Traumatic Brain Injury Curt, Travis, and Christina.

Traumatic Brain Injury 

Curt, Travis, and Christina

Recognizing a TBI

Definitions of Traumatic Brain Injury specify the following:

1. There is an injury to the brain caused by an external force.2. The injury is not caused by a degenerative or congenital

condition.3. There is a diminished or altered state of consciousness.4. Neurological or neurobehavioral dysfunction results from the

injury. 

Myths and Misconceptions

 The following statements are FALSE: • The degree of impairment correlates with the force of

impact.• A "mild" brain injury will improve quickly.• Children's brains are more adaptable and pliant, therefore

more resilient to the damaging effects of a brain injury.• The younger the child, the more likley they won't suffer from

profound long-term effects.• TBI impairments always show up right away. 

Facts: In the U.S. each year, 1.4 million people sustain a TBI. • 50,000 of them die• 235,000 are hospitalized• 1.1 million are treated and

     released from an emergency room

The most common form of a TBI is a concussion. 

Two groups at highest risk:  1.Newborn-4 years2.15-18 years

Levels of TBI Mild

ModerateSevere

Glasglow Coma ScaleEye opening • Spontaneous = 4• To speech = 3• To painful stimulation = 2• No response = 1

 Verbal response • Oriented to person, place, and

date = 5• Converses but is disoriented = 4• Says inappropriate words = 3• Says incomprehensible sounds =

2• No response = 1

Motor response • Follows commands = 6• Makes localizing movements to

pain = 5• Makes withdrawal movements to

pain = 4• Flexor (decorticate) posturing to

pain = 3• Extensor (decerebrate) posturing

to pain = 2• No response = 1

 The severity of TBI according to the GCS score (within 48 h) is as follows:• Severe TBI = 3-8• Moderate TBI = 9-12• Mild TBI = 13-15

MN Eligibility Criteria1. Medical DocumentationThe student’s file must include:Documentation by a physician of a medically verified traumatic brain injury. 2. Functional ImpairmentThe student’s file must include documentation of a functional impairment attributed to the TBI that adversely affects educational performance in at least one of the following:• intellectual or cognitive• academic• motor• communication• sensory• social, emotional, or behavioral• functional skills or adaptive behavior

Eligibility Criteria Cont..3. Previously Existing ConditionsVerification that the student’s impairment is not primarily the result of any previously existing conditions. Indicate that none of the following contribute to a previously existing condition: • visual, hearing, or motor impairments• mental retardation• environmental or economic diadvantage• emotional or behavioral disorders• language or specific learning disabilities• cultural differences

Eligibility Cont...

4. DocumentationThe student file must include documentation of functional impairment through at least one of the following: • checklists• classroom or work samples• documented, systematic behavioral observations• educational/medical history• interviews with parent, student, & other knowledgeable individuals

Eligibility Criteria...continued!

5. DocumentationThe student’s file must include documentation of functional impairment based on at least one of the following: • criterion referenced measures• personality or projective measures• sociometric measures• standardized assessment measures

Leading Causes of TBI's according to CDC:

Falls  28%

Motor vehicle crashes  20%

Being hit/colliding with an object  19%

Assaults  11%

Others  12%

TBIs and Sports:Multiple Mild TBI's can lead to more severe stages. Example Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Wild 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=y8aO6VnZn40&feature=related2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE5sLZSMXyo 

With the accumulating number of head injuries in sports many are looking into the science of what goes into a hit and how  damage occurs.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=fFkWTGKNLT8&feature=fvst

Regarding educational performance, a TBI may alter:

• cognition• memory• language• attention• reasoning• abstract thinking• judgment • problem solving

• sensory or perceptual and motor disabilities 

• psychosocial behavior

• physical functions• information

processing• speech

DifficultiesIt is often "invisible"

 • People with TBIs in many cases look like everyone else

"If Alan were in a wheelchair or had a cast on his leg, people would understand that something happened...no one can see a

broken brain." 

Difficulties Cont. 

People often overlook those with  concussions or  TBI's believing they are only minor. Without knowing that the damage done is actually quite extensive its just the signs haven't shown up or are overlooked.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY19-JI648Q 

The area effected also changes the treatment method for TBI's

The level of severity also is a factor for TBI's in that each has a different treatment and is met with different cautionary techniques.

Personal Experiences/

Stories Curt

Travis

Christina

Others

Group Activity- Curt

  General Resources:TBIED.orgBraininjuryguide.org Quizzes to help improve memory:http://www.braininjuryguide.org/quizzes/quizinstructions.html Tools and resources for educators:http://www.youtube.com/watchv=3_B1YJ9EpG0&feature=channel Early injury later in the classroomhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeCK_QXqcW8&feature=channelTransition to Adult Lifehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XUUyvie6BQ&feature=channel

Resources for Teachers

Sourceshttp://www.tbirecoverycenter.org/consequences.htm http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Learning_Support/Special_Education/Categorical_Disability_Information/Traumatic_Brain_Injury/001752 http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/Compliance/documents/Form/000845.pdf https://www.braintrauma.org/tbi-faqs/http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/lossofnamelessthings/tbi.htmlExceptional Learners: An Introduction to Special Education by Hallahan, Kauffman, & Pullenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE5sLZSMXyohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8aO6VnZn40&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFkWTGKNLT8&feature=fvst