Sunday, February 11, 2007

Stroke Rehabilitation Can Help Restore the Quality Of Your Life

The unfortunate victims of stroke may need some form of stroke rehabilitation in order to lead what could be considered a normal lifestyle. Depending on the severity and position of the stroke, the needed rehabilitation will vary from person to person. When a person suffers a stroke, certain brain cells have died usually due to lack of blood and certain functions may be damaged with the death of the cells.

For some, a stroke may leave no lasting deficiencies and only a minimal amount of stroke rehabilitation will be necessary. For others, a stroke can have a life-altering effect on any one or several normal functions. A stroke can affect different functions depending on where in the brain it took place and how severely the function has been damaged.

Many times stroke rehabilitation will involve helping people learn to talk again as their stroke intervened with the part of the brain which controls their communication skills. Speech therapy involved in stroke rehabilitation often is directed into helping other parts of the person’s brain learn to control speech. It does not so much involve teaching someone to speak again as it does in training another part of the brain to control their ability to speak.

Rehabilitation Builds Strength And Confidence

The reasoning behind stroke rehabilitation is to help the person perform functions as well as they did prior to the stroke. It also helps build strength, self-confidence and coordination. Following a stoke the doctor will help determine what stroke rehabilitation may be necessary and what kind would be the most beneficial.

How fast a person can recover following a stroke depends on how severe the stroke was and stroke rehabilitation can begin once the person is in stable condition. As the brain begins to heal from the stroke, some of the conditions may begin to fix themselves without stroke rehabilitation of any kind.

Family members can play a big role in stroke rehabilitation, as one of the first issues noted by stroke victims is depression in knowing that certain changes are going to be inevitable in their lifestyle. A relative can meet with therapists involved in their family member’s stroke rehabilitation to see how they can play a role in the patient’s recovery process.

You can also encourage the family member to practice skills learned in stroke rehabilitation to possibly help speed recover as well as help improve their self-confidence in learning to perform basic functions over again.


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Saturday, February 10, 2007

About Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

What To Expect From Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

The human brain is a magnificent organ of the body that acts like a computer. Simply put, the brain is comprised of three separate components. Each of those components controls a certain aspect of the human body. The cerebral portion of the brain controls our thoughts and actions, the cerebellum regulates and coordinates our movements and the brain stem regulates and controls the bodily functions such as respiration and the beating of the heart. To protect this vital organ of the body, the brain is protected by the bones of the skull.

However, unfortunate events happen and despite our attempts to protect this vital organ, injuries to the brain sometimes occur. Examples of the causes of injuries to the brain could include automobile or motorcycle accidents, falls, strokes, tumors, near drowning, etc.

These types of injuries often adversely affect the lifestyle of the affected individual. Therefore a critical service to those individuals who have experienced this type of injury is through a traumatic brain injury rehabilitation program.

Programs Offered

A traumatic brain injury rehabilitation service is comprised of a series of programs that are designed to help restore the autonomy of the individual. Often, through a traumatic brain injury there may be a loss of various functions that the individual was once able to perform. Some of this functional loss could include impairment in their ability to speak, loss of motor functions, inability to socialize, loss of learned behaviors, etc.

A traumatic brain injury rehabilitation care facility will aid the individual in attempting to restore those lost functions by providing various programs. Some of these programs include speech therapy, physical exercise, learning or relearning of new skills, and occupational therapy.

In addition to these programs, the opportunities to learn various independent skills are presented. Some of these practical skills include learning how to cook, money management, learning different crafts, computer education, etc. Also, a traumatic brain injury rehabilitation center may include workshops on résumé building, employment training and helping with job placement.


Often when a traumatized individual enters into a traumatic brain injury rehabilitation facility, the outcomes are remarkable. These encouraging results are not only seen in the learning and relearning of independent coping and work-related skills, but through a growth in their confidence level.

Generally, when an individual begins their treatment program, they are very unsure of themselves, traumatized not only physically but emotionally and exhibit a very low self-esteem. This low self-esteem is based on their perception that they are less of an individual because of their brain injury.

Through interaction with others and under the caring supervision of the staff at a traumatic brain injury rehabilitation center, these traumatized individuals grow in confidence through the rehabilitation process. This growth is seen as they build on their successes and once again realize that they are contributing and independent members of society.


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About Vocational Rehabilitation Services

The Purpose of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

For those with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation services help them to work. Vocational rehabilitation services are typically run by the state or a federal organization. They help disabled individuals by giving them access to multiple services including vocational counseling, training and job placement.

How the Process Works

Disabled individuals who want to work need to go to the vocational rehabilitation services that are in their state. The individual must then submit an application and meet with a vocational rehabilitation counselor to determine if they are eligible for the services and to work. The counselor’s decision on whether or not the disability interferes with work is considered along with the individual’s medical documentation.

How Vocational Rehabilitation Services Works

Typically, a state will have several regional offices for vocational rehabilitation services. All of these locations will have teams of experts who know the local job marketplace and any available community support services. This way those with disabilities who request vocational rehabilitation services will be able to get aid based on their specific needs.

Before any vocational rehabilitation services are started for an individual, a counselor will agree upon an Individual Employment Plan or IEP with the individual. This plan will help the disabled individual by being a map towards employment and eventual independence.

Who Needs Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Vocational rehabilitation services are a good idea for anyone who needs assistance when returning to work after a serious injury. A person’s individual strengths and weaknesses are assessed by highly trained professionals to help them get back into the work place and achieve success.

Typically, vocational rehabilitation services are used by those who have had brain injuries or a stroke. Vocational rehabilitation services will work with these individuals to give them an individualized plan that will help them to get a job. Some of the service that is often used includes speech therapy, augmentative communication devices, re-training, job coaching and supportive employment.

While the goal with these services is always employment, the staff understands that everyone is different. Therefore, the staff always works by local community job and industry standards to place disabled individuals in all areas of the job field whether it is entry level, management or a professional career.

However, the staff doesn’t just work with the disabled. They also work with employers by giving them technical assistance, accessibility issues and other needs to help the employer work with disabled employees. Since the staffs are highly knowledgeable of the community, they are very adept at matching the right individual with the proper job opening. Once a disabled person can work again they are on their way towards gaining independence.

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