Definition
Traumatic brain injury is an alteration in brain function caused by an external force.
Characteristics
Characteristics of those who have had a traumatic brain injury include many different symptoms. Various characteristics may include:
- Delayed abilities in learning how to read, write, and do mathematics
- Misunderstanding spoken word and not being able to be understood
- Difficulties with language processing
- Display confusion in numerous tasks
- Easily distractible
Accommodations
Accommodations for students who have traumatic brain injuries vary, but may include:
- Provide small group or one-on-one instruction
- Give frequent positive encouragement and praise
- Provide feedback in a helpful, non-threatening manner
- Allow the student to tape-record lectures or provide the student with a lecture handout
- Orally give instructions or read the text/problems
- Extended time on assignments and quizzes/tests
Modifications
Modifications for students who have traumatic brain injuries vary, but may include:
- Modify an assignment to have less words in a text or math problems
- Change grading system
- Give alternate homework
- Change presentation of material
- Creating individualized benchmarks
- Modify lessons to allow multiple modes of instruction
Resources
- Classroom Modifications and Strategies for TBI Students
A quick and concise resource that gives teachers information the environmental modifications and learning strategies needed for students with traumatic brain injuries
- About Brain Injury
This website includes information '/that introduces the teacher or parent to traumatic brain injury. It also includes an in-depth list of each of the types of brain injuries and their characteristics.
- Severe TBI Symptoms
A resource for the teacher's use of the severity of traumatic brain injuries. This website contains the many different characteristics of each brain injury.
- Basic Information about Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion
This website includes many resources for both teachers and parents of students with traumatic brain injuries. For example, it includes prevention, information about severe TBI, potential effects, and TBI data and statistics.
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
This is a great resource for a speech-language pathologist, a case manager, and a teacher who works with the speech-language pathologist. This website is dedicated to identifying what traumatic brain injury is and ways in which the speech-language pathologist can support this learner.