The Invisible Problem: The Incidence of Olfactory Impairment following Traumatic Brain Injury

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Drummond ◽  
Jacinta Douglas ◽  
John Olver
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
University Of Pennsylvania ◽  
Facial Fractures ◽  
Injury Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Rehabilitation Facilities ◽  
Olfactory Impairment ◽  
The University

Background and aims: As many as 50–60% of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to rehabilitation facilities may have olfactory impairment (OI). These incidence estimates are derived from studies conducted internationally and there is no comparable data available in the Australian context. The primary aim of this study was to identify the incidence of OI following TBI in a consecutive sample of adults admitted to the Epworth Hospital Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program in Victoria, Australia. A secondary aim was to investigate whether age, duration of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) and presence of facial fractures made a significant contribution to the prediction of severity of OI.Method: The sample comprised 134 adults (mean age 39.09 years, SD 18.36), the majority of whom had sustained moderate to severe injury (PTA mean 21.57 days, SD 18.78). OI was measured using the Pocket Smell Test (PST) and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT).Results: Seventy-three participants (54.48%) demonstrated OI on the PST whereas 89 (66.42%) demonstrated OI on the UPSIT. Age, PTA duration, and presence of facial fractures predicted 10.3% of the variance in severity of OI.Conclusion: A substantial proportion of adults admitted for rehabilitation following TBI has OI. Accurate assessment and appropriate management of post-traumatic OI must be incorporated into rehabilitation programs.

Anosmia After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical Update

2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Drummond ◽  
Jacinta Douglas ◽  
John Olver
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Adaptive Strategies ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Life Situation ◽  
Injury Rehabilitation ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Incidence Studies ◽  
Olfactory Impairment

AbstractMost people only recognise the value of olfactory function after it is lost. In the context of traumatic brain injury with its far-reaching physical, cognitive, behavioural and emotional sequelae, posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction is an additional consequence that many survivors have to face as they adjust to a changed life situation. The aim of this article is to provide an update on posttraumatic anosmia for clinicians working in the area of brain injury rehabilitation. Brief reviews of incidence studies and causal mechanisms of olfactory impairment after brain injury are provided. Consequences of anosmia in the domains of safety, eating, personal hygiene, leisure, work and relationships with associated adaptive strategies are described.

scholarly journals The Participants’ Perspective on a Cognitive Rehabilitation Program Following Traumatic Brain Injury

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
Alexandra Vakili ◽  
Robyn Langdon
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Treatment Practice ◽  
Action Video Game ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Compensatory Skills

Given the recommendations for evidence-based treatment practice, rehabilitation programs are typically evaluated using standardized objective measures of pre- and post-treatment performance. However, the potentially informative opinions and perspectives of the participants themselves are not reported. This paper sought to redress this imbalance by using a semi-structured telephone interview to gather feedback from 19 participants who had undergone a group-based eight-week cognitive rehabilitation program to improve attentional impairment following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The program incorporated cognitive training using an action video game and psycho-education, including a workbook for developing compensatory skills. Findings indicated that the majority of participants found the program to be a positive experience, resulting in self-perceived skill development that generalized beyond the training context. Participants particularly valued the social aspects of the rehabilitation program and reported benefiting from their interactions with the other group members. Most enjoyed the action video game playing, although for some, the opportunity to select between a set of different games rather than playing the single game that featured in the program would have been more appropriate. The majority of participants also found the workbook helpful. Other useful suggestions included extending the program to 10-12 weeks, increasing group size, developing more of a ‘take away’ aspect of the program to be administered at home, and formalizing the ‘mentoring’ roles that emerged in the group.

