Bouncing back after brain injury
In cartoons and comic strips, when a character gets hit on the head, they fall down and see stars for a bit and then pop right back up. But the reality of a head injury — whether it’s a mild concussion, bruising from a fall or a traumatic brain injury — is no laughing matter, and recovery takes much longer.
We’ve put together some resources about the most common types of brain injuries and how an audiologist can help with recovery and rehabilitation.
Common types of brain injuries
Brain injuries can come from many sources, but some of the most common are falls, sports, physical assaults and car accidents. Military service members may also sustain brain injuries from explosives and firearm-related incidents.
Concussion
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). They are sometimes called “mild traumatic brain injuries,” because they are not generally life-threatening, but even mild concussions can cause serious issues and should be evaluated by a health care professional.
Concussion symptoms include changes to sleep patterns, headaches, vision problems, forgetfulness, clumsiness, irritability and nausea.
Moderate to severe TBIs generally involve a longer period of unconsciousness after the injury and a prolonged confused or disoriented state that lasts more than 24 hours.
Stroke
A stroke is another form of acquired brain injury, although the cause is internal rather than external. Strokes happen when a blockage or breakage in the blood vessels prevents blood from getting to part of the brain.
According to Audiology Today magazine, “A stroke can impact all levels of the auditory system, from the inner ear to the cortex… If a person has an existing hearing loss that is possibly untreated prior to a brain injury, their brain is the mechanism that is helping make sense of sounds that are missing due to their peripheral hearing loss. Although this hearing loss may have been a minimal issue prior to the stroke, the hearing loss can have a significant negative impact on hearing and listening following the stroke.”1
Auditory processing issues as a result of stroke or other brain injury can also compound with hearing loss to make it difficult for someone to understand what is being said.
Recovering from a brain injury
A combination of testing, rehabilitation and accommodations can make life easier for you as you recover from a brain injury.
Your primary care physician will most likely be the point person for your recovery from a mild to moderate TBI. Many other specialists — including a neurologist, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, cardiologist and other experts — may be involved in your care. But did you know that your audiologist can also help you during your recovery?
How an audiologist can help with recovery from brain injury
If you already have a relationship with an audiologist prior to the injury, they can retest your hearing and auditory processing afterwords to see if there has been a significant change.
If you have never had your hearing tested, consider making an appointment for a comprehensive hearing evaluation. At Associated Audiologists, we recommend a baseline hearing screening for anyone over the age of 55 or who has been exposed to excessive noise through their work or other activities, such as construction, military service, loud music or firearms.
Retraining your brain
Whether you welcome the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools with open arms or remain a bit skeptical, there are some helpful applications for AI when it comes to hearing, speech and cognitive recovery after a brain injury. One example is LACE AI Pro, an auditory training program that is customized to your specific needs. You can access this app right from your smartphone or computer, and with regular use, you may see improvements in your auditory processing skills.
All Associated Audiologists locations are licensed to get you connected with LACE AI Pro and will even help you set it up right in the clinic.
Not a tech person? Our audiologists can also provide you with offline tools and tips for rebuilding your auditory processing capabilities after a brain injury.
Contact us to ask a question or schedule an appointment today.
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