What Are Brain Injuries Caused by Trauma?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) denotes brain damage caused by an external force. Outside forces that damage the brain include violent blows or jolts to the head or body, physical assault, or an object entering the brain. These sudden external forces can produce bruises, tissue tears, and brain bleeds, ultimately affecting how the brain works. Independent Living Skills Training (ILST) is a proven approach to providing TBI patients with the necessary skills to live independently while remaining in their communities.
Even a single TBI can cause varying pathological conditions that affect daily life. Physical as well as mental issues can originate from damage. TBI might also involve behavioral, language, and communication issues. Additionally, TBI can impact attention, concentration, information processing, and recall.
Nearly 1.1% of Americans has a TBI-related disability (Source: National Institutes of Health). In Colorado, TBIs stand as a major public health concern. Approximately 5,000 people in the state are hospitalized each year due to a TBI (Source: Colorado Department of Human Services). The leading causes of TBI-related injuries are motor vehicle crashes, suicides, and falls (Source: Centers for Disease Control). Falls alone account for nearly half (40 to 50 percent) of TBIs in the U.S. (Source: USA Facts).
Symptoms of TBI
Symptoms of TBI can appear immediately or in days or weeks following an injury. Symptoms, which vary based on the location and severity of the TBI, have physical and cognitive effects.
Physical symptoms of a TBI include:
- Headache
- Double vision
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Weakness, especially in the arms or legs
- Facial paralysis
- Slurred speech
- Convulsions or seizures
- Poor balance.
Cognitive symptoms that can appear because of a TBI include:
· Difficulty with memory or recall
· Poor attention and concentration
· Mood changes
· Irritability, sadness, or nervousness
· Poor judgment
· Delayed information processing
· Difficulty with planning and organizing
· Slower reaction time
· Changes in sleep patterns (e.g., hypersomnolence or insomnia)
· Misplacing commonly used objects.
The physical and cognitive impacts of TBI on patients are vast. However, Independent Living Skills Training (ILST) offers clients with TBI an improved quality of life in a home care setting.
What Is Independent Living Skills Training (ILST)?
People who have suffered a TBI need to relearn the skills required to live safely and independently. Independent Living Skills Training (ILST) is a Colorado Medicaid-funded program that helps state residents with a TBI relearn the skills they need to live as independently as possible.
Qualified trainers help TBI patients remain in their communities by teaching them strategies and techniques to manage daily life. Instruction is skills-based and promotes clients’ functional independence, safety, and growth. ILST trainers execute personalized goal plans to meet their client’sclients’ diverse needs, focusing skills training on services such as:
· Life skills coaching (e.g., dressing, grooming, and budgeting)
· Development of interpersonal communication and social skills (e.g., conversation, body language, and relationship building)
· Improving memory and recall (e.g., information processing, attention, and problem-solving)
· Health maintenance (e.g., nutrition, cooking, emergency preparedness)
· Time management (e.g., using calendars, reminders, and planning and organizing)
How Independent Living Skills Training (ILST) Can Improve Quality of Life for TBI Patients
Independent Living Skills Training (ILST) can be a lifeline for TBI patients in Colorado. It helps these individuals regain and maintain everyday life skills. At the same time, they enjoy greater levels of independence and self-sufficiency.
For TBI patients, Independent Living Skills Training (ILST):
Supports an Independent Lifestyle
TBI can impair a person’s ability to perform basic tasks, including managing hygiene, preparing nutritious meals, or handling finances. Specialized instruction enables TBI patients to develop essential skills that engender greater self-sufficiency. Increased autonomy reduces clients’ dependence on family members for help.
Provides Social Relearning
A TBI can negatively impact one’s ability to navigate social interactions. ILST trains clients in social skills, communication practices, and emotional regulation. This instruction eases the burden of clients feeling comfortable in social settings and provides them with the tools to create positive interpersonal relationships.
Promotes Integration into the Community
TBI can complicate a patient’s use of public transportation, their ability to run errands, or participate in certain recreational or leisure activities. This can make returning to community life especially difficult. Independent Living Skills Training (TBI) allows individuals with a TBI to gain the skills they need to re-enter society and participate as fully as possible.
A Final Note
TBIs are a major cause of disability in the US. A TBI’s consequences can manifest in many ways—physically, cognitively, and behaviorally—and impact quality of life. Independent Living Skills Training (ILST) is a crucial resource for TBI patients in that it boosts not only their ability to perform everyday tasks independently but also their confidence and sense of accomplishment.
