The introduction of COVID-19 to the human population in late 2019 led to a pandemic that has had a substantial impact on the world. While substantial research has focused on the neurological impairments faced by those with COVID-19, little research has been performed on the impact of the complications created by COVID-19 on people who are living with traumatic brain injuries.
The pandemic led to various life complications for TBI sufferers, including job loss, less socialization, routine interruptions, and the need to adjust previously successful compensatory techniques. The US population at large has encountered similar issues. People with brain injuries were already facing significant challenges before the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic only proved to make these issues worse and has challenged compensation techniques for people who developed post-injury to deal with impairments.
Concussions and COVID-19
Researchers at Mount Sinai’s New York Traumatic Brain Injury System are currently conducting an effort to better appreciate the impact of the pandemic on people living with head injuries. These researchers are evaluating individuals with traumatic brain injuries and posing critical questions about the issues they encounter as they navigate the current world. Some of the questions asked of people with traumatic brain injuries include the following:
- How isolated are you from friends and loved ones due to COVID-19?
- How disruptive has the pandemic been to your daily life?
- Since the start of the pandemic, how often have you felt that you cannot control the important aspects of your life?
- Have you spotted any changes in your memory or behavior since the pandemic started?
This study is ongoing.
The Goal of the Program
The Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance and Resource Center funded by the Administration for Community Living attempted to better appreciate how people with brain injuries have been impacted by COVID-19. The goal is to appreciate the impact of the pandemic on individuals and to gain insight connected to how they are dealing with these issues.
Critical Themes for People with Traumatic Brain Injuries During the Pandemic
Some of the most critical themes that have been noticed during the pandemic for people with traumatic brain injuries include the following:
- Social isolation was the biggest obstacle. This is already a challenge for people with TBIs and additional separation from loved ones has been even more difficult. Those people who appear to be coping well are either establishing new networks or connecting with other survivors.
- The ability to tackle change is a characteristic challenge for people with TBIs. The sudden amount of change brought on by the pandemic has led to increased existing feelings of anxiety. This has required many people with TBIs to access old details learned about compensatory strategies and put them into practice.
- Many people with TBIs found themselves needing to rest more due to the pandemic. Medication dosage has also been increased for emotional or physical issues.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Contact an Experienced Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident and have suffered from a concussion / traumatic brain injury, you should not hesitate to speak with an experienced lawyer. Contact House Law LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Tags: car accidents, personal injury, traumatic brain injury
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