Traumatic Brain Injury
All you need to know about TBI
Definition and Description
Major Characteristics
- Frequent Headaches
- Feelings of Depression
- Memory Loss
- Seizures
- Poor Attention & Concentration
Prevalence Rate
- 54-60 million cases of TBI occur worldwide annually
United States
- Around 1.7 million cases of TBI occur in the US annually
Children aged 0 to 4 years, older adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, and adults aged 65 years and older are most likely to sustain a TBI.
Characteristics that Interfere with Learning
Classroom Accommodations:
- Preferential seating- seating the student with a TBI in the front of the classroom in a quiet location near a designated peer who can help the student stay on task is key to helping them be successful and stay focused.
- External devices- Assistive devices may include tape recorders (record what the w teacher says so the student is able to go back to any missed or forgotten information), calculators or electronic spellers. Calendars, labels, and checklists really help to keep the student organized.
- Avoid timed tests- students with a TBI become distracted very easily. If they are given a timed test, they may not be able to stay focused. They will feel very pressured and may only focus on the fact that they're running out of time rather than the actual test.
Below are links to websites for more information about classroom accommodations-
Accommodations at Home
- Provide the child with direct instruction- when you want them to do something, you need to tell them exactly what to do. For example, instead of saying "go clean your room," you should say "go make your bed, and then put your clean clothes away."
- Praise the child- when the child does what you asked them, use positive reinforcement and praise. The child will be more likely to complete the task again if they know that they will get praised.
- Reduce unstructured time- always have an activity planned for the child with TBI. When they are left with free time, it gives them time to get distracted, disorganized, or discouraged.
Below is a link for additional information on at home accommodations-
This website gives a lot of information about living with a traumatic brain injury. It provides personal connections and what the person with a TBI should expect in their future.
http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/
This website provides a lot of detailed facts about TBI. It can be very helpful because especially if you aren't an expert on the subject. It provides many basic info and also goes into detail.
Helpful app: Audible. This app allows you to listen to books on your mobile device. Great for those who have trouble reading or retaining that information more effectively.
References
Exceptional Teachers Teaching Exceptional Children. (n.d.) Retrieved July 1 2007 from, https://www.naset.org/traumaticbraininj2.0.html
Living With Traumatic Brain Injury. (n.d.) Retrieved April 26, 2015 from, http://www.brainline.org/landing_pages/categories/livingwithtbi.html
Life-Changing Mobile Apps For People With Brain Injury. (n.d.) Retrieved April 26, 2015 from, http://www.brainline.org/content/2013/12/life-changing-iphone-and-ipad-apps-for-people-with-brain.html