When you have suffered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), it is critical to have the right team of specialists at your side to help you through the rehabilitation process.
As I’ve mentioned previously, every brain injury is different depending on the location, combined effects, and severity of the damage. Therefore, the professionals you will need on your team may vary depending on your specific injury.
Key specialists you may need for your brain injury rehabilitation include:
- Family Doctor
Your family doctor will be the most knowledgeable member of your team about your past medical health. They will also help refer you to the other specialists you may need.
- Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist will work with you to help you recover and maintain the necessary skills for daily living. They will also help you reintegrate into the workforce after your accident.
- Physiotherapist
You may need a physiotherapist, depending on how your brain injury affects your overall mobility. The physiotherapist will assess your coordination, balance, strength, etc. They will tailor a program to restore and maximize your ability to move.
- Neuropsychologist
A neuropsychologist is a very important team member. They specialize in the brain and are therefore best equipped to understand your specific brain injury. Following emotional and cognitive tests, they will assist with your treatment and rehabilitation planning.
- Speech Language Pathologist
If your injury has affected your ability to communicate, you will need a speech language pathologist. They will work with you to improve your language skills as necessary.
- Case Manager
In a catastrophic brain injury from a motor vehicle accident, a case manager would traditionally take the role of team leader. They oversee the rehabilitation details. However, for those who suffer a brain injury in a non-catastrophic motor vehicle accident or an accident not involving motor vehicles, case managers are typically not funded.
- Lawyer
In the event that you do not have funding for a case manager, a personal injury lawyer familiar with brain injury can serve as your rehabilitation coordinator.
Ensuring you have the right team for your brain injury rehabilitation is the first step toward an optimal recovery.
Next month, we will release our final video in our mild traumatic brain injury education series.
Available now:
- What is a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)?
- Why are Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Often Missed?
- Accessing Funding for Medical Rehabilitation after Suffering a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a Motor Vehicle Accident
Check back with us for the final mTBI video:
- Coping with the Emotional and Psychological Impact of a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
>> Roger R. Foisy is an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Ontario who has helped clients with brain injuries receive compensation. If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury, please contact us for immediate support and a free consultation.
*Roger R. Foisy has completed courses in Neurorehabilitation, Advanced Brain Injury Rehabilitation, and Neuropsychological Assessments: Beyond Testing from Brock University. However, he is not a medical professional. The advice in this blog is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
More on Brain Injury from Roger R. Foisy:
