Anonymous wrote:My child was in a car accident in which she was originally diagnosed as a mild traumatic brain injury/concussion. That was about 1 year ago. Since the accident, she has been followed by several medical professionals but she still is experiencing mood swings, depression, cognitive changes (difficulty reading, writing, memorizing information), difficulty sustaining attention, fatigue, dizziness, and headaches.

Has anyone on this forum had a child with TBI and would they know of support groups in the area for children and parents?

Are there medical experts in the area that you would recommend?

What school supports were helpful for your child?

How old is your child? Does he/she get any official supports in school or only informal?

Do not be afraid to request an evaluation to see if your daughter may qualify for services under Other Health Impaired.

I don't have experience with TBI but my son has had some similar issues since birth (related to ASD). We have had a home therapy program for our son with Aspergers and NLD (sometimes referred to as right hemisphere dysfunction) in the past and worked on skills where our son was behind. I learned that the way to build confidence is to find the child's level where they are proficient at 80-90% and do activities at that level and when they reach mastery, gently and slowly increase difficulty. But the important thing is to find things she enjoys and is good at so she can feel masterful, whatever her level is. Even if it's low in some things, if the foundation is firm and she is confident, the level can slowly go up.

I like Dadsworksheets.com for free math worksheets. They are very much like Kumon that uses the same method to build confidence. Fine motor and gross motor activities are stimulating to the brain, as is reading comic books and graphic novels (visual and verbal processing) and reading aloud. If she is done with cognitive rehab, you might look into Brainware Safari. That is a really fun motivating computer based cognitive training program. Parts of it may be too hard (but could be skipped) so you wouldn't want to do it want to do it if it would discourage her. I don't know if it's appropriate for TBI. My cousin had TBI following a car accident and I know she did some computer based therapy programs that expanded her field of vision. For attention, set her up for success by building in lots of breaks to homework and provide praise or rewards for short stints of focus (say 5 minutes on homework or whatever she can comfortably do before fatigueing--quit while she's ahead so she doesn't hit a wall or experience failure) and then work up from there over time. Rewards can be used as a motivator to build attention (at least for the type of child I have for whom motivation and attention are both issues). Breaks can allow her brain to recharge so she doesn't fatigue. Also if reading is difficult, you could try books on tape for pleasure or some school assignments. The "acting" on those can be so fantastic and engaging, and auditory listening is cognitively stimulating as well. Again, I don't know if my suggestions are even applicable for a child with TBI. I come at it from a different perspective.

You didn't say how old your daughter is. Best wishes to both of you. Remember the brain is plastic and with times good things can happen.

The Lollipop kids foundation was founded by a mother whose son has TBI. You could contact them as well.

My child is in an elementary school classroom with a child who had a traumatic brain injury. This child has an IEP. I don't know the specifics. There is a para-eduacator in the class full time. The para-educator is not specifically for this child, but probably most of her attention goes to this child. My child also has and IEP and gets some help too. If you child does not have an IEP, then I think you need to go about getting one for her.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/pediatric_neurosurgery/

I'm pretty sure this child has a doctor at Johns Hopkins. There is also a summer program the child goes to. Not exactly "camp", but something related to brain injury. The mom enrolls child in Johns Hopkins summer program and sibling goes to camp at MD science center and mom stays all day.

OP,

There were some recs here for therapists related to medical trauma:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/419833.page

Ask the medical professionals you are dealing with if teaching techniques for kids who have LDs and memory processing issues would be helpful. My kid has working memory issues not related to an injury as well as other LDs. Using hands on manipulatives for math and reading are especially helpful for retention. I don't know if the same applies for kids with deficits due to physical injuries but if so tutors that have the LD focus would be helpful for your DD.

Where are you OP? My dad had a TBI 15 years ago and is still dealing with some of the same things as your DD.
He's not local, but sees a neuropsychologist at least annually to adjust medications, etc.

This may be a good place to start:
http://www.biausa.org

My child was in a car accident in which she was originally diagnosed as a mild traumatic brain injury/concussion. That was about 1 year ago. Since the accident, she has been followed by several medical professionals but she still is experiencing mood swings, depression, cognitive changes (difficulty reading, writing, memorizing information), difficulty sustaining attention, fatigue, dizziness, and headaches.

Has anyone on this forum had a child with TBI and would they know of support groups in the area for children and parents?

Are there medical experts in the area that you would recommend?

What school supports were helpful for your child?