The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides disability compensation to veterans with a service-connected injury, and to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a veteran must submit a claim or have a claim submitted on his or her behalf. Evaluation of the Disability Determination Process for Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans reviews the process by which the VA assesses impairments resulting from traumatic brain injury for purposes of awarding disability compensation. This report also provides recommendations for legislative or administrative action for improving the adjudication of veterans' claims seeking entitlement to compensation for all impairments arising from a traumatic brain injury.

The Invisible Brain Injury recounts, in her own words, the experience of Aurora Lassaletta, a clinical psychologist who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a traffic accident. Presenting her unique dual perspective as both a patient and a clinician, Aurora highlights the less visible cognitive, emotional and behavioural symptoms common to acquired brain injury (ABI). This moving account showcases Aurora’s growing awareness of her impairments, their manifestation in daily life, how they are perceived, or not, by others and the tools that helped her survive. Each chapter combines Aurora’s perspective with the scientific view of a professional neuropsychologist or physiatrist who provide commentaries on her various symptoms. This book is valuable reading for professionals involved in neurorehabilitation and clinical neuropsychology and for clinical psychology students. It is a must read for ABI survivors, those around them and clinicians, who are all an essential part of the rehabilitation, adjustment and acceptance process involved with ABI.

The psychological impact of an acquired brain injury (ABI) can be devastating for both the person involved and their family. This book describes the different types of psychological therapies used to ameliorate psychological distress following ABI. Each chapter presents a new therapeutic approach by experts in the area. Readers will learn about the key principles and techniques of the therapy alongside its application to a specific case following ABI. In addition, readers will gain insight into which approach may be most beneficial to whom as well as those where there may be additional challenges. Covering a wide array of psychological therapies, samples range from more historically traditional approaches to those more recently developed. Psychological Therapies in Acquired Brain Injury will be of great interest to clinicians and researchers working in brain injury rehabilitation, as well as practitioners, researchers and students of psychology, neuropsychology and rehabilitation.

This is a clinically accessible reference guide to acquired brain injuries (ABIs) that provides medical and nonmedical healthcare professionals who work with patients in brain trauma and rehabilitation settings with easily understandable information about this population. It provides physicians, psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, other allied health professionals, and particularly trainees with short clinical synopses of a full range of ABIs, from causes through diagnoses and treatment. Written by expert authors, the resource summarizes knowledge on the most prevalent ABIs in a clear, consistent format including overview, etiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation (including cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and sensorimotor), diagnostic considerations, evidence-based treatments, prognosis, and an illustrative case study. Psychosocial considerations for ABI patients, an important component of care, are also addressed. Key Features: Delivers information in a concise, quick reference format Written in accessible language Informs a wide range of healthcare professionals and trainees Covers a full gamut of ABIs Authored by recognized experts in the field

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant source of death and permanent disability, contributing to nearly one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States and exacting a profound personal and economic toll. Despite the increased resources that have recently been brought to bear to improve our understanding of TBI, the developme

This book presents a comprehensive interdisciplinary team approach to the rehabilitation of acquired brain injury (ABI) survivors. Medical and clinical specialists will receive a deeper understanding of not only each other’s roles but of their complementary functions in this field. Many case examples are provided, illustrating a wide range of challenges and stages of recovery. This edition features 3 entirely new chapters and multiple updated chapters by new and returning authors. Featured in the coverage: The role of Robotics in acquired brain injury A comprehensive chapter on physical therapy in ABI Outstanding recoveries woven together by a video news producer who recovered from a meningioma State of the art updates on neurosurgery, neurology, physiatry, neuropsychiatry and neuro-optometry. Updated chapters on neuropsychology, speech-language and occupational therapies including new technology and approaches as well as evidence based practices Psychosocial challenges and treatment following ABI The importance of family as team members Post rehabilitation options and experiences Acquired Brain Injury: An Integrative Neuro-Rehabilitation Approach, 2nd edition provides clarity and context regarding the rehabilitation goals and processes for rehabilitation specialists, interdisciplinary students of neuro-rehabilitation as well as practicing clinicians interested in developing their knowledge in their field.

With the contribution from more than one hundred CNS neurotrauma experts, this book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account on the latest developments in the area of neurotrauma including biomarker studies, experimental models, diagnostic methods, and neurotherapeutic intervention strategies in brain injury research. It discusses neurotrauma mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and neurocognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. Also included are medical interventions and recent neurotherapeutics used in the area of brain injury that have been translated to the area of rehabilitation research. In addition, a section is devoted to models of milder CNS injury, including sports injuries.