listing of all the brain injury support groups in NC can be found on their website. www.bianc.net
D. Brain Injury Association of South Carolina
This statewide association supports individuals with a brain injury and their families in South Carolina. A listing of all the brain injury support groups in SC can be found on their website. www.biausa.org/SC
E. North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and
Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS)
This is the lead agency for accessing services in the public sector. Traumatic brain injury is included in the state and federal definition of development disability and services are accessed through the Developmental Disabilities Section of
DMH/DD/SAS. In NC, there are supports available for individuals with TBI of all ages.
Website: www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/tbi
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Introduction to Brain Injury
•
The brain controls our abilities to think, communicate, move, behave, and create.
It is the main organ that affects learning.
•
The three main parts of the brain are the brain stem, the cerebellum, and cerebral cortex.
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The four lobes are frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital.
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After a brain injury, one may experience changes in behavior and thinking.
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The Brain Injury Association of North Carolina provides four regional family and community support offices across North Carolina.
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Project STAR at Carolinas Rehabilitation is a resource for information about brain injury and community resources.
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The North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities &
Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS) is the lead agency for accessing services in the public sector. Traumatic brain injury is included in the state and federal definition of developmental disability.
Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists
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Introduction to Brain Injury
Name: _____________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________
Circle the correct answer.
1. What is the brain located inside? a. Brain tissue b. Rough and bony skull c. A muscle d. None of the above
2. What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex? a. Frontal, temporal, limbic, occipital b. Frontal, cerebral cortex, limbic, parietal c. Frontal, temporal, occipital, parietal d. Temporal, occipital, brain stem, limbic
3. Cognition is another word for thinking.
a. True
b. False
3. After a brain injury, an individual may a. Have memory loss b. Speak or act before thinking c. Have a hard time paying attention d. All of the above.
4. If an individual is interested in scheduling a medical appointment with a physiatrist following an inpatient stay, which would be the appropriate resource? a. Vocational Services b. Outpatient Clinic c. ASAP d. Volunteer Services
5. Project STAR at Carolinas Rehabilitation provides which of the following? a. Traumatic brain injury information to individuals and families b. Referral and community based services c. A Family and Community Support Office for BIANC d. All of the above
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