How long will it take to recover, if recovery is possible?
Doctors classify the TBI as either mild, moderate or severe. Although there is no standard definition for mild to moderate TBI, there is diagnostic criteria for the level of injury to the brain. The most widely accepted definition is based on the observable behaviours immediately following the injury, as well as images collected through scans (MRI or PET typically).
Since this is done typically on site of the injury and within the first 24 hours, and because it can take weeks to months to see all symptoms that exist, it is difficult for the medical community to give an exact prognosis. Furthermore, even though we have come a long way around neuroscience and have learned much, there is still so much that is unknown about the brain. We know only a limited amount about the brain’s capacity to heal following an injury. Instead of predicting outcomes, the medical community usually recommend that a rehabilitation professional create a treatment plan to assist the patient in achieving specific outcomes.
In terms of recovery, there are no guarantees. It is dependent upon severity, the amount of time spent unconscious (if any), and available resources. However, many people can make major strides towards resuming “normal” activities. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are the best way to ensure recovery.
With 80% of the cases being classified as mild Traumatic Brain Injuries, the bulk of the research is found in this area. After formal testing, a person with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that shows signs of problems in information processing speed, memory and/or concentration will likely resolve most of the problems after one month (especially if a young person). After three months, there will be relatively no effects on their health or thinking. Only a few will continue to have issues and those that do, likely are back to normal by the end of six months. The longest recovery for mild to moderate TBI’s is usually a full year. By then all symptoms have either greatly improved or have disappeared altogether. Not everyone recovers at the same rate. People who are 40 and under tend to recover more quickly than those over 40. The biggest indicator of a successful recovery is dependent upon those patients that rest following the injury versus those that continue to try to “tough it out” or rush back into their daily lives. As the severity of the TBI increases, the longer recovery will take and the less likely that full recovery will occur.
What are some common obstacles that arise after a mild to moderate TBI?
TBI is treatable, but the severity of the injury will determine how quickly and if life can resume to “normal” for the injured person. It is difficult to predict how well someone will recover, mainly because there is no diagnostic test that medical personnel can use that predicts recovery. As explained above, the best a doctor or paramedic can do is to assess the situation immediately following the injury and monitor the injured person for the next 24 hours to watch what initial symptoms come forth. This allows the medical staff to determine the seriousness of the injury itself and then, allows them to somewhat predict outcomes.
The recovery is not always quick. While there are general guidelines for a timeframe, nothing is certain. Each person and each injury are different. It can take several weeks to months to recover from even the most minor of traumas to the head. Recovery is also “uneven” meaning that there will be some “good days” and some “bad days.” An injured person must keep in mind that even when it is a “good day,” he or she must be certain not to overdo it. This will only cause setbacks in the recovery timeframe. Even on good days, a person needs to allow themselves the time to complete tasks and to “listen” to his body.
In terms of work and independent living, this is also considered on a case-by-case basis. But most people who suffer mild to moderate TBIs can return to their previous occupations. A person may require additional assistance or accommodations (i.e. voice recorders, visual aids, organizers, etc.) upon returning to work and assuming the regular duties of the position. The accommodations might be a short-term solution or may be needed long-term but regardless, most people are able to participate in their previous occupation with little to no difficulty.
Scientific studies done in the Netherlands suggest that those patients with mTBI’s that were released from the hospital and instructed to spend the first week home relaxing and resting. Then, the second week after the injury, they were instructed to gradually increase daily activities. Patients who received this advice and did as instructed normally were back to normal at work and/or school within 3 to 4 weeks of the injury. However, those patients that were released and NOT given those instructions OR did not follow those instructions took 5-12 weeks at a minimum to return to their normal routines. These patients also had more post-concussion symptoms, especially irritability, trouble concentrating and memory problems as compared to the patients who completed a week of rest and returned to their activities gradually.
What sort of care will I need long term?
Since the injury was a mild to moderate TBI, most people’s symptoms will improve over time. However, when symptoms go unrecognized or untreated, it can disrupt an individual’s work and/or setting as well as relationships. People frequently report that they are left feeling like they are “going crazy.” Healthcare providers, who are unaware of the head trauma, may fail to properly diagnose the TBI. Instead, they may attempt to treat the individual symptoms when in fact, the person is suffering from a TBI.
