The rehabilitation process will play a significant part in the traumatic brain injury survivor’s long-term wellness plan. Because no two brain injuries are exactly alike, and because survivors have different needs, most rehabilitation programs are highly individualized. Most programs use a team approach, in which multidisciplinary team members come together to develop a strategy designed to return the individual patient to maximum health and independence. Professionals you can expect to see on you or your loved one’s rehabilitation team include the following:

Physiatrist:

A physiatrist is a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The physiatrist is generally the leader of the rehabilitation team. He or she will assess the patient to determine what services and therapies are needed, will develop an individualized rehabilitation program, and will then coordinate, direct, and lead the team.

Neuropsychologist:

Many survivors of brain injury experience changes in both behavior and thinking. The neuropsychologist will assess those changes, help the patient and his or her loved ones understand those changes, and, finally, will develop a plan to help the survivor cope with those changes.

Nurses:

Specially trained rehabilitation nurses attend to the everyday care of the patient in rehabilitation, and can also help them adapt to the physical changes they are experiencing so they can return to maximum health. Survivors of brain injury may face challenges associated with self-care, bowel and bladder management, cognition and comprehension, or physical mobility, to name just a few. The nursing staff is well equipped to help the survivor cope with these challenges on a day-to-day basis, and can also help them learn to deal with these issues in the long term.

Physical Therapist:

A traumatic brain injury often has an effect on the body. A physical therapist is a specialist who treats neuromuscular or musculoskeletal issues associated with brain injury. The physical therapist will help the survivor attain maximum physical independence by focusing on strength, balance, posture, coordination, quality of movement, and sensory-motor activities. A physical therapies can also help the survivor with any necessary adaptive equipment associated with movement, such as wheelchairs, braces, and supports.

Speech/Language Pathologist:

Brain injury can cause a wide variety of issues related to speech and language, including problems understanding and producing language, difficulty producing clear speech sounds, fluency issues, and difficulty swallowing. Speech/Language pathologists assess the individual’s impairments, and then develop a plan designed to meet the needs of the individual. Depending upon the level of impairment, treatment may include helping the patient relearn how to make sounds, or may include the introduction of alternative communication methods, such as sign language or computerized devices.

Occupational Therapist:

In many cases survivors of traumatic brain injury have to relearn, to some degree or another, skills associated with daily living such as cooking, doing laundry, budgeting and banking, grocery shopping, and self-care. An occupational therapist develops a program designed to help the survivor gain maximum independence in everyday life. In addition, an OT can assess the survivor’s readiness to return to school and work, and can devise a program for both the survivor and workplace/school that ensures maximum success.

Recreational Therapist:

A recreational therapist introduces both fun and function to the traumatic brain injury survivor. Using recreational activities that the patient finds enjoyable, the recreational therapist can improve the cognitive, physical, emotional, social, and leisure needs of the survivor. A good recreational therapist shows the survivor that life can be fun again, while simultaneously improving their skills and helping them return to maximum function.

Counselor/Therapist:

Survivors of brain injury and their loved ones face many emotions after their injury. Survivors want to know why this has happened to them, and go through a wide variety of feelings such as denial, anger, frustration, and depression. A counselor or therapist who is trained to help traumatic brain injury patients can help survivors and their families cope with these emotions, and can restore hope. Because a good mental attitude is necessary to physical wellness and health, the counselor is an important piece of the rehabilitation puzzle.