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What is the definition of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
IDEA Definition:
“An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psycho-social behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. The term does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.”
What is an example of a behavioural intervention?
teaching desired behaviours in the classroom
What are some causes of TBI?
Sport injuries, violence, and vehicle-related collisions.
What kind of classroom can a student with TBI be in?
A student can be pulled out of their general education classroom for a part of the day (for resource classroom, PT/OT, Speech, etc.).
Inclusion classroom with an aide or paraprofessional
Self contained classroom primarily with students that require special education services
If interventions don’t work at their home school, a student may need to go to a school that specializes in services that they need.
What communication problems might a student with a TBI face?
Difficulties with reading, writing or speaking.
What are the characteristics of a TBI?
Medical/Neurological Symptoms:speech, hearing, paralysis
Cognitive:attention, organization, problem solving
Social:maintaining relationships, social interactions
Behavioral/Emotional: aggressive behaviour, depression, self worth
What is an example of a medical intervention?
Muscle relaxants for muscle spasms
Who might be on the IEP Team that is involving a student with TBI?
Parents, special education teacher, general education teacher, representative of the school system, the student, occupational or physical therapist, or speech-language pathologist.
How common are TBI's?
“Almost 1.7 million Americans sustain a TBI each year… and some 125,000 are permanently disabled as a result of the injury.” (brainline.org)
Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries may experience emotional changes, including…
Outbursts, mood swings, anger, frustration, irritability, loss of empathy, anxiety, patience
What is an example of an accommodation for a student with a TBI?
Allow students to record the lesson
What conversational problems may be an issue for individuals with TBIs?
Issues with interpreting nonverbal communication, trouble following and/or participating, taking turns, appropriate topics of conversation
What are some physical complications that students with TBI might deal with?
Seizures, hydrocephalus, infections, and headaches.
Who is at risk for a TBI?
Anyone is at risk for a TBI when there is trauma to the skull. However:
Males are approximately 1.5 times as likely as females to sustain a TBI.
The age groups at highest risk for TBI are 0 to 4 year olds, 15 to 19 year olds, and adults aged 65 years and older.
Certain military duties increase the risk of sustaining a TBI.
African-Americans have the highest death rate from TBI.
What sensory symptoms might students with a TBI experience?
Loss of balance, vertigo, blurred vision, issues with sense of smell/taste, sensitivity to light, ringing in ears, dizziness, sensitivity to sounds, coordination issues, skin sensations
What is an example of a modification for a student with a TBI?
Modify the way a test is taken: an oral test instead of a written test
What aspects of life outside of the classroom can be impacted by TBI?
Since TBI’s impact the most complex system of our bodies, any aspect of life can be impacted. Besides the difficulty in the classroom, people suffering from a traumatic brain injury can have issues sleeping, may need help strengthening memory and problem-solving skills, or could have issues with processing and managing emotions. Additionally, people with Traumatic Brain Injuries may also need help with professional skills, so a child with an IEP for a TBI may require transitional planning for after graduation.
What are some supports that you can use into your classroom to help students with TBI?
Breaks, short walks, positive environment, personal support.
TBI’s can often be misdiagnosed for other disabilities. What are some characteristics that can be due to a TBI, both in and out of the classroom?
Memory problems
Shortened attention span
Poor judgment
Partial or complete loss of reading and writing skills
Problem-solving difficulties
Language problems, including communication deficits and loss of vocabulary
Inability to understand abstract concepts
Difficulty learning new things
How might self monitoring benefit a student with TBI?
Gaining the ability to self assess is a necessary step toward more independence. Self monitoring helps in this. The student can ask themself at random intervals, “Am I listening (working, behaving, etc.)?” They may also use a checklist of open-ended questions to guide students through an assignment, the use of assignment rubrics to allow students to self-evaluate their progress, and the use of emotion logs to allow students to self-monitor their emotions rating anger levels and responses on an Anger Log, or other emotions.
What is an example of an instructional intervention for a student with a TBI?
Teaching memory and study strategies
What are some technology-related strategies that you could incorporate into your classroom that could help students with Traumatic Brain Injury?
Large print, computers, tablets, and digital clock
Why is being flexible so important when working with students who have TBI?
Academic curriculum and scheduling should be flexible and customized for every student. Children with TBI may miss school more often than other students so being flexible gives them time to make up missed assignments or learn new lessons without feeling rushed.
Criteria that is used to classify TBI as mild, moderate, or severe
The structural imaging of the brain
Normal: Mild
Normal or abnormal: Moderate or severe
Loss of consciousness:
Mild: 0-30 mins
Moderate: >30 minutes, less than 24 hours
Severe: 24+ hours
Different mental state:
Mild: Up to 24 hours
Moderate: More than 24 hours
Severe: 24+ hours
Amnesia/Memory Loss:
Mild: 0-1 Day
Moderate: More than one day, less than a week
Severe: 7+ days
Potential IEP objectives differ from the IEPs of other impairments and conditions in what ways?
Students with TBIs face the unique challenge of relearning skills and learning strategies. They will have to face a classroom with different limits, expectations and challenges, than they previously did. The student will need metacognitive strategies, and to learn their new limits and abilities.