Do you know what a traumatic brain injury is? Did you know that March is Brain Injury Awareness month? As a full-time Occupational Therapist that specializes in treating neurological diagnoses, including those who have suffered a brain injury, it is my hope that this month I can spread both awareness and education on brain injury and the effect on individuals and their families.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as, "A disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury."

Children who have suffered a brain injury may experience differences at home and/or at school. Effects at school may include changes in attention, memory, concentration, completing assignments on time or energy levels. To learn more about accommodations and processes to better fit your child's needs, click here.

A concussion is a form of a mild traumatic brain injury that results from direct or indirect forces to the head causing biochemical changes in the brain. Common symptoms your child may experience after a concussion include: headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or sleeping too little), feeling dazed, memory/cognitive dysfunction, light and noise sensitivity or changes in mood.

To learn more about what to do if your child has been diagnosed with a concussion, visit our guest blog post by Allyson Demetriadis, PT, DPT.

This is an excerpt of our monthly newsletter that we will be sending out to our subscribers. Each month, the newsletters will have a specific topic focus and resources available with input from our Panel of specialists. If you are interested in subscribing to this newsletter, you can do so by signing up on the keep in touch pop-up or send us an email at blaire@collaborativecorner.org and we will add you to the list.

Aubrey Kohler, OTR/L, DRS
Occupational Therapist/Director of Community Affairs
aubrey@collaborativecorner.org

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