LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!  

DID YOU KNOW…

The LOCATION (LOBE) of injury determines SYMPTOMS,

and that determines the THERAPY that will work best for you!

FRONTAL

Symptoms/THERAPY

-Headaches, Dizziness, Anxiety

-Attention & Memory problems

– -Irritability, Poor Judgment

-COGNITIVE GAMES- LOGIC PUZZLES

-MOVEMENT-BASED THERAPY (Yoga, Tai Chi)

PARIETAL

Symptoms/THERAPY

–Spatial awareness, coordination issues

-Motor skills, neglect 1 side of body

-Sensory, math /reading/writing

-MATH/LANGUAGE APPS

-SENSORY INTEGRATION T X

TEMPORAL

Symptoms/THERAPY

-Memory Loss, Difficulty following a conversation

-Auditory/Visual Processing Issues

-Emotional Flooding, Flashbacks

–MUSIC & SPEECH THERAPY

 

-VIDEO JOURNAL

OCCIPITAL

Symptoms/THERAPY

– Blurred/double vision; Visual field loss; Light sensitivity. Color confusion. Difficulty recognizing faces.

-LOW STIMULATION ENVIRONMENTS

-VISION RE-TRAINING

– ART THERAPY

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE SYMPTOMS AND FREE SELF-REHAB THERAPIES (with tons of short videos) on TBI-U

  1. Difficulty with decision-making and problem-solving.
  2. Impaired judgment and lack of impulse control.
  3. Personality changes or mood swings.
  4. Reduced ability to concentrate or focus.
  5. Difficulty with speech production (Broca’s area).
  6. Loss of spontaneity in social interactions.
  7. Emotional instability or inappropriate behavior.
  8. Reduced empathy or ability to understand others’ perspectives.

Frontal Lobe – Self-Rehab Therapies for TBI Symptoms

  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps with decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
  2. Mindfulness Meditation: Supports focus and reduces emotional instability.
  3. Problem-Solving Exercises: Engage in puzzles or strategy games to improve judgment and critical thinking.
  4. Social Skills Training: Practice role-playing scenarios to enhance social interactions.
  5. Journaling: Reflect on thoughts and emotions to improve self-awareness.
  6. Speech Therapy: Work on articulation and communication skills.
  7. Goal-Setting Activities: Create and track small, achievable goals to build planning skills.
  8. Physical Exercise: Activities like yoga or tai chi to improve concentration and reduce stress..
  1. Impaired spatial awareness and navigation.
  2. Difficulty identifying objects by touch (tactile agnosia).
  3. Problems with hand-eye coordination.
  4. Reduced ability to interpret pain or temperature signals.
  5. Difficulty with mathematics or writing.
  6. Impaired ability to distinguish left from right.
  7. Paralysis or motor deficits on one side of the body.
  8. Difficulty understanding spatial relationships.

Parietal Lobe – Self-Rehab Therapies for TBI Symptoms

  1. Spatial Awareness Activities: Play games like mazes or puzzles to enhance navigation skills.
  2. Tactile Stimulation: Use textured objects to improve touch recognition.
  3. Hand-Eye Coordination Drills: Practice catching or throwing a ball.
  4. Math and Logic Puzzles: Strengthen numerical and analytical skills.
  5. Writing Practice: Engage in handwriting exercises to improve motor skills.
  6. Left-Right Differentiation Games: Use apps or physical activities to reinforce spatial orientation.
  7. Physical Therapy: Focus on exercises targeting motor deficits.
  8. Art Therapy: Draw or paint to improve spatial relationships and creativity
  1. Vision loss or blindness in one or both eyes.
  2. Difficulty recognizing colors or shapes.
  3. Problems with visual processing and interpretation.
  4. Hallucinations or visual distortions.
  5. Difficulty tracking moving objects.
  6. Impaired ability to read or write due to visual deficits.
  7. Reduced peripheral vision.
  8. Difficulty recognizing familiar objects or faces visually.

