Concussions What To Know And What To Ask

1. Concussions: What To Know And What To Ask Latest available figure show that over 161,000 Canadians suffer injuries following car collisions1. These are responsible for over 50% of all acquired brain injuries2, with concussions being among the most common. This happens because our skulls are just one quarter inch thick, slimmer than drivers’ license, which makes them predisposed to injuries. Alongside sport injuries and falls, vehicle accidents are the main cause of concussions. Usually the victim experiences a high impact that causes the brain to brutally shake back and forth. There are approximately 50 traumatic brain injuries hospitalizations on a daily basis, in Canada. According to Brain Injury Society of Toronto, for every such traumatic brain injury, the Canadian medical system spends over $400,000. Hospitalization, pain medication and various other therapies can be costly with many cases requiring follow-up treatment or additional rehabilitation therapies. In some cases, patients develop cognitive and communicational impairments. Consequently, this heavily impacts their daily lives and quality of life. They can find themselves experiencing difficulties in producing words, understanding intonation or carrying on conversations. Since every patient deals with a unique set of symptoms, therapy needs to be targeted and individualized. Concussion therapy can help at all stages of treatment Cognitive rehabilitation speech therapists use evidence-based approaches to efficiently identify the issues and encourage healing. The main benefit is the fact that it is a patient centric therapy. Due to the fact that sessions are one-on-one, it allows patients to recover, help get better and even offer support and effective advice in how to compensate with a difficulty. It also takes into consideration the patient’s goals and their usual environments. Cognitive rehabilitation speech therapists use evidence-based approaches to efficiently identify the issues and encourage healing. The main benefit is the fact that it is a patient centric therapy. Due to the fact that sessions are one-on-one, it allows patients to recover, help get better and even offer support and effective advice in how to compensate with a difficulty. It also takes into consideration the patient’s goals and their usual environments. Concussion therapy can help at all stages of treatment. In worst case scenarios, during a coma for instance, professionals aim to get a general response to sensory stimulation, prepare for anticipatory recovery and prepare loved ones on how to interact when the patient regains consciousness. As the patient becomes more aware of the situation, a specialist may try to keep focus on basic exercises, like everyday conversation, help reduce confusion and put things in perspective. Late recovery involves an integrated plan for improving speech and memory, social skills strategies and as well self- management at home. Many people find themselves asking ‘what do I do after a concussion?’, especially if they remain undiagnosed and treat the situation as insignificant. Proper caution is needed to prevent worsening of the situation. Even in what seem to be minor car accidents, if it has caused some sort of trauma to the head or back neck, it imperative to consult a medical specialist. Resources: 1https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/tp-tp3322-2015-1487.html 2http://www.bist.ca/facts-about-abi/

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