(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – More than 1.5 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year, oftentimes resulting in permanent disability, including struggles with memory, mobility, mental health and cognitive function. For those with a TBI, their struggles usually don’t end when treatment does. An ongoing study by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with more than 25 years of data reveals that traumatic brain injuries do not stabilize after a couple of years as previously thought, but are actually dynamic and chronic conditions that require ongoing resources and care.
“As we were studying people longer, we began to see that a lot changed for them after five years. We saw some great improvements, but also some declines in many individuals,” said Jennifer Bogner, PhD, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at The Ohio State College of Medicine and co-principal investigator of the Ohio Regional TBI Model System. “Many of the people we speak with have lifelong problems with thinking, problem-solving or behavior regulation. Unfortunately, those struggling with the long-term effects of a TBI are often unsupported after initial treatment, which exacerbates these issues.”
The study checks in with TBI patients annually for two years following their injury and every five years thereafter for the rest of their lives. Phone calls include discussions about their progress and setbacks, as well as common issues for those with TBIs such as mental health disorders and substance abuse. As researchers learn more about risk factors for decline and variables associated with improvement, they are designing new interventions and protocols to help places like hospitals, shelters, treatment centers and prisons screen for those with TBIs and provide effective care.
“Community resources and service centers need to know if the people they’re working with have a history of traumatic brain injury,” said John Corrigan, PhD, director of the Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation and co-principal investigator of the Ohio Regional TBI Model System. “A lot of folks with brain injuries are trying to remain in their communities and live independently, and it’s critical that those who can help them do that have a full understanding of how their brain injury affects their actions and abilities so they can provide appropriate accommodations.”
Some of those accommodations may be as simple as adjusting communication based on a patient’s needs and challenges, which may include reminders about appointments or simplifying messages or action steps in therapy. Because researchers conducting the study have long-standing relationships with patients, they’re able to refer them to programs that can help them manage and even improve their condition years after their initial injury. It also helps experts identify gaps in care and needed changes to help improve services and positively impact the lives of those living with the ongoing effects of TBIs.
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