What To Say, Or Do, To Someone Who Has Had A Brain Injury.
People who have had a brain injury have the same rights and entitlements as any other member of the community.
If you restrict a person’s activities in any way because you know they have had a brain injury, you can be charged with discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992).
What If A Work Colleague, Friend Or Relative Has Had A Brain Injury?
First things first. You may have noticed several changes in the person’s behaviour. No two people who have had a brain injury will have the same type or degree of impairment, so its important to determine exactly which changes affect the person you know. Examples of changes that may occur include:
- Fatigue - tiredness, even after only an hour of work.
- Concentration difficulties - trouble filtering out little distractions. This makes it hard to concentrate and stay focused.
- Memory difficulties - short term memory loss and some permanent memory loss is common.
- Slowed reaction time - taking longer than usual to understand you, and then still to give you a response.
- Headaches and chronic pain - the brain also controls feelings of pain, so the person may be in constant pain.
- Emotional highs and lows - laughing or crying when it does not fit the situation.
- Deafness and blindness - temporary or permanent loss of sight or hearing.
- Paralysis - one side of the person’s body, or an arm, or a leg may be permanently paralysed.
- Muscle control - slow movements or partial loss of control means it may take longer to complete certain activities.
- Speech difficulties - communication may be difficult because of slow or slurred speech.
- Problem solving and decision making difficulties - difficulty recognising a problem and then understanding what actually caused the problem.
- Socially unacceptable behaviour - swearing, being inappropriately crude or making unreasonable sexual demands.
When a person sustains a brain injury it often results in permanent disability. Although the person may be able to learn how to successfully manage these effects, it can take many years.
These permanent effects can’t be fixed by a good night sleep or a change in lifestyle.
What Do You Say Or Do?
Now you have an idea of the specific difficulties that people who have had a brain injury have to manage each day, you can begin to lend assistance and provide support.
BUT, you must ask the person if they want assistance first, then ask what you have to do. A person who has had a brain injury retains the right to make their own decisions and learn from their own mistakes.
To make it easier for you to assist or support a person who has had a brain injury, its helpful to follow these suggestions:
- Take it slowly - slow down your physical movements and your speech if the person seems confused, afraid or anxious.
- Maintain the person’s freedom of choice - you have no right to make decisions on behalf of the person, or restrain the person in any way, unless you are a Police Officer and the person has broken the law.
- Always explain what you are about to do and why - then do what you said you would do. Keep the person informed and keep surprises to a minimum.
- Listen to what the person is saying, even if it takes you a while to understand - ask the person to repeat anything you don’t understand.
- Don’t pretend you know what the person is feeling - if you haven’t had a brain injury, you can’t know what the person is going through. Don’t tell the person you know how they feel - this is an insult.
- Don’t try to win arguments - stick to the facts in all discussions. Its OK to agree to disagree.
- The person may get tired very quickly - don’t think the person is just being lazy. Allow the person to have regular rest breaks.
- Don’t tease, embarrass or get angry with the person just because they don’t do what you wanted - regardless of how hard the person tries or how much you want the person to succeed, some activities will be just too difficult at that time. Perhaps another attempt on the following day will be more successful.
- Be patient - it may take the person a while to finish but if they can do it, they will.
What About Returning To Work Or Driving A Car?
People who have had a brain injury have the right to return to work, or be retrained so they can continue to do their job. If the person still has the capability to do work, they should be given a chance to do so. Tests by medical and occupational professionals will provide you with the information about the person’s capabilities.
The person also has the right to relearn how to drive a car, as long as they have the capability to do so. Medical and occupational professionals make these judgements.
If you are seriously injured, how would you like to be treated?
* Source : Brain Injury Association of NSW