Remember, these symptoms (both initial and secondary, or Post Concussion Syndrome(PCS) are part of the normal recovery process and are not signs of brain damage or complications.
These are expected symptoms and at a maximum last up to 6 months. Most patients recover completely within 3 to 6 months. For around 20% of patients with Post Concussion Syndrome’s, symptoms may persist for a longer period.
How will a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury affect my ability to learn (cognitive functioning)?
Many who suffer a mild to moderate TBI experience changes in their thinking or processing skills, also known as cognitive skills. There are two levels of skills that can be affected. The first level is simple cognitive skills. Patients that have moderate to severe TBI’s are more likely to have cognitive issues that patients with mTBI.
A partial list of common cognitive changes following mild to moderate TBI’s are as follows:
- Memory issues
- Learning new information (either using old information or acquiring completely new information)
- Shortened attention span
- Filtering issues
- Reasoning
- Speed of mental processing
- General confusion
- Partial loss or complete loss of reading and writing skills
- Inability to understand abstract concepts
- Self-awareness
- Impulsivity
- Aggression
The second area is higher order thinking, referred to as the Executive Order in research.
A list of possible cognitive changes in this area are as follows:
- Problem solving
- Multi-tasking
- Organization and planning
- Decision making or Judgment
- Seeing a task from beginning to end.
What are some suggestions or strategies to help me (or my family member) cope with complications that affect everyday life?
There are a number of strategies that can be used to assist a person who suffered a mild to moderate TBI. Depending on the part of the brain injured and the severity of the injury will determine the exact needs of the individual; the rehabilitation professionals that create the short-term and long-term plans might be able to assist in narrowing down this list (or adding to) in order to meet the needs of a specific loved one. One must remember that the recovery process for each person is different because no two brain injuries are alike. Recovery can be lengthy, all depending upon the severity and extent of the injury and upon the individual.
General suggestions for you or your loved one include the following:
- Resume activities and responsibilities gradually.
- Pace yourself and get lots of rest.
- If symptoms that had previously stopped or gone away suddenly reappear, it is likely a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard. SLOW DOWN.
- Try not to think about or worry about the symptoms as that will likely make the condition or symptom worse. This is, of course, easier to say than to do, but this is something that the patient should try to not worry about.
- Avoid doing anything that could cause another blow or jolt to the head.
- Ask the doctor when it is safe to drive a car, ride a bike, play sports or use heavy equipment.
- Reaction time may be slower after a brain injury.
- Take prescription medicines according to the doctor’s instructions.
- Do not drink alcohol or use street drugs.
- Write things down to assist with memory problems.
- Follow any rehabilitation instructions and/or suggestions.
- Join a support group. Remember that therapy is something that many people need at different points in their lives.
- Follow a routine, including a regular sleep schedule.
- Take breaks.
- Alter expectations at work and/or school. Don’t feel ashamed or stressed that certain accommodations might be needed upon returning (at least initially).
These can be phased out over time, if the injured person is capable of the task without the accommodation. - Avoid or reduce distractions.
- Stay focused – choose to work on only one task at a time.
Why is your cognitive performance tracker only $450, when traditional clinical evaluations cost upwards of $5,000?
Removing physical overheads to make care accessible
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Tracking your rehabilitation trajectory
Recovery from a head impact is an ongoing journey, not a single snapshot
Completing a follow-up assessment six months after your initial check-in provides you and your treating General Practitioner or allied health team with a clear, side-by-side comparative trend analysis.
This allows your healthcare providers to evaluate how effectively your rehabilitation program is working and adjust your care plan to support your long-term wellbeing
Our commitment to your recovery ($400 follow-up subsidy)
To ensure ongoing cognitive monitoring remains financially manageable, we heavily subsidise your 6-month follow-up assessment by $400, reducing the cost from $450 to just $50.
We are dedicated to supporting you throughout your recovery roadmap, ensuring financial strain never stands in the way of validating your progress
