Brain Injury Requires Rest
After a brain injury, both body and mind will need a lot of extra rest to rebuild. Avoid asking a student of any age to push harder or go longer. When fatigue sets in, allow for breaks or shorter sessions.
The Damage may be Invisible
Your student may look fine, and sound fine, but still have good and bad days. Listen for signs of frustration so you can offer face-saving options in the classroom.
Brain Injury Rehab May Take Years
Once the formal rehabilitation process ends, full recovery can take years. Try not to refer to “how you were before” or make comparisons with peers.
Social Situations Can be Overwhelming
Crowds, noise, and the chaos that often accompanies social gatherings such as pep rallies, parties, field trips, or the lunch room can be painful for the recovering person with a TBI. If a student resists such gatherings, it’s best to provide a quiet option such as the library rather than insist on participation.
Allow the Student to Stop a Conversation
If you are speaking with a student who has a TBI and he or she suddenly says “STOP!” it’s not as rude as it sounds. It probably means processing overload has occurred. So, stop talking. Now. Allow the student to catch up and take a break.
Brain Injury Doesn’t Mean Stupid
A student with a brain injury will have trouble learning some things, but not all things. He or she may have forgotten things. But the entire brain is almost never involved in the injury. The brain is highly adaptable, especially in children. Therefore, a great teacher finds new pathways for information rather than assuming the student can’t learn.
Patience is the Best Gift You Can Give
TBI patients learn to expect impatience from those around them — they are met with it all day, every day. Your non-anxious presence is the greatest tool you bring to the recovery process.
Here’s a Book for Children with TBI
I’ve worked with lots of TBI students and rejoiced with them as they conquered their fears and setbacks. Young brains heal surprisingly well, especially in happy, low-stress environments. Here’s a book written from the point of view of a child who experiences a brain injury. I recommend it.
Blog post by Yvonna Graham, M.Ed.
www.dyslexiakit.net
@GrahamYvonna