“The literature on clinical recovery from sport-related concussion has grown dramatically, is mostly mixed, but some factors have emerged as being related to outcome.”
“This systematic review recommends that in children: child and adolescent age specific paradigms should be applied; child-validated symptom rating scales should be used; the widespread routine use of baseline computerised neuropsychological tests (CNT) is not recommended; the expected duration of symptoms associated with sports-related concussion (SRC) is less than 4 weeks; prolonged recovery be defined as symptomatic for greater than 4 weeks; a brief period of cognitive and physical rest should be followed with gradual symptom-limited physical and cognitive activity; all schools be encouraged to have a concussion policy and should offer appropriate academic accommodations and support to students recovering from SRC; and children and adolescents should not return to sport (RTSp) until they have successfully returned to school, however early introduction of symptom-limited physical activity is appropriate”.
“Progress has been made to prevent motor-vehicle crashes, resulting in a decrease in the number of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)-related hospitalizations and deaths from 2007 to 2013. However, during the same time, the number and rate of older adult fall-related TBIs have increased substantially. Although considerable public interest has focused on sports-related concussion in youth, the findings in this report suggest that TBIs attributable to older adult falls, many of which result in hospitalization and death, should receive public health attention.”
Guidelines for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Symptoms, published by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (2013).
“The Neurological Alliance Australia (NAA) believes that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will transform the lives of people living with progressive neurodegenerative diseases and has promoted and supported the Scheme since its inception. To date some NDIS participants have received plans that have had positive, life-changing impacts on their lives, however, many others have received insufficient plans that will adversely affect their quality of life and place some at risk of avoidable hospitalisation.” The NAA comprises ten peak national bodies, including Brain Injury Australia.
“JobAccess is the national hub for workplace and employment information for people with disability, employers and service providers.”
Disability Employment Services (DES), a part of the Department of Social Services in the Australian Government, helps people with disability find work and keep a job.
“The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to join everyday activities.”
“Young Carers Australia is designed primarily to support young carers. It gives young carers the opportunity to access information, share caring ideas and stories; talk to other young carers; and keep up to date on current news and events.”
“In 2006, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a five-year initiative to reduce the number of younger people with disability living in nursing homes throughout Australia. Governments implemented the joint Commonwealth, state and territory initiative from July 2006.” Click Read More for more information about the YPIRAC initiative and disability services in each state and territory.
This resource, produced by the National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (NOFASD), the “national peak organisation representing the interests of individuals and families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)”, aims to assist teachers and educators to understand the challenges that children with FASD face in learning.
This resource has practical information on brain injury for teachers, and strategies for teaching children with brain injury in the classroom.
“Many students do not receive return to learn (RTL) services upon return to academics following a concussion. Washington State [in the US] children have unmet needs upon returning to public schools after concussion. The student-centered RTL model and checklist for implementing RTL guidelines can help schools provide timely RTL services following concussion.”
“The International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) encourages international exchange of information, to support research, to provide training especially in developing countries and to advocate for brain injury.”
“The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the leading national organization serving and representing individuals, families and professionals who are touched by a life-altering, often devastating, traumatic brain injury (TBI).”
“BrainLine offers Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) information, support, and resources for preventing, treating, and living with traumatic brain injury.”
Brain Injury Canada’s Mission is to “improve the quality of life for those living with a brain injury, and their caregivers.”
“Our mission is to enhance the lives of Ontarians living with the effects of acquired brain injury through education, awareness and support.”
“Headway is a charity set up to give help and support to people affected by brain injury in the United Kingdom.”
“Headway East London (UK) is a charity supporting people affected by brain injury. Working across 13 London boroughs we offer specialist support and services for over 200 survivors, family, friends and carers in the local area each week.”
Royal Rehab aims “to be considered Australia’s leading rehabilitation and disability support provider.” “The Royal Rehab Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service is dedicated to providing specialist rehabilitation to people with severe TBI. Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service (BIRS) includes the Brain Injury Unit (BIU) and the Brain Injury Community Rehabilitation Team (BICRT).”
“The Moving Ahead Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Brain Recovery, established in 2012, is the first centre worldwide to take a multidisciplinary, multisite approach to addressing the psychosocial rehabilitation of individuals following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Moving Ahead brings together key experts from a range of partner universities, hospitals and research institutes in Australia and overseas. The Centre aims to improve outcomes for those with a TBI by developing empirically-supported treatments, addressing deficits in social skills, communication, mood, fatigue, self-awareness and self-regulation.”
“The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU) is a 28-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit for adults with an acquired brain injury.”
“Epworth has specialist acquired brain injury rehabilitation (or ABI rehabilitation) units located at Epworth Richmond and Epworth Camberwell, in Victoria. The inpatient and outpatient programs provide trauma rehab for people from the early stages after emerging from a coma through to addressing issues relating to their return to community living.”
The results of this study suggest that early follow-up of at risk patients can have a positive influence on patients’ well-being, and that low-intensive, low-cost telephone counseling is more effective than a psychological intervention at improving outcomes.
Among adolescent athletes, a high initial symptom burden (e.g. headache, nausea, vomiting) increases the odds of symptoms continuing beyond 28 days following injury.
“For the 5-15% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who will have lingering physical, behavioral, or cognitive problems 3 to 6 months after their injury, identification of this at-risk population is essential for early intervention. Existing models used to predict poor outcomes after mTBI are unsatisfactory, according to a new study, and new, more relevant predictive factors are different than those used in cases of moderate or severe TBI, as described in the study published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.”
A research thesis on Traumatic Brain Injury entitled, “Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation: Survivors’ Perspectives.”
“The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) aims to discover the fundamental mechanisms regulating brain function in health and disease, in particular understanding the brain circuitry underlying function.” At QBI, Dr Fatima Nasrallah’s research group studies brain injury.
