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Ways OTAs Help With Traumatic Brain Injuries

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated August 25, 2016. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
occupational therapy assistant

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) happen to thousands of people each year, whether by accident or purposeful injury (i.e., an attack). They can result in physical, cognitive, behavioral or emotional challenges that can range from minor to extremely severe and call for various levels of intervention and treatment.

That's where Occupational Therapists - and, by extension, Occupational Therapy Assistants such as those trained by Concorde - come into play.

People with TBI caused by a severe impact to the head from direct blows or severe shaking might experience short-term memory loss, have difficulty concentrating or paying attention, become easily disoriented, or have impaired judgment. They might experience headaches or migraines, have slurred speech, experience seizures, become fatigued, depressed, or easily agitated, or experience increased anxiety and impulsive behaviors.

Treatment by a qualified Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapy Assistant can play a key role in helping those patients return to a state of well-being. They might not cure or heal the injury itself. But, they can train and teach the patient to function better and cope with the injury more effectively.

"Most traumatic brain injury clients are met with not only physical challenges, but also psychosocial, emotional and cognitive debilities," said Lainisha McMiller Turner, MOT, OTR/L, Concorde's Director of Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Miramar, FL. "TBI patients are the perfect recipients for occupational therapy services, as OT practitioners address the whole person."
 

What can an Occupational Therapy Assistant do?

Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants can help people who have sustained a TBI. The type and duration of intervention depend on how severe the injury. The OT and OTA can:

  • Evaluate the client engaging in daily activities such as dressing and eating, both at work and home.
  • Establish and restore endurance and strength so that patients can complete basic tasks and functions.
  • Help the client minimize overstimulation and confusion in his or her environment.
  • Implement weekly checklists.
  • Recommend equipment that can aid a person in performing daily life activities with greater independence.
  • Teach a person to compensate for problems with thinking, such as memory impairments.

 

What can families and friends of a person with TBI do? 

  • Become educated about the recovery process.
  • Provide long-term support.
  • Learn techniques to help the person with a TBI manage cognitive and physical challenges.
  • Help the person adapt his or her home to accommodate the effects of a TBI.

Have you been searching for a meaningful and rewarding career where you can make a huge difference in the lives of those afflicted with traumatic brain injuries? Concorde's Occupational Therapy Assistant associate's degree program could get you to that career in as few as 20 months through a comprehensive foundation of hands-on skills training. To learn more about Concorde's OTA programs, call 1.800.693.7010.

Next Steps?

Interested in learning more about our Occupational Therapy Assistant program? We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.