Speech Therapy for Concussion: Brain Injury Awareness Month

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is leading a month-long campaign to increase awareness about brain injury. Read more about the #MoreThanMyBrainInjury campaign in our blog post from earlier this month. This week, we are bringing awareness to concussion, and the important role of speech therapy for concussion. A concussion is also described as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, this classification of “mild” can be misleading due to the significant impacts a concussion may have on one’s life.

Causes of Concussion

According to the CDC and BIAA, a concussion is caused by a force to the head or body that causes the head and brain to rapidly move back and forth. Causes include falls, sports-related injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and combat-related injuries. The sudden, harsh movement of the brain within the skull can damage brain cells and create chemical changes in the brain.

Signs and Symptoms of Concussion

Headache
Nausea, dizziness and/or vomiting
Slowed reaction time
Possible loss of conciousness
Cognitive-linguistic issues (difficulties with attention, memory, communication, etc)
Emotional issues (sadness, lability, anxiety, impulsivity, etc)
Sleep disruption

Check out this fascinating interactive website about the dynamics of concussion to get a sense of just how complex concussions are.

Concussion Recovery

Most people recover from concussions within a few weeks. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “You need physical and mental rest to recover from a concussion. Although you’ll need more rest and sleep than normal, you don’t need 100% complete rest. In fact, research has shown that too much mental rest can actually lengthen the recovery period and make you more sensitive to activities when you return to them. Instead of stopping activities entirely, learn to recognize the triggers that bring on concussion symptoms. Start back slowly, in small amounts. When symptoms occur, back off and rest. It’s okay to do some of the activities that don’t make you feel worse. Limit any activities that worsen your symptoms.”

If symptoms do not subside, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional. The healthcare professional can make recommendations and referrals to resources such as a neurologist, speech-language pathologist, physical or occupational therapist, etc. Post-concussive syndrome is rare, but refers to people who have persistent post-concussive symptoms that last for months or longer.

The Role of Speech Therapy for Concussion

As mentioned above, a concussion may result in cognitive-communication impairments. These may include changes in:

auditory comprehension, such as understanding what people say to you or following directions
verbal expression, such as word finding or organizing your thoughts
paying attention, and ability to ignore distractions
short-term memory, or your ability to learn and remember new things
executive function skills such as planning, problem solving, organization, and initiation

Other symptoms such as fatigue or changes in mood can also impact communication. The severity of these impairments can range from mild to severe, and can impact one’s ability to actively participate in work, school, or social activities. If you’ve had a concussion and your symptoms persist, request an evaluation with a speech-language pathologist (SLP). A speech-language evaluation will assess your current cognitive-linguistic strengths and weaknesses, and allow you and the SLP to develop a plan for intervention based on your personal goals. Speech and language therapy is person-centered, so looks different for each person. However, it usually consists of functional and structured activities, learning cognitive and/or communication strategies, and concussion education.

Lotus Speech & Wellness offers speech-language pathology evaluation and treatment virtually via telehealth to residents of Maine and Massachusetts. We specialize in helping adults with neurological impairments such as concussion improve cognitive-communication skills through our speech therapy services and yoga and mindfulness offerings. Caitlin and I are both Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS) with many years of experience helping people improve post-concussion symptoms. Explore our website to learn more, and contact us with any comments or questions. We also update our social media accounts regularly; follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and say hello!