Brain Waves: UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Newsletter Volume 15 | Number 1 | Page 3

tasks can be done first, like taking
medications and eating breakfast.
3 - Redirect or distract attention
This tactic works best with
someone who has a limited attention
span or memory problems after TBI.
Here are some examples of how to
redirect or distract attention.
• If there’s an unwillingness to take
part in the activity, you redirect
him or her to do a different
activity. You then return to the first
activity at a later time.
• A distraction tactic might be to
count during tasks or play music
during an activity, like when your
loved one is doing stretching
exercises. Be aware, however,
that distractions may sometimes
interfere with the ability to focus
on the task at hand.
4 - Provide choices
As attention and memory skills
improve, you might better gain
cooperation by giving your loved one
an active role in making choices. One
example might be an unwillingness to
wear a yellow shirt. You might hold up
a blue shirt and a red shirt and ask if
he or she wants to wear the blue shirt
or the red shirt.
Here are a few rules to follow when
you provide choices.
• It’s usually best to ask either/or
choices, like “do you want to wear
a blue shirt or a red shirt?”
• It’s best to avoid asking open-
•
ended questions, like “What
do you want to wear today?”
Too many choices can lead to
confusion and agitation.
The choices you offer should be
acceptable to you and a good
choice for the situation. This way
there’s no downside to either
choice being made.
5 - Bargaining
Bargaining is a way to gain
cooperation by offering something
in return for that cooperation. The
idea is to identify those things that
he or she likes to do, like watching
television or playing video games.
On those occasions when the person
is being uncooperative, like refusing
to get dressed for example, you
encourage your loved one to get
dressed as quickly as possible so
there is time for her or him to watch
TV or play a game.
6 - Written goals
If your loved one is able to recall
information and can reason at a basic
level, setting goals can be a good
way to encourage independence
in completing activities. It gives
the person a sense of control and
responsibility for carrying out tasks.
For example, you and your loved
one can work together to create
a checklist of activities that to be
completed each day. You might post
the list where it’s easily seen, like on
the refrigerator or your loved one’s
bedroom door. Then he or she can
check off activities when they are
done.
7 - Make the tasks meaningful
Most people with TBI want to return
to doing the same daily activities
as they did before their injury. For
most adults, this means returning to
meaningful task like work, being with
family, driving a car and engaging
in social activities. After a TBI, it
may be necessary to re-learn basic
skills, such as balance, dressing, and
attention skills before returning to
those more meaningful tasks.
Your loved might resist doing those
basic, everyday activities and tasks
because they don’t seem interesting
or meaningful. One way to make basic
tasks more interesting is to explain
that these basic tasks are stepping-
stones to returning to those more
meaningful tasks.
8 - Positive reinforcement
Always say “good job” with a smile
each time a task is completed. Your
positive feedback will go a long way
toward continued cooperation, and
it lets your loved one know that you
appreciate the effort.
Editor’s Note: Contact the UAB-
TBIMS if you need help with behavior
problems.
Questions and Answers: Recovery after a Concussion
How long does it take for the brain to heal after a
concussion?
Most people recover after a concussion, but the speed
of recovery depends on many factors. One is the severity
of the concussion. More severe injuries take longer to
heal. Age is a factor. Adults tend to recover quicker
than teens and children. Health before the concussion
is a factor. Those who are healthy before injury tend to
recover quicker than those who were unhealthy. And one
of the most important factors is how well those who are
injured take care of themselves. Those who get treatment
and follow their doctor’s advice tend to heal quicker than
those who don’t allow their brain time to heal.
What happens if the brain isn’t allowed to heal?
Recovery takes time and patients, and symptoms will
get worse if the brain doesn’t have the time to heal. It
can even be dangerous, especially if there is another
concussion before the brain is healed from the first injury.
A repeat concussion can slow recovery and may increase
the chances for long-term health problems with memory,
reasoning, vision, balance, communication, depression,
anxiety, and personality changes.
How do I know if the brain is healed?
There is no timetable for recovery, and only your doctor
can advise you on whether or not your brain is healed. It’s
usually when you no longer have symptoms of your injury.
It’s important to then slowly and gradually return
to normal daily activities. If symptoms return or new
symptoms develop, you need to stop activities and take
more time to recover.
UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Information Network
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