Many people who suffer a brain injury will require the services of a wide range of health and social care professionals over a long period and their needs will change over time once they emerge from an acute trauma facility.
How and when support is delivered will depend on the nature of the injury and the services available through local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups and social services teams as well as charities and voluntary organisations. Both the NHS and local authorities are obliged to assess the needs of an injured person and their carers, and often have a statutory duty to provide a range of support services and care.
Identifying the support needed is just the first hurdle. Many people struggle to understand that there is more than one door to be pushed and that private funding might be required to achieve a comprehensive package of care.
Whatever your personal circumstances and irrespective of whether or not you might be considering a compensation claim, we can help you find the right support. Our online directory of services The BIG brain injury services Directory links you to a wide range of services and professionals that support people with a brain injury and their family.
How can the Brain Injury Group help you?
Find out more about how Brain Injury Group can help, if you’ve been affected by brain injury and need legal or welfare benefits advice (link to How We Can Help page).
Alternatively, there are several ways to get in touch:
- Call us on 0800 612 9660 or 03303 112541
- Email us at enquiries@braininjurygroup.co.uk
- Complete this short enquiry form and we’ll get back to you
The different types of brain injury rehabilitation therapies
There cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ rehabilitation package because the scale and impact of brain injuries are so diverse, and there is a huge variation in the delivery of rehabilitation services available from different health trusts around the country.
A rehabilitation programme must, of course, be tailored to each individual’s needs and will usually involve a multi-disciplinary team. Treatments designed to assist people to live with complex disabilities range from the physical to the psychological. The therapies that people are most familiar with include:
Physiotherapy for those affected by a brain injury
Physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability and has a role in the immediate aftermath of an injury right through to long term care. Specialist neuromuscular (brain, nervous systems and musculoskeletal system) physiotherapists are likely to play an essential role in the team supporting a brain-injured person.
Occupational therapy (OT) for brain injuries
The ‘occupation’ in OT refers to practical activities that allow people to achieve a degree of independence. Therapists provide practical support to enable both children and adults to undertake the activities that are important to them and to help them reach their potential. Occupational therapists provide “made to measure” specialist care for someone affected by brain injury. They may have to help the injured person to relearn skills and reconnect with their pre-injury life.
Speech and language therapy (SLT)
SLT can address the speech, language and communication needs of children and adults, as well as eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. The ability to communicate has a positive impact on general health and wellbeing. It enables a brain-injured person to be actively involved in their own care and rehabilitation and is critical in promoting independence and participation in family, social and professional situations.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
CBT is a form of talking therapy that helps people to change how they think (‘cognitive’) about themselves, the world and other people and how what they do (‘behaviour’) affects thoughts and feelings and to improve their sense of wellbeing and ability to cope with challenging situations. It has been shown to be effective in treating emotional and physical disorders and can be used to help brain injured people to deal with anxiety, depression and other behavioural problems that often result from injury.
Neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychology is concerned with understanding how a brain injury can affect a person’s thinking, cognitive skills, behaviour and psychological and emotional functioning. The neuropsychologist provides an objective opinion on cognitive impairment following a brain injury and is trained in the treatment and management of related problems such as memory impairment, behaviour management and the treatment of emotional and psychiatric disorders.
