How a TBI Affects Your Ability to Function Mentally
A traumatic brain injury, even a relatively mild one, can have significant impact on your ability to interact cognitively with others, negatively affecting your:
- Short-term and long-term memory
- Attention span and ability to concentrate/focus
- Reasoning, decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Communication with others
- Processing of external information
- Ability to plan, assemble or organize
Common Memory Issues after a TBI
When you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may temporarily or even permanently lose any recollection of events immediately prior to or after the injury, though your memory of events from long ago is seldom affected. You may also have challenges remembering all of your conversations moving forward. A structured daily routine can help you respond to this condition, as can certain memory aids.
Attention Deficit Challenges after a Traumatic Brain Injury
It’s common, after a TBI, to find yourself easily distracted or unsettled, with the inability to stay focused on what you’re doing. Start with simple tasks and take breaks if you need to do so. Don’t try to multitask, but work on one project at a time.
Mental Processing after a Traumatic Brain Injury
You may fail to recognize a problem, have difficulty assessing the information related to an issue or find it hard to know how to choose from a number of options. One of the best ways to work on this is by putting a step-by-step process for problem-solving in writing, so it’s there for you to review.
Communication Challenges after a TBI
You may struggle to find the right word in a conversation or find yourself drifting off topic on a regular basis. You may also have difficulty reading facial or verbal cues. Working with a speech therapist can help you restore some or all of those skills.
The Impact of a TBI on Your Ability to Plan or Organize Events in Your Life
You may have challenges ensuring that you accomplish the things you need to every day, or you may find yourself missing appointments or letting important things get ignored. Make a written list at the end of each day regarding what you want to accomplish tomorrow and post it in a place where you’;ll see it when you get up the next day.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.
