March observed as Brain Injury Awareness Month: The role speech therapy can play in the recovery process
VMH Speech Language Pathology ... March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Steven Mazzafield is a Speech Language Pathologist and can help treat brain disorders such as stroke, dementia and traumatic brain injury. Submitted photo.
by Steven Mazzafield, Speech Language Pathologist at Veterans Memorial Hospital
In recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, I would like to talk about traumatic brain injury and the vital role of speech therapy in the recovery process.
Brain injuries fall within one of two different categories: acquired or traumatic. Acquired brain injury occurs when someone has a stroke, seizure, infection, tumor, or lack of oxygen that affects the brain. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), on the other hand, occurs after a sudden blow to the head - examples include from a car accident, sports injury, or fall.
TBIs can range from mild to severe. A mild TBI, also known as a concussion, typically resolves within two to four weeks from the injury. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, between the years 2001 and 2009, over two and a half million children were treated for sports or recreation related brain injuries; however, the true number is likely higher due to unreported mild concussions.
Common concussion symptoms include difficulty concentrating, memory problems, difficulty thinking of words, sensitivity to lights and sounds, headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, and changes in mood - depression, anxiety, and irritability. All of these symptomatic issues can have a devastating impact on a person’s ability to function at school, work, or home. When these symptoms persist for longer than a few weeks, also known as post-concussion syndrome, speech therapy may be helpful to retrain the brain and develop strategies to improve daily functioning at work or school.
In a severe case, the brain injury may result in coma or vegetative state; however, with the help of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy those patients can regain some or all function after a lengthy recovery - typically a year or more. In general, the length of time someone is unconscious due to head injury is associated with worse long-term outcomes, but this is not always the case; roughly, half of those who suffer a severe TBI recover the ability to function at home for at least part of their day.
No matter the severity of brain injury, speech-language pathologists provide a vital role in helping survivors improve cognitive function and regain their ability to express themselves and connect with others.
Anyone who is dealing with hardship related to a brain injury, or who may know someone who is dealing with such a hardship, is encouraged to contact Steven Mazzafield, Speech-Language Pathologist at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, at 563-568-3411.
