Every traumatic brain injury calls for different lengths and strengths of treatment. Some TBI survivors will work towards their initial recovery quickly, while others will take much longer to show signs of improvement.
People with the most severe TBI might be in a deep sleep, and will not respond to any stimuli. If their injury was not as severe, they might react to people and outside stimuli, but their reactions will be inconsistent and not what they used to be. How a person progresses depends on what stage they begin in.
However, there are some milestones that every person who has suffered a brain injury will work towards. Here are the first three that indicate a TBI survivor is on the path towards independence and healing.
1. Responding Accurately to Commands
When a person first incurs a traumatizing head injury, they may struggle to respond to statements appropriately. They will appear confused and seem incapable of following orders. Thankfully, as they work towards recovery, they will slowly start to respond more appropriately and eventually be able to follow suggestions from doctors and loved ones.
2. Understanding Their Daily Routine
Because a person’s memory can be so drastically impacted by a TBI, this is a huge step. Being able to at least memorize and go through a daily routine with little confusion means a TBI survivor is working towards future independence, and perhaps regaining some of their memory capabilities.
3. Showing Signs of Memory Retention
Once a TBI survivor can show that they have a functioning memory, they are truly on the road to recovery. They can now respond appropriately to their environment, remember important details about their day, and communicate more effectively.
Obviously, these three steps are only the beginning of the recovery process, but they are also the stepping stones for a full-fledged recovery. Once a person can communicate and recall important information, they will begin to heal at a much faster rate.
If someone you know or love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, look into joining TryMunity. They’re an online support group that offers advice and knowledge about TBI to help those affected by them, both directly and indirectly. Visit www.trymunity.com to learn more.
