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What to Expect After TBI

Survivors of TBI may have any combination and any extent of the following deficits.  They often show improvement over the course of the recovery.  A hallmark of TBI is an inconsistency of performance across skill areas, within skill areas, and over time.  These deficits may create challenges in activities of daily living (ADL), independent living, social involvement, educational/vocational activities, and family relations.


Physical Changes:
Epilepsy

Motor Deficits

  • weakness or paralysis--usually one-sided
  • ataxia
  • loss of fine and / or gross motor dexterity
  • balance
  • endurance

Sensory Function

  • visual perception
  • auditory perception
  • tactile perception
  • proprioception

Fatigue

Communication Changes:

Muteness

Dysarthria

Cognitive Communication Deficits

Apraxia

Aphasia

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Cognitive-Communication Changes:

Word finding

Poor organization

Failure to distinguish relevant and irrelevant information

Poor integration and synthesis of written and auditory material

Limited understanding of humor and abstract expressions

Tangential speech

Pragmatic Deficits

  • poor eye contact
  • flat affect
  • limited use of gestures
  • incorrect interpretation of facial expression and body language of others
  • loss of tact
  • selection of inappropriate topics of conversation

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Cognitive Deficits:

Memory

Organization

Sequencing

Attention

Perception

Inhibition

Alertness

Orientation

Problem Solving

Executive functioning

Control of impulsivity

Abstract reasoning

Flexibility of thought

Concept formation

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Behavioral/Personality Changes:
Impulsivity

Poor Judgment

Low Frustration Tolerance

Lack of Patience

Perseveration

Child-like Dependence

Irritability

Impatience

Denial

Anxiety

Depression

Anger

Mood Changes

Self Centerdness

Sexual Disinhibition

Tension

Passivity

Decreased Initiative

Stubbornness

 


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