International Practices for Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marios Constantinou ◽  
Maria Karekla ◽  
Despina Hadjikyriacou
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Injury Rehabilitation

scholarly journals Cervicovestibular rehabilitation in adult with mild traumatic brain injury: a randomised controlled trial protocol

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Langevin ◽  
Philippe Fait ◽  
Pierre Frémont ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Roy
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Conventional Approach ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Link Type

Abstract Background Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an acknowledged public health problem. Up to 25% of adult with mTBI present persistent symptoms. Headache, dizziness, nausea and neck pain are the most commonly reported symptoms and are frequently associated with cervical spine and vestibular impairments. The most recent international consensus statement (2017 Berlin consensus) recommends the addition of an individualized rehabilitation approach for mTBI with persistent symptoms. The addition of an individualized rehabilitation approach including the evaluation and treatment of cervical and vestibular impairments leading to symptoms such as neck pain, headache and dizziness is, however, recommended based only on limited scientific evidence. The benefit of such intervention should therefore be further investigated. Objective To compare the addition of a 6-week individualized cervicovestibular rehabilitation program to a conventional approach of gradual sub-threshold physical activation (SPA) alone in adults with persistent headache, neck pain and/or dizziness-related following a mTBI on the severity of symptoms and on other indicators of clinical recovery. We hypothesize that such a program will improve all outcomes faster than a conventional approach (between-group differences at 6-week and 12-week). Methods In this single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 46 adults with subacute (3 to12 weeks post-injury) persistent mTBI symptoms will be randomly assigned to: 1) a 6-week SPA program or 2) SPA combined with a cervicovestibular rehabilitation program. The cervicovestibular rehabilitation program will include education, cervical spine manual therapy and exercises, vestibular rehabilitation and home exercises. All participants will take part in 4 evaluation sessions (baseline, week 6, 12 and 26) performed by a blinded evaluator. The primary outcome will be the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale. The secondary outcomes will be time to clearance to return to function, number of recurrent episodes, Global Rating of Change, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, Headache Disability Inventory and Dizziness Handicap Inventory. A 2-way ANOVA and an intention-to-treat analysis will be used. Discussion Controlled trials are needed to determine the best rehabilitation approach for mTBI with persistent symptoms such as neck pain, headache and dizziness. This RCT will be crucial to guide future clinical management recommendations. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier - NCT03677661, Registered on September, 15th 2018.

Development of the traumatic brain injury Rehabilitation Needs Survey: a Veterans Affairs TBI Model Systems study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Marc A. Silva ◽  
Jacob A. Finn ◽  
Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga ◽  
Bridget A. Cotner ◽  
Lillian F. Stevens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Injury Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Needs

scholarly journals Moving Ahead: A New Centre of Research Excellence in Brain Recovery, Focusing on Psychosocial Reintegration Following Traumatic Brain Injury

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skye McDonald ◽  
Vicki Anderson ◽  
Jennie Ponsford ◽  
Robyn Tate ◽  
Leanne Togher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Western World ◽  
Speech Pathology ◽  
Injury Rehabilitation ◽  
Community Function ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Research Excellence ◽  
Emotional Deficits

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of brain injury in the Western world and leads to physical, cognitive and emotional deficits that reduce independence. Changes to psychosocial function are the most disruptive, resulting in vocational difficulties, family stress and deteriorating relationships, and are a major target for remediation. But rehabilitation is expensive and its evidence base is limited. Thus, new collaborative initiatives are needed. This article details the development of ‘Moving Ahead’, a model for a Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) for Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation. This CRE offers several major innovations. First, it provides an integrated, multi-faceted approach to addressing psychosocial difficulties embracing different clinical standpoints (e.g., psychological, speech pathology, occupational therapy) and levels of investigation (e.g., basic science to community function) across the lifespan. It is based upon a close relationship with clinicians to ensure transfer of research to practice and, conversely, to ensure that research is clinically meaningful. It provides an integrated platform with which to support and train new researchers in the field via scholarships, postdoctoral fellowships, websites, meetings, mentoring and across-site training, and thus build workforce capacity for individuals with TBI and their families. It has input from the international community to contextualise research more broadly and ensure scientific rigour. Finally, it provides collaboration across sites to facilitate research and data collection.

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