Neurofeedback for Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

The symptoms, manifestation, and recovery of traumatic brain injury may present significant differences. These are influenced by factors such as the severity of the head trauma, the specific areas of the brain affected, the type of injury suffered, and other factors. Symptoms may include difficulty concentrating, attention problems, memory issues, fatigue, changes in mood, and headaches. Such symptoms have been found to affect quality of life and ability to engage in activities of daily living. TBI patients suffering from long-term symptoms may have trouble finding effective treatments for symptom management.

Behavioral health professionals, speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and medical providers all play key roles in the recovery from a TBI. However, not all residual symptoms are resolved in TBI patients, even with effective treatments. New modalities and treatments are necessary to address the quality of life for TBI patients and associated symptoms due to the considerable effects it has on the quality of life and the complexity of the injury itself. Neurofeedback training is one modality used to assist with a wide array of TBI-related symptoms.

Neurofeedback is often utilized with mindfulness-based therapies or psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. It is intended to target the coping skills and thought processes that may be causing negative effects in symptom perpetuation or etiology from a TBI. Patients undergoing these treatments may learn new ways of altering responses, patterns, habits, and behaviors that may contribute to function or performance inhibition and symptom management. The success of neurofeedback for TBI patients varies from case to case.

Case studies evaluating neurofeedback and its ability to improve cognitive function in TBI patients have shown promising clinical findings, like retention of new material, immediate recall of new information, and working memory. Other reported improvements included sleep quality, concentration, impulsiveness, explosiveness, anger, anxiety, depression, and motivation. This emphasizes the potential use of this treatment for TBI patients during rehabilitation programs designed to improve cognitive abilities and other functions.

Neurofeedback therapy involves monitoring and documenting psychological functions to determine a patient’s well-being. It also involves providing the patient with measurements, recording, and presentation of real-time feedback on brain activity. Treatment is intended to improve functions, including mood regulation, problem-solving, memory recall, and more. The clinical findings may indicate whether neurofeedback sessions focused on training are necessary for any exaggerated or abnormal responses. Further research is necessary for the indication of neurofeedback in populations with TBI.

Case studies have reported that patients have experienced side effects from neurofeedback training including agitation, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and headaches. Other studies have indicated that other forms of relaxation or biofeedback training may be appropriate for TBI patients who experience sensitivity to the side effects of neurofeedback or who are early in rehabilitation. Research is ongoing for the efficacy of neurofeedback in combination with mindfulness meditation and other interventions to determine the efficacy and benefit in mild to moderate TBI populations.

The repercussions of a delayed diagnosis of a TBI will depend on the severity of the injury. For mild traumatic brain injury, diagnosis is often delayed because of the patient and their medical provider's initial focus on accompanying physical injuries. Consequences of a TBI may include a change in personality, mood, function, and ability to undertake activities of daily living. This further highlights the importance of immediate medical care. When treatment is sought promptly, medical providers can determine the appropriate rehabilitation and plans for symptom management.

An attorney handling a traumatic brain injury case must verify that the client has undergone appropriate evaluations by medical providers who investigate the TBI in detail. When there is a delayed diagnosis of a brain injury, it may present various challenges for the plaintiff’s counsel. There must be sufficient clear and compelling evidence that the client sustained TBI in the accident, it is not the result of another incident, and the symptoms are consistent with getting injured in the incident. The right lawyer will be well-versed in neuroscience and building a strong TBI case.

An attorney managing a TBI case must prove how the incident affected the client’s life. This includes demonstrating who the client was prior to the accident, the person the client is now, who they would have been if not for the incident, and the challenges they are likely to experience in the future because of their TBI and accompanying injuries. The testimony of family members of a TBI client is often a valuable tool. The family will be familiar with the client, how the injured party’s life was changed because of the injury, and how their relationship with the injured has been affected due to the TBI.

When selecting a lawyer to handle your traumatic brain injury case, significant factors that should be considered include online reviews from past clients and an attorney’s exclusive practice of personal injury law. Other factors include:

• Compassion: A caring legal team will understand your situation and provide compassionate guidance as you focus on the recovery process. You will receive that when you work with AutoAccident.com. Our lawyers understand the devastating effects of this injury and will provide support every step of the way.
• Experience: The ideal law firm will have attorneys with experience inside and outside of the courtroom. At our law firm, our lawyers have decades of combined experience handling accident cases involving a wide range of injuries, such as head trauma.
• Resources: It is useful to work with a lawyer who has the resources to access the best expert witnesses and to take the case to court if necessary. Supporting strong TBI cases requires resources to conduct an in-depth investigation and work with experts like accident reconstructionists, economists, and more.
• Success: The right law office will have a proven record of successful results in similar cases. Here at AutoAccident.com, we have a history of successful case resolutions for clients. Our legal team has had a long-standing dedication and commitment to representing clients in brain injury cases since 1982.

The TBI lawyers at our law office are experienced in handling difficult accident cases and are dedicated to protecting the rights and best interests of those we represent. We are committed to client satisfaction and favorable case results. Learn more about our practice in this video.

A mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury from a traffic collision or another type of accident has the potential to change the course of an individual’s life. The right California TBI attorney can guide you through this difficult time by protecting your rights and best interests. By working with our legal team at AutoAccident.com, you can get ahead with the claims process. We will handle your accident case from start to finish so you can focus on healing and the future. Learn more about the services we offer at our law office by calling (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

Photograph Source: By “AnnaShvets” on Pexels.com

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