Fitness Program Aids Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Sadly, more than 7,000 Americans suffer from traumatic brain injury. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tell us that a brain injury is "caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain." Symptoms of traumatic brain injury may manifest themselves both physically and mentally. Specifically, traumatic brain injury symptoms may include: dizziness, headache, confusion, seizures, personality change, vomiting, bad taste in your mouth, loss of concentration, and loss of coordination and numbness. Too often, such injuries are acquired through accidents at work in labor driven occupations such as construction, coal mining, heavy equipment operation and blasting sites. All too often, car and 18 wheeler accidents produce their share of traumatic brain injuries. And, recent data suggests that there is a growing incidence of traumatic brain injury victims returning home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I was heartened to read a recent article in the Charleston Gazette regarding recent advancements in the treatment of traumatic brain injury patients. According to the article, San Francisco based company, Posit Science, has developed an in-home computerized "Brain Fitness Training Program," with the assistance of medical professionals, that is designed to improve memory, listening skills and cognitive functioning for traumatic brain injury patients.

Interestingly, the program is available free-of-charge through the Easter Seals Society. The program lasts eight weeks, but as mentioned, can also be completed at home. It is suggested that participants spend about an hour a day five days per week working with the program. Early research suggests that the program has improved the memory of traumatic brain injury patients who have utilized the program.

I think it's fantastic that veterans groups, including West Virginia based Thanks! Plain and Simple, a nonprofit veterans advocacy group based in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, has taken the initiative to raise awareness regarding the issue of traumatic brain injury amongst veterans. Too often, veterans, disabled workers, car accident and workplace injury victims are ashamed of the "negative stigma" and stereotypes that are created by others when someone speaks out or seeks assistance for their traumatic brain injury.

Through my work as an attorney, whether that has been through assisting disabled West Virginians seeking Social Security benefits or through my work assisting traumatic brain injury victims to receive fair compensation for auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and workplace injuries, that were no fault of their own, I have personally witnessed the life altering effects of this horrific illness. We at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC, applaud the efforts of the technology and medical community working to improve the daily lives of all those who suffer from traumatic brain injury.