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After a Brain Injury
After a brain injury
Brain injury basics
How the brain works
Types of brain injuries
Your brain injury team
Your recovery
Glasgow Coma Scale and amnesia
The first few weeks
Rehabilitation
What affects your progress
Rancho Los Amigos Scale
Levels 1, 2, and 3
Level 4
Levels 5 and 6
Level 7
Level 8
Levels 9 and 10
Changes after a brain injury
Thinking and memory changes
Attention
Memory
Judgement and problem-solving
Planning skills
Self-awareness
Communication and language
Communication and language changes
Communication tips for family and caregivers
Vision changes
Changes to hearing and dizziness
Changes in perception
Ignoring one side of the body
Knowing where things are in space
Body movements
Recognizing things you know
Physical changes
Feeling very tired
Headaches
Swallowing changes
Seizures
Bowel and bladder changes
Weight changes
Skin changes
Social and emotional changes
Depression and lowered self-esteem
Social settings and stress
Leisure changes
Life after a brain injury
Leaving the hospital
Going home
Alcohol and drugs
Intimacy and sexuality
Work and school
Driving
Care for the caregiver
Resources
References
A brain injury can affect how you think and manage emotions. If you drink too much alcohol, use illegal drugs, or take more medicine than you’re prescribed, it can damage the cells and nerves in the brain. This makes the effects of the brain injury even worse.
If you’re worried, ask to talk to a rehabilitation psychologist, social worker, or an addictions counsellor. They can help decide if someone has a problem with drugs or alcohol. If they do, there are alcohol and other drug treatment programs that can help.
Learn more about addiction in the family.
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