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Definitions of TBI

Effects of TBI

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Physical changes:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Balance and mobility difficulties
• Sensory impairments (eg., vision, hearing)

Changes that affect academic performance:

• Difficulty learning and remembering new things
• Trouble paying attention and staying focused
• Difficulty planning and following through with tasks

Changes in personality, mood, and behavior:

• Depression and anxiety
• Low frustration tolerance
• Impulsivity

Problems may not appear immediately after the injury.

The effects of brain injury in children can be especially challenging because the injury occurs to a developing brain. Since the developmental processes continue after the injury, both previously learned skills and the development of future skills might be affected.

Some students injured in early childhood may do relatively well until they reach middle or high school, when they are expected to demonstrate increasing competence and independence. The functions required at this level may not develop if the relevant areas of the brain have been damaged and are not developing normally. If the child has been progressing adequately until then, both parents and educators may overlook the connection between the student's difficulties and the earlier brain injury. Students may be mistakenly identified as ADHD, behavior disordered, LD, or may simply struggle to keep up with school demands.

Because of the changing nature of ability and demands, students with TBI benefit from different strategies than those used for students with other disabilities.