Occipital Lobe – Self-Rehab Therapies for TBI Symptoms

  1. Vision Therapy: Work with visual exercises to improve tracking and focus.
  2. Color Recognition Games: Identify and match colors to enhance visual processing.
  3. Shape Sorting Activities: Use blocks or puzzles to improve shape recognition.
  4. Eye Movement Exercises: Practice following objects with your eyes.
  5. Reading Practice: Use large-print books or e-readers to reduce strain.
  6. Peripheral Vision Drills: Focus on objects in your side view to expand visual awareness.
  7. Object Identification Games: Match objects to their names or uses.
  8. Relaxation Techniques: Reduce visual distortions with calming exercises.
  1. Memory loss (short-term and long-term).
  2. Difficulty understanding spoken language (receptive aphasia).
  3. Impaired ability to recognize faces or objects.
  4. Hearing problems or auditory processing issues.
  5. Difficulty with selective attention to auditory stimuli.
  6. Emotional disturbances, such as anxiety or depression.
  7. Problems with musical awareness or rhythm.
  8. Difficulty organizing and categorizing information.

Temporal Lobe – Self-Rehab Therapies for TBI Symptoms

  1. Memory Games: Use apps or card games to strengthen memory recall.
  2. Listening to Music: Stimulates auditory processing and emotional balance.
  3. Language Learning Apps: Practice understanding and categorizing new words.
  4. Visualization Techniques: Improve facial and object recognition by imagining scenarios.
  5. Auditory Training: Listen to varied sounds and identify them to enhance auditory processing.
  6. Emotional Expression Exercises: Write or draw to process feelings.
  7. Organizational Tools: Use planners or apps to categorize information effectively.
  8. Storytelling Practice: Share stories to improve memory and comprehension.
  1. Loss of balance and coordination.
  2. Tremors or involuntary movements.
  3. Difficulty with fine motor skills (e.g., writing or buttoning clothes).
  4. Slurred speech or difficulty articulating words.
  5. Dizziness or vertigo.
  6. Impaired ability to judge distances.
  7. Difficulty walking or maintaining posture.
  8. Reduced muscle tone or strength.

Cerebellum – Self-Rehab Therapies for TBI Symptoms

  1. Balance Training: Practice standing on one foot or walking heel-to-toe.
  2. Coordination Drills: Engage in activities like juggling or playing catch.
  3. Fine Motor Skill Exercises: Use tools like stress balls or sewing kits.
  4. Speech Practice: Work on articulation with tongue twisters or reading aloud.
  5. Gentle Stretching: Reduce dizziness and improve posture.
  6. Walking Routines: Focus on steady, deliberate steps to enhance gait.
  7. Strength Training: Use light weights to build muscle tone.
  8. Dance Therapy: Incorporate rhythmic movements to improve coordination.

References, Resources & Self-Rehab Therapies

These symptoms can vary in severity depending on the extent of the injury.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention and consult with a healthcare professional.

TBI 101: Behavioral & Emotional Symptoms | BrainLine

Frontal Lobe Damage: Symptoms, Treatment, & Recovery

Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury | University of Utah Health

Here are some excellent resources and websites that can complement the self-rehabilitation therapies for TBI recovery. These will provide additional guidance and support for anyone navigating a TBI Recovery Journey:

General TBI Recovery Resources

  1. Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA): Offers advocacy, education, and support for TBI survivors and their families. https://mcmbraininjuryfoundation.org/tbi-resources/
  2. MCM Brain Injury Foundation: Provides tools, guidance, and financial aid to support recovery and improve quality of life. https://mcmbraininjuryfoundation.org/tbi-resources/
  3. Family Caregiver Alliance: Shares resources for caregivers, including practical advice and emotional support for TBI recovery. https://www.caregiver.org/resource/traumatic-brain-injury/

Therapy and Rehabilitation

  1. Flint Rehab: Features exercises and neuroplasticity activities tailored for TBI recovery, focusing on physical, cognitive, and sensory improvements. https://www.flintrehab.com/exercises-for-brain-injury-recovery/
  2. BrainLine: Offers self-care tips and strategies for managing TBI symptoms, including physical, emotional, and mental health care. https://www.brainline.org/treatment/basic-self-care

Community and Emotional Support

  1. How to Access Community Support for TBI Recovery: A guide to finding local and national support groups, rehabilitation programs, and emotional resources. https://www.h2hhc.com/blog/how-to-access-community-support-for-tbi-recovery
  2. Help Hope Live: Assists TBI patients with community-based fundraising for rehabilitation expenses. https://www.h2hhc.com/blog/how-to-access-community-support-for-tbi-recovery

Educational and Informational Resources

  1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): Provides in-depth research and treatment options for TBI. https://mcmbraininjuryfoundation.org/tbi-resources/
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Shares prevention strategies, treatment options, and national statistics on TBI. https://mcmbraininjuryfoundation.org/tbi-resources/